An Evening at the White House with Merle Haggard
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- March 17, 1973: A special evening with country music legend Merle Haggard in the East Room of the White House on St. Patrick's Day, 1973. Includes performances and a reading of a poem Haggard wrote for First Lady Pat Nixon on the occasion of her birthday.
The program was filmed and produced by the Naval Photographic Center. The Naval Photographic Center White House Motion Film Unit Collection consists of motion film coverage of selected official activities of President Nixon filmed between 1969 and 1974.
From the archives of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum. For educational and research purposes only.
I am still proud that I voted for President Nixon. I also saw Merle Haggard and Bob Dylan at the Chastain Park Amphitheatre, May 5, 2006 (18 years ago). Great show for two titans of music.
Merle definitely did not think much of Dylan . That’s a fact .
Thank you to the President Nixon Foundation for this wonderful recording of my favorite country singer, Mr Merle Haggard . May they Rest in Peace.
You tube is the greatest thing since sliced bread. We see things that otherwise would’ve been a memory to just a few As a music lover I’m in heaven being able to watch rare stuff like this
Absolutely brother
In my opinion Merle Haggard is and always will be THE TRUE KING OF COUNTRY MUSIC.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
The King of Country Music Period!
Merle. You made it to the White House!!! That should tell anyone you have great music!!!
Nobody could or can deliver a vocal like him. He was a true musical genius if there ever was one
If we only turn back the years to this time in history.
Merle was all class. Even with his troubled youth, he grew to be a man of honor and integrity. What a nice little tribute to the First Lady! Merle was a special guy.
Soo great
He is the true king of country
A TRUE LEGEND!!
Thank you..
That made my eyes water. Merle was such a humble man. Nothing less than a class act all the way up to his passing.
Ken Worth I just said that to myself ! bout made me tear up! He was the best!!
It choked me up too, Ken. I was 15 years old then and even then Merle was one of my favorites. I miss him, and George, and Johnny, and Waylon, and Conway so much. They just didn't sing country music .... they WERE country music.
@@3069mark v
He was one of my favorite I have C D by him handsome too
It made me tear up, too.
god what have we let happen to our country, if we could only turn back time
No offense intended, but isn't that what everyone says, that America was better in the past and today the USA is horrible and miserable?
Trust me - twenty years from now, people will be whining the same way, saying they miss how great America was in the 2020s!
Go back far enough and you'll probably find people saying the Declaration of Independence was a mistake and things were better under George III.
Then you’ll be complaining about how wish you could return back to the 20s cause everyone is divided by race color. You white folks would love that wouldn’t “y’all”.
Amen and amen.
We need to stop these people that are deliberately trying to tare it down
@@ElMencho.Every white person doesn't fit this picture you are trying to paint
Hag and Nixon. Two Titans of America. RIP to both gentlemen.
OMG. You have NO IDEA how much I've wanted to see this and how many years I've wanted to see this performance by the OSBORNE BROTHERS and RONNIE RENO. ❤️❤️
What a charming man Mr Nixon was in public and how gracious and geautiful was Mrs Nixon. A great video
As a patented lyer and crooker he was
This was Awesome for Merle. So happy Reagan pardoned Merle, it was the right thing to do. Merle Haggard became a fine person, citizen, and artist. Simply the Best country music artist!
He's definitely the best.
Steven T: Yes, he did become a fine person, citizen, and artist. He's always been my favourite country singer. I'm sorry he's gone, but happy that he doesn't have to witness where his country is heading. It's so very sad. May he rest in peace.
Reagan was the BEST president ever!!! Trump is following in his footsteps!! Let's Pray for Trump!
Due in no small part to Johnny Cash who told him to just be honest writing songs and tell them the truth they'll love you for it. He took that advice to heart needless to say! @Steve Jones
Reagan was a GREAT PRESIDENT. I'm proud I got to vote for him twice. ( I also LOVE Trump and will vote for him twice ) Merle was always a "fine citizen, person and artist". Anyone with no piss and vinegar ain't worth a shit even if they get in some trouble.
