On this day in 1970, Elvis Presley met US President Richard Nixon

Presley was at the time enjoying a resurgence in popularity following a slump after his focus on films, with the release of several albums proving popular with fans and critics alike. While the comeback had been unexpected by many, the events of the 21st of December would prove to be even more bizarre. 

Elvis arrived at the White House in the morning in a stretch limousine, fresh off a red-eye flight from Los Angeles. On the plane he penned a letter to President Nixon, requesting an audience. Arriving at the gates of the White House the note was passed to guards from the Secret Service, bringing much amusement to staff at the house throughout the morning. Regardless, a meeting was arranged for midday. 

During the meeting Elvis expanded on his letter, saying he was eager to be part of governments anti-drug campaigns, claiming to have done a lot of study on the topic. He went on to gift the president a Colt .45 handgun alongside signed photos of his family, before requesting a badge from the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Many claim that this was the real purpose of the meeting as Presley was a renowned collector of police badges. Nixon didn’t take up the offer of help on the campaigns, but did grant him the badge.

A photo was snapped of the pair before the end of the meeting, which has gone on to become one of the most popular pictures of Elvis due to the bizarre story behind it. The event also inspired two Hollywood adaptations in 1977 and 2016. Both men would rapidly fall from grace over the next decade with Nixon’s resignation in 1974 and Presley’s addiction to prescription drugs leading up to his death of a heart attack in 1977.