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Sinatra’s Two-Song Serenade for JFK & RMN

5/25/2017

3 Comments

 
Sinatra and Nixon
Sinatra performed for President Nixon at a state dinner for Prime Minister Andreotti of Italy on April 17, 1973.
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An inaugural gala that featured a stunning array of Broadway and Hollywood stars was held for President Kennedy the night of January 19, 1961, in the old Washington Armory. The ticketed event—purposed to raise funds to pay off campaign debts for the Democratic National Committee—was meticulously planned over a two-month period by Frank Sinatra and his Rat Pack buddy Peter Lawford. In addition, the singer served as unofficial host and sang two songs he dedicated to the president: “You Make Me Feel So Young” and “That’s America to Me.” [1]

Some 12 years later, after his conversion from Democrat to Republican, Sinatra again performed for a president, this time Richard Milhous Nixon at a state dinner for Prime Minister Andreotti of Italy on April 17, 1973. After the banquet, in the East Room, Ol’ Blue Eyes opened his 10-song set with “You Make Me Feel So Young” and closed with “That’s America to Me,” the two songs he had sung to Kennedy 12 years before.

Coincidence? We’ll never know. At show’s end, and after the applause had faded, a reporter asked Frank why he had chosen the songs he sang, Sinatra snapped back, “How else could I put a program together?” and moved quickly away. [2] 

Guess we’ll never know. And no, he didn’t sing these two songs for President Reagan, even though he performed twice for the septuagenarian president.
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​
  1. Kathryn Cramer Brownell, Showbiz Politics: Hollywood in American Life (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2014), 178–81. This book chronicles the relationships between Hollywood insiders and presidential candidates from the 1920s to the end of the twentieth century. Be prepared for some surprises. Republicans at times have been more adept at exploiting the “Glittering Robes of Entertainment” than Democrats.
  2. Edward Allan Faine, The Best Gig in Town: Jazz Artists at the White House, 1969–1974 (Takoma Park: IM Press, 2015), 141–64.
3 Comments
MB
5/25/2017 05:53:32 pm

Super

Reply
Alice Richardson link
5/26/2017 09:13:25 am

The songs probably seemed right for the occasion. By the time he got to Reagan, he probably didn't feel like he could be made to feel young?
Anyhoo, reading anything from you, Ed Faine is wonderful ! Have you thought of doing local radio???

Reply
Scott Ragsdale
5/26/2017 01:13:06 pm

Hello Mr. Faine. We met recently at one of the First Sunday Annapolis festivals where you had a stand selling your books. (We talked and I bought a book.) A friend of mine who recently retired from the Marine band was the official White House pianist for about 14 years. He's written a book of memoirs about his time and experiences there. I was wondering if you ever would publish a book by another writer or at least be able to offer him some advice on how to get it published. Seems right up your alley! Best, Scott Ragsdale

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