The best! Never get tired of listening!
Two very distinctive voices and two very distinctive characters who made their own distinctive mark in their respective fields two very interesting characters who are missed
Great song! Good example of what real country music should sound like. RIP Merle! You will never be forgotten.
The thing that struck me the most about this. Was the look of love adoration in Bonnie's eyes. As she was looking at Merle from behind. Despite their marriage ending. The remained dear friends for life.
If watch merle sing okie from muskogee "the wagon house" Performance you'll see the same look
they loved each other til the end! she said Merle couldn’t stay in love but about 6months at a time!
Merle was an American and proud of it and Nixon got a hard time from the Press and did far less than Clinton and Biden did and won 49 states and got crucified ! It’s depressing how corrupt this nation has become. But there is always music 👍❤️🇺🇸🎸
@@martinhanley9524 wajt do you say? He have lying tricking and it's not an issue for you?
Nixon's joke about press not mentioning his wife's birthday... some things never change.
Finally! I get to see footage of Bobby and Sonny Osborne with Ronnie Reno at the White House!! Thanks so much!!
“When your running down this country your walk-n on the fighting side of me”! Classic ! Me Too, Merle, Me too !
Right. Who wants to have to do a little self reflection?
there was Merle being honored by the president Nixon he was very gracious humble who sang the song very well and I'm glad I saw this video... Truly there was more to Merle Haggard and most people know and it is a pleasure to review his life at all the videos on the internet
Angika johnson
It must have been so surreal, an honor to be sure, but he did not agree with Nixon’s politics nor his ethics or lack thereof. During the years he was eligible for the draft he was in prison, though, and I heard him say once that he could never protest a military action because he didn’t have the information the people high up who made these decisions have and he never had the experiences that soldiers had in the field. Only they were qualified to define the war as in the country’s interest and for the cause of freedom. Or not. Later he would call Nixon a traitor to the country, but not, I think, until after Nixon’s death.
Merle Haggard knew country!!!! and loved his!
Nixon inviting Haggard the the WH, was more of a political stunt than anything. He simply wanted to reach voters that listened to country music. I can see it was a great honor for Merle.
@@rickallen6378 That's always the reasoning behind any president inviting celebrities to the White House.
Merle Haggard a hard act to follow along with.
Nobody is all good or all bad, so I don't define a person by one moment or one mistake. Richard Nixon was good to me & did a lot of good things for this country (like going to China & getting my fellow military boys out of Vietnam). I like his fantastic smile & he was a good talker. So I still like Richard Nixon and forgive for any mistakes he made. I have no right to judge him, only God does that. I sure like his taste in musical entertainment. My uncle was sending me Merle Haggard records long before I heard those tunes on the radio. What a wonderful person he was & so great with the right words. Thanks for posting this.
That's a very endearing comment thank you for sharing. We like President Nixon as well and ol time country music. May God bless America. #MAGA
You realize he could have ended the Vietnam war sooner but he drug it out so he would get re-elected.
And was opening up China a good thing? Our manufacturing base went there and therefore it's much harder to make a decent living.
If by 'going to China' you mean befriending the greatest mass murderer in human history and 'getting them out of Vietnam' you mean purposely sabotaging peace talks in 68' then yeah, God Bless Tricky Dick'.
Only in America can an ole boy make it from the Big House to the White House.
God Bless America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
or vice versa
so true!
yep, go from being a criminal to singing for a room full of criminals
@@shermansav Or you're delusional.
So well put!
Awesome!! Merle was one of Mrs. Nixon's favorite singers. He definitely is #1 always and I dearly love the Osborne brothers. They sang some of the best bluegrass music I've ever heard. Thanks for posting it.
