January 10, 2005

*Presidential Fun Fact: Swinging Nixon

Countless musicians have been invited to the White House over the years. Some were asked to perform, and some were guests at State Dinners. The first time a White House dinner was held in honor of a musician was in 1969.

Richard Nixon had a dinner honoring Duke Ellington, and presented him with a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Posted by Jennifer at January 10, 2005 12:38 PM

Comments

Not many people know that Nixon was quite a piano player and even appeared on The Tonight Show after his disasterous run for Governor of California in '62 playing who-knows-what on a grand piano with a candelabrum atop an' all...

Posted by: Tuning Spork at January 10, 2005 10:23 PM


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