Presley responded that he did his thing by “just singing.” Elvis Presley arrives unannounced at the gate of the White House.  He is there to see President Nixon and he is ready to sign up as a federal agent to combat drugs.  It’s December 21, 1970. What happens next?  A Nixon Aide took these notes: “The meeting opened with pictures taken of the President and Elvis Presley. Presley immediately began showing the President his law enforcement paraphernalia including badges from police departments in California, Colorado and Tennessee… The President mentioned that he thought Presley could reach young people, and that it was important for Presley to retain his credibility.  Presley responded that he did his thing by ‘just singing.’  He said that he could not get to the kids if he made a speech on the stage, that he had to reach them in his own way.  The President nodded in agreement… Presley indicated to the President in an very emotional manner that he was ‘on your side.’”  Read More No video was taken of the President meeting The King, but here’s a sequence put together from the White House contact sheets.  From the Nixon Library - Elvis in the Oval Office
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Presley responded that he did his thing by “just singing.”

Elvis Presley arrives unannounced at the gate of the White House.  He is there to see President Nixon and he is ready to sign up as a federal agent to combat drugs.  It’s December 21, 1970.

What happens next?  A Nixon Aide took these notes:

“The meeting opened with pictures taken of the President and Elvis Presley.

Presley immediately began showing the President his law enforcement paraphernalia including badges from police departments in California, Colorado and Tennessee…

The President mentioned that he thought Presley could reach young people, and that it was important for Presley to retain his credibility.  Presley responded that he did his thing by ‘just singing.’  He said that he could not get to the kids if he made a speech on the stage, that he had to reach them in his own way.  The President nodded in agreement…

Presley indicated to the President in an very emotional manner that he was ‘on your side.’”  Read More

No video was taken of the President meeting The King, but here’s a sequence put together from the White House contact sheets. 

From the Nixon Library - Elvis in the Oval Office

Source: research.archives.gov

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    Elvis + Nixon meeting + GIF technology = awesome. Love this historical footnote, happy to see the internet taking...
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