When Elvis met Nixon
By KEN BODE
(IndyStar.com, February 24 2006)
Ask yourself, what do you think is the most popular presidential photo at the National Archives? A President's Day quiz put this in my mind. Harry Truman holding the famous "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline? The photo of Nixon on the helicopter, waving his arms on resignation day? Miss Monica on the rope line hugging President Clinton? None of the above. But the answer triggered more questions, so I browsed the wonderful Web site of the National Archives to recreate one truly meaningless moment of history. Meaningless, except that more people request this photo from the Archives than any other presidential moment: the day Nixon met Elvis.
On Dec. 21, 1970, the presidential office received a call from the guards at the northwest gate that Elvis Presley was delivering a personal letter to the president. On his mind, said Elvis, was his wish to be appointed a federal agent at-large in the war on drugs, with an official badge. He wanted this to be kept very private, he said, because "The drug culture, the hippie elements, the SDS, Black Panthers, etc., do not consider me their enemy." Presley also said he wanted to bring along a gift for the president, a World War II Colt .45. Elvis was told to go back to his hotel and wait for a call. He explained that he already was operating undercover. At the Washington Hotel, Elvis was registered under the name Jon Burrows. Chief of staff H.R.
Haldeman approved a personal meeting for Nixon and Elvis that afternoon. An aide was detailed to scare up an honorary agent at-large credential of some sort, and presidential talking points were prepared for the meeting. Nixon was told to thank the entertainer for his offer to help stop the drug epidemic and ask him to work with the White House staff. Get Presley to commit to work on a new rock musical theme, "Get High on Life," the president was instructed. Get him to do a TV special exposing the anti-establishment themes in rock lyrics.
Remember, now, the rock star who arrived at the Oval Office with two body guards was the 1970 version, the younger, slimmer, primal Elvis who still electrified millions of fans. Elvis carried a sackful of badges and police paraphernalia, eager to show the president. White House aide Egil Krogh described Elvis' outfit as rock-star resplendent, with "tight fitting dark velvet pants, a white silky shirt with very high collars and open to below his chest, a dark purple velvet cape, a gold medallion and heavy silver-plated sunglasses with "EP" built into the nose bridge." Around his waist was a belt with a huge four-by-six inch gold buckle.
The White House photographer snapped 28 pictures of the meeting. According to the official White House memorandum, Presley mentioned that he has been studying communist brainwashing and the drug culture for 10 years. He also condemned the Beatles as a real force for anti-American spirit. Mostly the president only "nodded in agreement." At some point in this strange conversation, Nixon must have wondered who let Elvis in. Assured that his badge as an agent of the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs would be ready soon, Elvis grew emotional. "Presley again told the president how much he supported him, and then, in a surprising, spontaneous gesture, put his left arm around the president and hugged him." All Elvis really wanted was another badge.
That's the story behind the most popular presidential photo in the National Archives. Frankly, I wonder if they weren't both stoned.
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