Jerry Schilling back at the White House

[Ed Roach]

Well, actually, he was back at the National Archives, (and also on TCM this past weekend, together with Priscilla Presley), to discuss the time Elvis took him to meet Nixon.  It's right underneath the story about Haiti on the front page of todays L.A. Times:  http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-na-elvis14-2010jan14,0,2101922,full.story


Reporting from Washington - The National Archives is like a safe-deposit box for America's really important papers -- the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the $7.2-million canceled check for the purchase of Alaska, the picture of Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley shaking hands in the Oval Office.

Copies of that photo -- the president in his charcoal suit, the king of rock 'n' roll in his purple velvet cape -- are requested more than just about any of the archives' treasures, including the Constitution.

Yet the story that led to their improbable meeting on Dec. 21, 1970, is as little-known as the picture is famous. In honor of Elvis' 75th birthday last week, one of the president's men, Egil "Bud" Krogh, and one of the king's most trusted friends, Jerry Schilling, met for the first time in almost 40 years at the National Archives to recount the day Elvis came to Washington. A crowd waited in the frigid cold for a seat. (Even in the imperious capital, Elvis can still pack a house.)

....

The story begins Dec. 19, 1970, at Schilling's home in the Hollywood Hills. The phone rings. A voice says, "It's me."

Elvis is at the Dallas airport on his way to Los Angeles and wants Schilling to pick him up at LAX.

"Who's with you?" Schilling asks.

"Nobody," the king says.

It should be noted that Elvis was a man who almost never did anything alone. He wanted at least five guys around him just to sit and watch TV. So Schilling is understandably concerned, all the more so when Elvis proceeds to recite his flight number and arrival time, which is akin to the queen doing a load of laundry.

Schilling heads to the airport and takes Elvis to the singer's mansion on Hillcrest Drive in Beverly Hills. The next morning, it comes out that Vernon, Elvis' father, and Priscilla, his wife, were bugging him about how he spent his money. This aggravated the king, so all by himself he got on the first plane going out, which happened to be bound for Washington. Things did not go well.


If you're interested, click the link for the full story; it's a good one!

[ESQ Editor]

Jerry Schilling is one of the truly grounded and genuine individuals that I've had the pleasure of meeting. He's an amazing man.

[bgas]

Gotta give you a BIG thanxx, Ed! 
That was a GREAT story. 

[Rocker]

Thanks Ed ! I wonder if this had anything to do with BBC2 Radio programme that had a part dedicated to this meeting which was narrated by Martin Sheen.

Anyway, here are probably all the pictures taken at that meeting. Of course Jerry Schilling and Sonny West can also be seen:

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/elvis/photos/020415_1335/index.htm

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/elvis/photos/020415_1346/index.htm

Jerry Schilling is one of the truly grounded and genuine individuals that I've had the pleasure of meeting. He's an amazing man.

Never met him, but I agree that he comes on like a very good fellow. No matter if he talks about Elvis, the Beach Boys, Jerry Lee or whomever he worked with....



BTW if you look closely you'll see that Elvis is showing Nixon this picture:

[bgas]

BTW if you look closely you'll see that Elvis is showing Nixon this picture:

Your eyes must be a lot better than mine, then. I don't think the picture he's showing Nixon looks anything like that one. 

[Roger Ryan]

Sure - take another look at this photo in the first link Rocker provided...

White House Photo Office Roll # 5364 / 5364-06

[bgas]

Sure - take another look at this photo in the first link Rocker provided...

White House Photo Office Roll # 5364 / 5364-06

Yeah, I don't know, maybe.  the visible section looks a bit similar, but looks to me like it cuts off closer at the bottom; and nothing ielse is really shown, other than Elvis, so... 
 As I said.

[Rocker]

Sure - take another look at this photo in the first link Rocker provided...

White House Photo Office Roll # 5364 / 5364-06

Yeah, I don't know, maybe.  the visible section looks a bit similar, but looks to me like it cuts off closer at the bottom; and nothing ielse is really shown, other than Elvis, so... 
 As I said.

It is that picture. the Nixon library also has it on display, as someone just told me:

[Custom Machine]

Fascinating article, Ed.  Thanks for posting the link.  And thanks to Rocker for posting the great photos!

[urbanite]

Interesting, Elvis Presley brought a Colt 45 on the airplane and into the White House, which he gave as a gift to Pres. Nixon.
Elvis flew by himself on a flight and some criminal types approached him because he was wearing expensive jewelry and Elvis flashed his pistol at them.  Elvis comes off in the article as a patriot.

[Rocker]

some criminal types approached him because he was wearing expensive jewelry and Elvis flashed his pistol at them. 

There are a lot of rumours about the meeting and the whole journey. I was told this was one of them. Can't say for sure though. MBE might give more info. It was shown in the low budget movie "Elvis meets Nixon".

Look here for some clips:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQQPky5BzqU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ3Tu-VSOPI&feature=related

And here's a two part documentary about the meeting (feat. Jerry Schilling):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO0L-YtYH9I&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYS3nB-kqdw&feature=related

[Rocker]

BTW here's a clip of Schilling at the Archives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppczTVvUWzw&feature=player_embedded#