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An Elvis Sighting at the White House

12/21/2012 in DC by Mark Jones
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Elvis Presley and President Nixon in the Oval Office, December 21, 1970. (Source: National Archives)

Of all the photos in the National Archives, which one would you suppose gets the most requests for reproduction? Maybe the flag raising at Iwo Jima? The March on Washington in 1963? No. It's this one, taken during Elvis Presley's impromptu visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave on December 21, 1970.

That morning, The King showed up unannounced at the northwest gate of the White House with a handwritten six page letter to President Nixon. The letter iterated Elvis's desire to become a "Federal Agent-at-Large" in the war on drugs. After a brief discussion with Elvis and his body guards, Nixon aide Egil "Bud" Krogh became convinced the singer was sincere, and thought he might be helpful in reaching out to young people about the dangers of drug abuse. Krogh sent Elvis back to his hotel and worked on setting up a meeting with Nixon.

A few hours later, Presley was invited back to the White House. At about 12:30 pm Nixon saw him in the Oval Office where The King repeated his offer to help fight drug abuse. The two men talked for several minutes and Krogh made notes of their interaction:

"Presley indicated to the President in a very emotional manner that he was 'on your side.' Presley kept repeating that he wanted to be helpful, that he wanted to restore some respect for the flag which was being lost. He mentioned that he was just a poor boy from Tennessee who had gotten a lot from his country, which in some way he wanted to repay."

After the meeting, Elvis and his bodyguards ate lunch in the White House dining room. Before they left, the singer was given a badge by the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. What a quirky incident!

Source

"When Nixon Met Elvis," Online exhibit at National Archives website, accessed December 21, 2012. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/nixon-met-elvis/

Last Updated:
10/19/2020

About the Author

Mark Jones has called the D.C. area home since he was three years old. As a child he enjoyed taking family trips to Colonial Williamsburg and impersonating historical figures for elementary school book reports. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in History from Davidson College and a Master's in History and New Media from George Mason University. Prior to coming to WETA, Mark worked as an interpreter for the National Park Service at Arlington House: The Robert E. Lee Memorial, where (much to the amusement of his friends) he wore the "Smokey the Bear" hat as part of his uniform and occasionally donned period clothes. (Photos are classified.)

More posts by Mark Jones »
Tags
Elvis Presley
White House
Drugs

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