THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 21, 1970
| MEMORANDUM FOR: | THE PRESIDENT’S FILE |
| SUBJECT: December 21, 1970 12: 30 p. m. |
Meeting with Elvis Presley |
The meeting opened with pictures taken of the President and Elvis Presley.
Presley immediately began showing the President his law enforcement para-
phernalia including badges from police departments in California, Colorado
and Tennessee. Presley indicated that he had been playing Las Vegas and
the President indicated that he was aware of how difficult it is to perform
in Las Vegas.
The President mentioned that he thought Presley could reach young people,
and that it was important for Presley to retain his credibility. Presley re-
sponded that be did his thing by “just singing.” He said that he could not
get to the kids if he made a speech on the stage, that he had to reach them
in his own way. The President nodded in agreement.
Presley indicated that he thought the Beatles had been a real force for anti-
American spirit. He said that the Beatles came to this country, made their
money, and then returned to England where they promoted an anti-American
theme. The President nodded in agreement and expressed some surprise.
The President then indicated that those who use drugs are also those in the
vanguard of anti-American protest. Violence, drug usage, dissent, protest
all seem to merge in generally the same group of young people.
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. He also mentioned
that he is studying Communist brainwashing and the drug culture for over
ten years. He mentioned that he knew a lot about this and was accepted by
the hippies. He said he could go right into a group of young people or hippies
and be accepted which he felt could be helpful to him in his drug drive. The
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At the conclusion of the meeting, 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.
In going out, Presley asked the President if he would see his two associates.
The President agreed and they came over and shook hands with the
President briefly. At this meeting, the President thanked them for their
efforts and again mentioned his concern for Presley's credibility.
[handwritten signature above signature block: “Bud Krogh”]
Bud Krogh