Nancy Phillips me xx the bezrnof merme hag
Vthe eat
The best of .erle haggRgd
Nobody, nobody ever had his uncanny ability to set the right tone and to always present remarks exactly appropriate for every occasion. And his self-deprecating humor put everyone at ease.
Love it or Leave it couldn't be more relative than right now. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
How i wish merle done even just one poem, he is one good DJ IF HE CAN. what I'm talking is when he read his letter to Mrs. Nixon. Folks
We were so classy in those days
This is a real GEM!!! Osborne Bros and Merle Haggard, outstanding. I am so happy this was posted. Thank you Richard Nixon Foundation
I love you Merle! Epitome of class!
Awesome!! I love both Nixon & Haggard. #TRUMP2020 #Infowars #DrGeneScott
Haggard's guitar playing and voice gave his country songs a hard-edged, blues-like style in many cuts. Although he was outspoken in his dislike for modern country music,[82] he praised George Strait, Toby Keith, and Alan Jackson. Haggard also had an interest in jazz music, and stated in an interview in 1986 that he wanted to be remembered as "the greatest jazz guitar player in the world that loved to play country."[111] Keith has singled out Haggard as a major influence on his career.
Tom Dale: Haggard and Alan Jackson are my two all-time favourites in country music. I'm not surprised that the Hag praised the three you mentioned, especially Jackson.
wow great Merle so long and young ago.....love his "american made" great big self that he is...great spirit....amazing,thank you
Got to love Merle Haggard he when one of our greatest country western singers to be remembered I never forgotten a true American and Patriot and thank you to President Richard Nixon and the first lady for a living that event better the day of History Bethel honor to build a remember as young man is School afternoons days thank you President Nixon and the First Lady and Merle Haggard and Bonnie Haggard.
I ljust watched the Kennedy center 2010. Merle sitting next to Opra, she looked at him like, wow, you been livin' man and tell'n it. . Merle, ever so modest, seems like he's welled up the whole show and ready to burst into tears.. What a difference a decade makes. At least then we respected greatness, cultural significance, and Love for America. Somebody tore us apart.
Yes, I wonder who that was? Please, everybody. VOTE HIM OUT!!!
Damn Biden
Holy hell...I never knew Merle played the White House.
Cause The Hag ain’t gotta brag!
Looks like he was havin a pretty good time too..off some a that good ole Johnny Cash stuff haha.
speed, pot, and alcohol?
Yes twice and Kennedy center achievement award..Nixon and reagan
Merle had such respect and love for this country. He was a true Patriot. He almost seemed a little nervous during his performance. Bless his heart and may he rest in peace.
MrRonskiman he was indeed
He was clearly nervous and in awe of the President at the end.
President Nixon, was and still is in my world one of the defenders of a mighty military. He made the largest pay raise in my 25 years plus on active duty. Also he too served, not like the jokers in office nowadays. Merle, you are missed. R.I.P.
Thank you Sir,for your service!!!
All presidents defend military might ...they are the same in that way
Yes all my Vietnam vets loved nixon back then and still do.
Thanks for your service. Nixon,to me, was a fraud in every sense of the word. He used the war to continue his political career.He lied to the American people to get elected,then re-elected by saying he had a plan to win the war,or to end the war honorably when he had no such plan at all.Every president involved with that war--Kennedy,Nixon,and esp Johnson were careless in sending troops into battle for no viable reason and no plan to win it.History should not be kind to any of them.
@@joshbates7568 Well then they are fools...he extended the war so he could win in 72'. He basically allowed our soldiers to be
killed to help his political career
My gosh what a treasure. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Seeing Mr Nixon’s genuine smile and excitement really makes me happy
A great performance.
I loved this. Thanks!
What a great video. You can never go wrong with Merle.
Absolutely wonderful
Nixon ne méritait pas un tel bonheur...Merle haggard sincère et virtuose for all...RIP ❤️❤️❤️😭😭😭🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Love it. Merle looks to be feeling some extra sensations. Maybe a pill, a toot, a puff or a drink... Or a combo.lol I'm pretty sure I saw a toot chasing sniff in the first song.
