An Evening at the White House with Duke Ellington

April 29, 1969:: President Richard Nixon threw a 70th birthday party for Duke Ellington at the White House, where he awarded the maestro the Medal of Freedom. The Voice of America's Willis Conover organized the band and performers for the occasion, which included Bill Berry, Clark Terry, J.J. Johnson, Urbie Green, Paul Desmond, Gerry Mulligan, Jim Hall, Billy Taylor, Hank Jones, Dave Brubeck, Earl Hines, Milt Hinton, Louie Bellson, Joe Williams and Mary Mayo. Ellington himself performed an original called "Pat," in honor of the President's wife. Narrated by Willis Conover.
*The program was filmed and produced by the United States Information Agency. From the archives of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. For educational and research purposes only.*
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[@ercm2393]

This is a national treasure.

[@itsRemco]

Such a cool event!! Duke Ellington and Willie "The Lion" Smith 🔥🔥

[@ctbjustin]

"Ellington kissed the President four times. When Nixon asked him why, Ellington replied, one for each cheek".

[@robertslagle7176]

I love that story.

[@johnjames1320]

i wud luv that story if it were true. false story of duke kissin ass

[@dadodydo]

​@@johnjames1320Those four kisses are în this video, ds.

[@sammyoyola2042]

​@dadodydo , JohnJames was looking at another video. He thought Jazz was a form of wrestling.

[@stevenmarcus2181]

Although very flawed, Richard Nixon had a deep appreciation for the arts and music. Great tribute to Sir Duke.

[@johnjames1320]

right. nixon grew up on that music. this is the music of his youth of the 1920's thru 1940's. nixon knew good music and good burlgars for shizzle

[@melindaschwenk-borrell9374]

Never a huge fan of RMN but he had much charm, and the ability to celebrate excellence, at least at the start of his administration. What a great night that was!

[@MS-it4gb]

Melinda, you expressed my exact thoughts...

[@mrg7407]

You are not a Fan of RMN because you buy the lies of the MSM

[@brucekuehn4031]

What a night! Certainly looks like everyone had an absolutely wonderful time! All those jazz greats along with a couple of lucky Marine Band members making music together and dancing up a storm. People sometimes forget how very charming (in kind of an awkward way) Richard Nixon could be.

[@maristellafeustle1085]

Also narrated by Willis Conover. Many thanks to the Nixon Foundation for sharing this film!

[@jamesk.bishop105]

Conover desegregated Washington DC nightclubs and hosted the Voice of America Jazz Hour across the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. He believed jazz was the music of freedom. The University of North Texas has an archive of Conover's programs. Check it out: www.library.unt.edu/collections/music/willis-conover

[@TheStewie117]

so cool to see so many jazz legends together, the genre being appreciated and people dancing to jazz. In Willie the Lion Smith, Earl Hines, Hank Jones and Duke Ellington you got practically the whole history of jazz piano.

[@deguircecil7282]

Pure jewel clip i discover today A real treasure 4 my eyes and my ears too ! !!!! Thanx God 4 Nixon 69-74 presidency Thanx a lot to sharing this Gr8 musical momment on america musical history happenned at the White house God bless America Patrick (: from Montreal Canada

[@user-nq9gz4xf7f]

No wonder they called him the Duke !!! classy

[@vincedunn3074]

Absolute CLASS! Edward Kennedy Ellington, his legacy, his music and memory will live on FOREVER. Xx

[@antoniocornelius0311]

This was fantastic and showed how we as a country can do anything when we see each other as people.

[@gtyson188]

Music: One of the original great uniters of mankind.

[@ousmanediallo-ne6mf]

I can't simply tell how much i love Duke!!!!😃😍😍😍😍

[@wombat5628]

Nixon was such a genuine man with such great wits!!! Not to mention his talents!

[@ronwass]

Quite an amazing little film.

[@hprm33t]

Great footage of The Duke!❤ Richard Nixon...🙄

[@shirishsarkar]

incredible treasure

[@jacobtietjen2099]

My Piano instructor was there!

