Elvis met Nixon // (Scott Johnson).

I am on vacation this morning and cannot adhere to my Power Line schedule. I thought I’d share the story of Elvis’s visit to the White House in 1970 with readers unfamiliar with it. This is part of our celebration of his birthday yesterday.

Yesterday’s focus was on Elvis’s recordings, while acknowledging Peter Guralnick’s two-volume biography of Elvis Last Train To Memphis as well as Careless Loving. Guralnick tells the story of the December 1970 day when Elvis met Nixon at the White House. The visit gives insight into Elvis’ patriotism and comic relief in the end of Elvis’s story.

When the film Elvis & Nixon was in theaters, I extracted the story from Guralnick’s accounts. According to them, the film was “based upon a true story”. However, the film played it only for laughs. Here is my version of the true story, based on Peter Guralnick’s account. Links to the primary documents are included.

Elvis loved law enforcement officers and collected badges from the police departments he visited. Elvis was on a secret escape from Memphis tensions in Los Angeles and became inflamed by the desire to be assigned by the federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. He enlisted the help of Jerry Schilling, his friend, to accompany him on a short trip to Washington. Sonny West, the bodyguard, would fly in from Memphis to meet them. Elvis asked Schilling for cash; Elvis ended up giving it to soldiers returning from Vietnam.

California Senator George Murphy was, coincidentally, on the flight from Los Angeles (LA) to Washington. To enlist Murphy’s assistance, Elvis sought Murphy out in tourist. Elvis wrote a letter for President Nixon on the flight (I’ve added paragraphing to make it easier to read):

Dear Mr. President

First, I’d like to introduce myself. I am Elvis Presley. I admire you and have great respect for your office. I spoke to Vice President Agnew in Palm Springs last week and expressed concern about our country. The Drug Culture, The Hippie Elements and the SDS, Black Panthers, among others, do not consider me their enemy or The Establishment. It’s America, I call it America, and It’s my love.

Sir, I am available to provide any service that is necessary to help the country. I have no other motives or concerns than to help the country. I don’t want to be given a title, or appointed position. However, I can and would do more good if made a Federal Agent at Large. I will do it my way through my communications and interactions with people of all ages. First and foremost, I am an entertainer. All I need are the Federal credentials.

I am on the Plane together with Senator George Murphy. We have been discussing the problems our country faces. Sir, I am staying at the Washington hotel Room 505-506-507. Jerry Schilling and Sonny West are my 2 co-workers. Jon Burrows is my registered name. I will remain here as long as it takes for me to obtain the credentials of a Federal Agent.

I have done extensive research on drug abuse and communist brainwashing techniques. I am in the middle of it all, where I can do the most good. I am happy to help, provided it is kept private. Call me today or tomorrow to speak with your staff or anyone else.

I was nominated as one of America’s ten Most outstanding young men for the next year. It will take place in Memphis Tenn, on January 18. To help you better understand my approach, I am sending you a brief autobiography. If you are not busy, I would love to have a chat with you.

Respectfully,

Elvis Presley

On the morning of December 21st, Elvis arrived in Washington and dropped the letter at the White House. He then went to a meeting with Murphy to request a badge. Instead, he met John Finlator (BNDD deputy director), who declined Elvis’s request to get a badge. Schilling was in the hotel room when he received a call inviting Elvis into the White House to meet with the president.

The letter from Elvis had prompted internal discussions about the wisdom of a presidential meeting. Dwight Chapin sent to Bob Haldeman a memo summarizing Elvis’s request. The memo’s second page contains Chapin’s honest advice and Haldeman’s slightly more shrewd response. Chapin wrote: “[I]f President wants to meet some bright, young people outside the Government,” Haldeman replied: “You must be kidding.” However, the meeting was quickly approved and arranged. Elvis, Schilling and West met with Bud Krogh, a White House aide, for Elvis’s 12:30 pm meeting in the Oval Office.

Bud Krogh’s memo summarizes the meeting.

Presley expressed to the President in an emotional way that he was on his side. He kept repeating that Presley wanted to help and that he wanted some respect for the flag that was being lost. He said he was just a boy from Tennessee who had received a lot from his country and which he wanted to repay.

Nixon asked Elvis if he thought he could help him “in his drug drive”, and Nixon stated “his concern that Presley maintain his credibility.” This was when Elvis pitched for the BNDD badge. Krogh was informed by Nixon that he wanted Elvis to be awarded a badge. Krogh wrote a follow-up account of the meeting.

Elvis smiled triumphantly. “Thank you very, sir. This means a lot .”…Elvis then moved closer to the President and, in an unplanned gesture, wrapped his left arm around him.

Elvis was not done yet and asked the president if they would visit his friends Schilling, West and West. Nixon gave them the same tie clips and cufflinks with presidential seals as he had given Elvis.

Nixon was prompted by Elvis: “You know they’ve got wives also.” Nixon and Elvis then searched Nixon’s desk looking for gifts for their wives.

To document the event, the White House photographer took many photos. Below is a photo of Elvis and Schilling in the Oval Office together with Nixon.

This is the famous photo we all know. It is “one the most popular photos in the National Archives.”

After a lunch at the White House mess, and a tour of White House, Elvis was presented by Finlator at Krogh with the BNDD badge. Finlator promised to send additional credentials.

Guralnick writes that “Leaving the White House”, Sonny and Jerry never stopped to consider the many strange events that occurred on this day. They believed that one thing was responsible for everything that had happened to them, whether it was good or bad. It was Elvis Presley.

This chapter of Elvis’ story did have a happy end.