May be one of the reasons he messed up a lot 😂
Amanda tompkins - Yes; I thought he had a cold or something.
Does it really matter? Romanticizing it tells me a lot. Been there I do the same thing
nixon was a great President
A truly great American in the White House....oh, and Nixon was there too. #LongLivetheHag
I think it's funny how Nixon was big on Merle at the time for his patriotic songs and love of country,and later merle called him a liar in the song"are the good times really over for good"
Lol
@@captinbeyond Well, Merle called Nixon that because it was the truth. Imagine the field day he'd have writing a song about the current so-called president. (Sorry, but I can't capitalize the word until there's a worthy person holding the office.)
@@corriecrazy I can imagine Merle would probably vote for the current president..not because he is a great person, but more to do with him not being the socialist democrats running against him.On Trump's worst day, he is heavens above anyone being offered up by the democrats. I think Merle could spot a fake( Biden) and a commie( Bernie)
@@captinbeyond Oh, well. Can't win 'em all.
There are several insanely funny comments on this video. I am laughing so hardmy friggin sides hurt.
Merle was born in the oilfields, Oildale, California. He did time in San Quentin. He died on his ranch in California.
Merle,we will always love you!
That song is very important today
what a class act merle is /was !
Bonnie is so lovely. Merle does look glazed!
According to his book, he was glazed. Every time I watch this, I have to laugh. Bless his heart, he did pretty darn good.
He sure looks it.
I was on the jamboree show wheeling w,va with merle haggard great talent joann Thomas wwsm radio. Pat Garrett radio station
Thank you for this American sweetness.........
6:22 you can tell ole merle is high as a kite. Love the snakeskin boots too. He said in an interview this song was a satire, and they were passing around a joint on the tour bus when he wrote it.
Love Merle. Always have. An American
I love him....too bad our country was given the wrong info
God bless president Nixon and his family.
Fantastic performance !
Remember when a president could speak eloquently?
Wonder if a Granchild, etc has that card. It would a Piece of Treasure. WOW
8-13-24. 2:20pm MABS
That was awesome!
Hell yes God bless America amen 🙏
I can only say that Nixon was a great statesman.
cindy what county do you live in. I ask that because if you make a statement like that. You sure are not a real America.Because he was a lierand a crook. Nixon is in the top three worst president in this great country.He choice for not ending the Vietnam war cost ten of thousands. Of America soldiers lives. Than you have got enough nerve to say “ He was a good statesman”. WOW SMH
But a criminal.
Criminal Statesman what's the difference
@@normahinkle2539 You must just be anti Nixon, and most likely a Republican hating democrat. It wasn't Nixon's war. He inherited the war. We were involved with Vietnam for Decades before Nixon's arrival, and the French were fighting the war before that. Our first involvement of any kind with Vietnam began with Franklin Roosevelt, then Truman. Then Dwight Eisenhower sent Advisory troops over there after the French pulled out, and John Kennedy sent more once he took office. Then when Lyndon Johnson took office he began escalating the situation, sending large numbers of combat troops, initiating the United State's actual combat role. After these decades of involvement, it was Nixon who deescalated the situation, by pulling troops out, ultimately ending the war.
And as far as being a liar and a crook... The only difference between Nixon and any other president, is that Nixon just happened to get caught. As years go by, people get tunnel vision looking back, and only remember certain things. For the most part, the only thing people associate with Nixon is Watergate. When judging Nixon in his entirety, he wasn't that bad of a president. He did some things wrong, but he also accomplished a lot of good things too.
@@normahinkle2539 You said " Nixon is in the top three worst presidents in this great country." Obviously Trump is another, and who is the third?
Merle,you were the best.you are now with Jesus.
Great video!! Thanks for sharing.
very cool, thank you!
Love this!!!
2 of the best 🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️R.I.P.
