Elvis and Nixon’s unexpected 1970 White House meeting, revealed in incredible original documents

Elvis and Nixon: The wild true story behind the most unexpected Oval Office visit ever

You might think it strange that Elvis and Nixon had a meeting in the White House — and yet, on December 21, 1970, that’s exactly what they did. The meeting between the King of Rock & Roll and the 37th President of the United States is one of the stranger footnotes in American pop culture history, fueled by a handwritten letter, a collection of police badges and one very unexpected hug.

By 1970, Elvis Presley had been famous for 15 years. He’d shaken up television, served in the Army, starred in more than two dozen films and returned to live performing to massive crowds. But the cultural landscape had shifted dramatically around him. The counterculture movement was in full swing, Vietnam was tearing the country apart and Richard Nixon was in the White House running on a law-and-order platform. Elvis, despite his own rule-breaking origins in rock and roll, had landed firmly on the side of patriotism and order — and he wanted to do something about it.

So he got on a plane, wrote a letter mid-flight and hand-delivered it to the White House gate the next morning. In it, he introduced himself to Nixon — politely, almost formally — expressed concern about “the drug culture, the hippie elements, the SDS, Black Panthers, etc.” and made a direct request: he wanted to be made a “Federal Agent at Large.” He wrote that he could reach young people in ways that politicians couldn’t, that he’d spent over a decade studying Communist brainwashing techniques and the drug culture, and that he was “right in the middle of the whole thing.” He closed with a postscript noting he had a personal gift for the president, and that Nixon, too, had once been named one of America’s top outstanding men.

The White House said yes. The official memorandum from the meeting — written by aide Bud Krogh — describes Elvis arriving and immediately showing Nixon his collection of law enforcement badges from California, Colorado and Tennessee. The two talked about reaching young people, about credibility, about the Beatles, who Elvis argued had promoted an anti-American theme after making their money in the US. At the end of the meeting, in what Krogh described as “a surprising, spontaneous gesture,” Elvis put his arm around the president and hugged him. Nixon did give Elvis the federal narcotics badge he’d asked for — a Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs credential — though it carried no actual law enforcement authority.

We’ve collected the original documents from this encounter — Elvis’s handwritten letter to Nixon and the official White House memorandum summarizing the meeting — so you can read the whole remarkable exchange for yourself. These are primary sources, preserved and digitized, and they’re as strange and fascinating as the story they tell.

Elvis’s letter to President Richard Nixon (1970)

Dear Mr. President.

First, I would like to introduce myself. I am Elvis Presley and admire you and have great respect for your office. I talked to Vice President Agnew in Palm Springs three weeks ago and expressed my concern for our country. The drug culture, the hippie elements, the SDS, Black Panthers, etc. do not consider me as their enemy or as they call it the establishment. I call it America and I love it. Sir, I can and will be of any service that I can to help the country out. I have no concern or motives other than helping the country out.

So I wish not to be given a title or an appointed position. I can and will do more good if I were made a Federal Agent at Large and I will help out by doing it my way through my communications with people of all ages. First and foremost, I am an entertainer, but all I need is the Federal credentials. I am on this plane with Senator George Murphy and we have been discussing the problems that our country is faced with.

Sir, I am staying at the Washington Hotel, Room 505-506-507. I have two men who work with me by the name of Jerry Schilling and Sonny West. I am registered under the name of Jon Burrows. I will be here for as long as long as it takes to get the credentials of a Federal Agent. I have done an in-depth study of drug abuse and Communist brainwashing techniques and I am right in the middle of the whole thing where I can and will do the most good.

I am glad to help just so long as it is kept very private. You can have your staff or whomever call me anytime today, tonight, or tomorrow. I was nominated this coming year one of America’s Ten Most Outstanding Young Men. That will be in January 18 in my home town of Memphis, Tennessee. I am sending you the short autobiography about myself so you can better understand this approach. I would love to meet you just to say hello if you’re not too busy.

Respectfully,

Elvis Presley

P.S. I believe that you, Sir, were one of the Top Ten Outstanding Men of America also.

I have a personal gift for you which I would like to present to you and you can accept it or I will keep it for you until you can take it.

Elvis’s handwritten letter to President Richard Nixon

These are all my PVT numbers (lists phone numbers for Beverly Hills, Palm Springs, Memphis, the Washington Hotel, etc.)

Elvis meets with President Nixon at the White House (1970)

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

December 21, 1970

The meeting opened with pictures taken of the President and Elvis Presley.

Presley immediately began showing the President his law enforcement paraphernalia 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 responded 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 President indicated again his concern that Presley retain his credibility.

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.

Bud Krogh