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N0KFQ > TODAY 13.09.14 15:22l 56 Lines 2474 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 35798_N0KFQ
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Subj: Today in History - Sep 13
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Sep 13, 1980:
President Carter attends Willie Nelson concert at White House
On this day in 1980, country music artist Willie Nelson and his
band perform at the White House with President Jimmy Carter in
attendance. Later that night, unbeknownst to the president,
Nelson allegedly retired to the White House roof to smoke a
marijuana cigarette.
A fan of Nelson's music, Carter frequently attended the singer's
concerts and invited Nelson to stay at the White House during his
presidency. The two formed a friendship that continued after
Carter left the White House in 1980. In 2004, Carter told
reporter Beverly Keel from Rolling Stone magazine that while
under immense pressure as president he would relax in his study,
tying flies for fishing while listening to Nelson's music. "All
the good things I did as president, all the mistakes I made --
you can blame half of that on Willie," said the former president.
He and Nelson shared a common background: both grew up in the
South and worked as blacksmiths and at picking cotton. Nelson
felt equal admiration for Carter and told Keel that Carter was
his "favorite president...he did a great job."
In 1980, Carter invited Nelson to perform on the South Lawn of
the White House. A week later, The New York Times reported on an
unusual event that raised a few eyebrows among Washington's
conservative set: first lady Rosalynn Carter had joined Nelson
for a duet. Her "soft soprano" complemented Nelson's "nasal
baritone." The president and many in the audience joined in
heartily as Nelson and Rosalynn sang "Up Against the Wall Redneck
Mother."
Nelson, whom The New York Times dubbed the "king of outlaw
country," had never made a secret of his use of illegal marijuana
and supported the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws (NORML). In his biography, Nelson admitted to
lighting up a "big fat Austin torpedo" (slang for a marijuana
cigarette) whenever he stayed overnight at the White House.
Carter claimed not to have known of Nelson's after-hours tokes on
the White House roof, saying he and Willie never discussed the
singer's drug use. (During the 1976 campaign, Carter had called
for the decriminalization of marijuana.) However, as Nelson
himself admitted in later interviews, Secret Service agents kept
a close eye on Nelson whenever he indulged in his nightly habit
at the White House.
73, K.O. and Billie...
...."on the road again".
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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