[@dukerwong3900]

The freedoms is the most important thing as human beings for the loving-kindness nature, dignity and the basic human rights as well as the demonstrations of the real and fondamental democracy as a civilized country of the United States of the America. Not only the former President Nixon and Mr. Duke Johnson loved the freedoms, I love the freedoms, I believe that most American peoples as well as the the most peoples in the world all love the freedoms just as love their own lives. Because this is so important, valuable and precious. Without the basic human rights of the freedoms, it's just like living without air and will be absolutely chocked to death. This is why every of our country's President must kindly continuously to protect the freedom rights for Americans to enjoy without worrying as exactly what they swear in their inaugurations by holding the Bibles seriously for America's own foundations and constitutions as well as Americans' enjoyment as their dignity of the democracies. I believe both elected Republican party and Democrat Party Gov't servants must be united together without Partisans, work together for our country's own foundations and constitutions as well as our country's own unity by America's own patriotism and loyalty as America's principles, so Americans will be able to continue to enjoy the freedoms without worrying about.

[@smeagolsessions7942]

Incredible

[@skillet6870]

Later that evening, Nixon asked Mr. Ellington why he kissed him 4 times. "One for each cheek" Duke quipped.

[@sirtinderloin7399]

Weather you think Nixon was a crook or not, he did a great thing. Regardless how his presidency ended, he was a great politician---or at least a great entertainer. I can't even imagine how appallingly Trump would have behaved in this situation.

[@j.criquette3334]

We'll never know because he studiously avoided getting himself in that situation. What musicians did he ever have to the White House in the first place? And the Medal of Freedom just was doled out to political cronies: Jim Jordan, Antonin Scalia, Devin Nunes, Orrin Hatch, Rush Limbaugh, plus a whole lot of sports figures. The only musician on the list was Elvis Presley, who unfortunately wasn't available to receive the medal in person. And of course, no artists or writers.

[@amyh3873]

Yes trump wouldn't have the sophistication to appreciate the Duke. Though flawed, Nixon did have class.

[@richardanderson5078]

Kennedy could never have pulled such a group together, and wouldn't have ether.

[@alexpetrenko9038]

Im for the Empire

[@AzlanValentine]

3:49 Jump for Joy

[@joelwenhardt7702]

Nixon’s reaction at 13:44!

[@williamgregory1848]

Richard Nixon was our most musically talented president. Although he never learned to read music, he could play piano, violin, saxophone, clarinet, and the accordion.

[@BenjaminNavillus]

Given that there is so much made of Nixon's social awkwardness, I think that, in fairness to him, he comes over pretty well here.

[@yaokay7585]

Pat @ 8:22

[@SimonJelffs]

💖🔝🎩🎶✨

[@4-dman464]

The night Duke Ellington played to a war criminal. What class!

[@dadodydo]

And what are you?

[@richardanderson5078]

An idiot.

[@saxjamin]

Only 7,600 views... meanwhile, some random cat jumping off a table will get millions.... today's society sucks...

[@davidmthekidd]

saxjamin yassir

[@robbiechandler7858]

saxjamin 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣so true

[@deguircecil7282]

Yeahhhhh so True Respect 4 the real is dead in 2018 Patrick (:

[@brilliantshane]

No way Nixon enjoyed this

[@smw7791]

Shanes Brilliant Channel woah - so random to see you here Shane. I’m just a random subscriber of yours. I came here because it was mentioned in a biography of Nixon I’m reading

[@brilliantshane]

@@smw7791 haha that is weird. I've been kinda obsessed with Nixon for the last few weeks. Which book?

[@brucekuehn4031]

Disagree - Nixon appears to be having a great time. As an amateur musician himself, he is the host and a big fan!

[@michaelsmith494]

I love the musicians but I can't like anything just trying to improve people's opinion Richard Nixon. One of the worst Presidents ever almost

[@jimbrown1559]

This is NOT about Nixon.

[@harpman1876]

Nixon was a top 10 president. Polls also support this assessment.

[@kevincorcoran6493]

@@harpman1876 I'm a big Nixon guy. And judging from the last few presidents we've had he rises like a phoenix

[@kevingallagher406]

i think he’s one of the best in terms of a character he wss

[@mrg7407]

Your HATE Blinds You. You can't even understand This. "Hate Blinds" Why? because you are FED and poisoned by the MSM Lies