Meanwhile, somewhere in Michigan…
First Lady Betty Ford dancing aboard President Gerald Ford’s Whistlestop Campaign Train Trip. 05/15/197.
White House Trivia: Did you know that Betty Ford was a Martha Graham dancer in her youth?
Source: research.archives.gov
Pearl Bailey sings at the White House, accompanied by President Richard Nixon on the piano. 03/07/1974
Source: research.archives.gov
“My choice early in life was either to be a piano player in a whorehouse or a politician. And to tell the truth, there’s hardly any difference.”
Harry S Truman
Bacall and Truman are at the National Press Club canteen, February 12, 1945.
awesomepeoplehangingouttogether:
Lauren Bacall and Harry S. Truman
Source: trumanlibrary.org
“Presley Presley
IS OUR CRY
P-R-E-S-L-E-Y”
-Letter to President Eisenhower from “Elvis Presley Lovers” Linda Kelly, Sherry Bane, and Mickie Mattson
Elvis Presley was drafted for the U.S. Army in December, 1957. This letter from the Eisenhower Library was written by three fans in Montana who pleaded to the President:
“You don’t no how we feel about him, I really don’t see why you have to send him in the Army at all, but we beg you please please don’t give him a G.I. hair cut, oh please please don’t! If you do we will just about die!”
On the right is the Acknowledgement of Service Obligation signed by Pvt E-1 Elvis Aron Presley. The National Archives holds Elvis’ Official Military Personnel file, take a peek here.
Source: research.archives.gov
“Why would Frank Sinatra make a good president? Well, let’s look at the facts… Frank Sinatra would make a president who was strong on defense, but again, will have concern for humanity. Scientists at his urging have developed an intercontinental ballistics missile that is not a weapon of mass destruction - it only hits photographers.”
-Ronald Reagan at the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast of Frank Sinatra, 1977
Ninety six years ago, Frank Sinatra was born (December 12, 1915 - May 14,1998). The entertainer’s career spanned several administrations and Sinatra supported a range of presidents including Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, John F. Kennedy, and later, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan.
At the 1977 roast of Frank Sinatra quoted from above, Governor Reagan also joked,
“But seriously, this is Frank Sinatra’s night, and I’m here out of gratitude. Frank worked for me in all my campaigns. He was with me all the way to the Governors Mansion. Without his help, who knows? I might have been president.”
Just 4 years later here they are, with Nancy Reagan, in the White House. In the photo, President and Nancy Reagan receive a baseball from their friend, Sinatra, during a meeting in the Oval Office.
Happy birthday to the Chairman of the Board! What’s your favorite Frank Sinatra song?
Source: reagan.utexas.edu
State Dinner at the Kennedy White House, 8:00 PM
50 years ago this week, world-renowned cellist Pablo Casals gave a historic concert at the White House. When Casals accepted an invitation to play at the White House, it was the first time that he had performed in the U.S. since the government had recognized the regime of dictator Francisco Franco of Spain, the cellist’s native country. Mr. Casals broke his embargo as he believed President Kennedy worked for “peace based on justice.”
Casals performance was for a State Dinner in honor of Governor Luis Munoz Marin of Puerto Rico. November 13, 1961.
Source: facebook.com
John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie
October 21, 1917 - January 6, 1993
It’s the birthday of jazz giant Dizzy Gillespie. What better occasion to put on some bebop and look at a very cool picture of Dizzy blowing his horn at the White House. June 8, 1979, Jazz Concert on the South Lawn with President Jimmy Carter.
Source: presidentialtimeline.org
Have you got George Harrison in your head from watching the Martin Scorsese documentary? In 1974, the iconic musician visited President Ford in the White House. Here’s a photo taken in the Oval Office of Billy Preston, George Harrison, and Gerald R. Ford. Also, a list of who else was there from the President’s Daily Diary for December 13, 1974.
-from the Ford Library
