On December 21, 1970, Elvis Presley paid a surprise visit to President Richard Nixon at the White House, resulting in one of the most famous photographs in music and political history.
The meeting came about after Presley hand-delivered a letter to the White House, expressing his admiration for the president and his concern about the state of the country. In the letter, Presley also offered his services as a "Federal Agent-at-Large" in the war on drugs.
Much to Presley's surprise, Nixon agreed to meet with him. During the meeting, Presley expressed his patriotism and his contempt for the hippie culture and the Black Panthers. He also asked Nixon for a badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, which the president granted.
The two men posed for a series of photographs, including the iconic image of Nixon shaking hands with Presley in the Oval Office. Presley is wearing a purple velvet suit and a giant gold belt buckle, while Nixon is in a more traditional suit and tie.
The meeting was kept secret until a year later, when the Washington Post broke the story. Since then, the photograph has become one of the most requested images in the National Archives, and has been widely reproduced and parodied in popular culture.
The meeting between Presley and Nixon was a strange and unexpected moment in music and political history, and has become a symbol of the cultural divide of the time. It's a reminder of the power and influence that music and celebrity can have, even in the halls of power.
