For more than a year the American public was denied knowing about a meeting at the White House that took place between Nixon and a well-known barbiturate addict. It was only on January 27, 1972, that The Washington Post let America in on the secret.
On December 21, 1970, Elvis Presley went to the offices of the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. He wanted to become a “federal agent at large” to help fight the War on Drugs. But Elvis was turned down with the explanation that the only person who could overrule the decision would be Richard Nixon.
Elvis had his limousine driver take him to the White House, where he gave the Secret Service agents at the gates a five-page letter written on American Airlines letterhead. Elvis waited inside his limousine as the letter was delivered to Nixon by an aide named Egil “Bud” Krogh.
Two and a half hours later Elvis entered the Oval Office. He apparently froze and had to be guided over to the presidential desk with the help of Krogh.
Elvis showed pictures of his daughter to Nixon and also flashed a pair of cufflinks he received from vice president Spiro Agnew. He also showed Dick badges he received from various law enforcement departments, and asked if he could receive an official badge of the U.S. Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
The administration thought it wise for the president to suggest that Elvis should record an album with the theme of “get high on life” to suggest to young people that, “lasting talent is the result of self-motivation and discipline, and not artificial chemical euphoria.”
The letter and a photograph of Elvis shaking hands with Dick are now kept by the National Archives. In the photo Elvis is wearing a huge gold belt, gold neck chain dangling with a medallion, a black velvet cape, and black leather boots. Presley gave Dick a World War II .45-caliber Colt revolver. The outfit and the gun are also part of the National Archives and have been displayed at the Nixon library in Yorba Linda, California.
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 [Students for a Democratic Society], 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 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.
Nixon aide Dwight Chapin sent a memorandum to H. R. Haldeman:
Memorandum
The White House
Washington
December 21, 1970
Memorandum for: Mr. H.R. Haldeman
From: Dwight L. Chapin
Subject: Elvis Presley
Attached you will find a letter to the President from Elvis Presley. As you are aware, Presley showed up here this morning and has requested an appointment with the President. He states that he knows the President is very busy, but he would just like to say hello and present the President with a gift.
As you are well aware, Presley was voted one of the ten outstanding young men for next year and this was based upon his work in the field of drugs. The thrust of Presley’s letter is that he wants to become a “Federal agent at large” to work against the drug problem communicating with people of all ages. He says that he is not a member of the establishment and that drug culture types, the hippie elements, the SDS, and the Black Panthers are people with whom he can communicate since he is not part of the establishment.
Chapin request to ask for approval to have Elvis visit Dick:
I have talked to Bud Krogh about this whole matter, and we both think that it would be wrong to push Presley off on the Vice President since it will take very little of the President’s time and it can be extremely beneficial for the President to build some rapport with Presley.
In addition, if the President wants to meet with some bright young people outside of the Government, Presley might be a perfect one to start with.
On the note, H.R. Haldeman wrote, “You must be kidding,” but he initialed the line, “Approve Presley coming in at the end of “Open Hour.”
Nixon aide Egil “Bud” Krogh took notes during the 30-minute meeting:
The White House
Washington
December 21, 1970
Memorandum for: The President’s File
Subject: 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 paraphernalia including badges from police departments in California, Colorado, and Tennessee. Presley indicated that he had been playing Las Vegas and…
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 used 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.
Elvis Presley was addicted to prescription drugs and died of an overdose after falling off his toilet on August 16, 1977. The BioScience Laboratories report listed that fourteen drugs had been detected in his system. The drugs included an assortment of barbiturates, amphetamines, tranquilizers, and sleeping pills prescribed by Dr. George Constantine Nichopoulos.