U.S. President Barack Obama played bartender-in-chief on Thursday at a “beer summit” of the main players in a racially charged case that he hoped would be a “positive lesson” in a national dialogue on race.

Crowley arrested Gates, a well-known documentary filmmaker, for disorderly conduct on July 16 after a confrontation at the professor’s home, sparking a media frenzy as Gates, 58, accused the policeman of racial profiling. Crowley, who had taught courses against racial profiling, denied that.

Obama inflamed the situation at a July 22 news conference on health care reform by saying he thought police “acted stupidly” in arresting his friend.
The President’s comment drew criticism from members of law enforcement across the country. Two days later, Obama stated that he regretted that his comments exacerbated the situation, and hoped that the situation could become a “teachable moment”. He also gave his opinion that both the officer and Gates “overreacted” to the situation. On July 30, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden met with Crowley and Gates at the White House for a conversation over beers.