I see a young Ronnie Reno there with the Osbornes. That is funny because he later became one of Merle's Strangers.
Also funny is how Merle proclaimed his appearance before Pres. Nixon as the greatest day in his life then a few years later in the song "Are The Good Times Really Over For Good" included the line 'back before Nixon lied to us all on TV"!!
+Gilstrap2009 Early Merle and later Merle..... quite the dichotomy . Say no to drugs!!!
+BIRDCHRIS1 Indeed.
I won't comment on the politics, but it's great to have comments like this to identify musicians as us youngsters simply don't know who the less well known players are in footage like this. Thank you sir!
When you're running down our country melas you walking all the Fightin side of me that an Okie from Muskogee man that's all I've really truly feel
Whatever one says about Merle will always be less of the great great Merle Haggard!
Loved this! Merle starts at 04:56
we still do come to my house
hes high as a kite lol my fuckin hero
Pitchin' woo, yoohoo! Could use some woo pitchin' 'round here, I tell ya.
Awesome!
I can't help thinking of that line in "Are the Good times really over"....."Back when Nixon lied to us all on TV"!
Nixon's lies were nothing compared to what we've been told lately about Obamacare, Benghazi, the IRS scandal, email on private servers, etc.
Boy, you have that right!... Richard Nixon's antics, look like positively Micky Mouse stuff , compared to what's going on now.
D Storm it's Highwaymen Riding Time again. we all know who said the word stoned the first time at one of their shows. I have a particular purpose to provide funding for the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Badlands, South Dakota.
it's a long story. I invited 2 homeless American Indians to stay in my RV. That is how I learned of Their lives, or maybe call it, no life.
send this message on it's way.
magic will do the rest 💙 sharon, Minnesota girl
Which politician doesn't lie?
The new lyrics are "BACK WHEN ALL DEMOCRATS LIED TO US ALL ON TV!"
Was waiting to hear Are the good times really over. That would have been way too funny
They should have played that as tricky was waving from the hilo. lol
@@stevemcdaniels2825 And as Trump was being inaugurated.
It didn't come for another decade.
That's how people should be in this world but it will never be.
Great entertainment for the President and the first Lady.
Rocky Top didn't include the "Strangers came looking for a moonshine still" verse. I wonder if the Osborne's cut it or was it edited out from the video
Yep that's right
They cut that verse for several years on road shows. Reason: To give a tad more time for their other songs.
Recall that they had several new releases during that era.
Awesome
Yessss. Absolutely
RIP heroes RMN Pat and The Hag
Merle hated Nixon. To see him play there is truly something else.
And you know this how about Merle hating Nixon? Asking for a friend
Man, it almost seems like a different universe.
I’m old enough to remember and not too old to forget.
It WAS a different universe.
@@brucekuehn4031 It sure was a different universe. Please someone, take me back there.
its hilarious that merle would later write are the good times really over, in which he calls nixon out for lying
Sizeable_Lad: But it was true.
Corrie Crazy i know it was im not calling merle a hypocrite or anything, i just find it ironic is all
Great President 🇺🇸❤️
Wonderful 👏 💚👋
Merle is such a Legend 🤴🎰
Check out the classic Black Face Fender amps! Sweet!
I believe the blonde doll is Barbra mandrel playing the six string electric fender ( I believe )
Great footage !!!!
It's Bonnie Owens, his wife.
you may be right
@@Callipygous1975 Bonnie is not a blonde, she is the brunette behind Merle
@@oxtuckian You are probably right. She did dye her hair sometimes. She looks 3 inches taller than Merle. Was she that tall? Also the blonde looks taller than tiny Barbara M.
Merle Haggard was is the Man
What’s funny is the fact that they have no clue (the senators) who Merle haggard or the Osborne brothers are.
President Trump should play Merle Haggard songs at his Rallies and Conventions! Kick ASS on Biden! I like this ... America the way it was!!! Good Ole Boys!