George Harrison: Darkish Horse on the White Home

By Steven Valvano

Given the election season we simply skilled, I had a jag to re-watch the 2016 movie Elvis & Nixon, a light-weight comedy concerning the real-life assembly in December 21, 1970, between Elvis Presley and President Richard Nixon. There’s a scene the place the Elvis character (performed by Michael Shannon) tells the Nixon character (Kevin Spacey) that he hates the Beatles and describes them as a unfavourable affect on the nation’s youth. Nixon agrees and says, “I feel they’re communists!” I didn’t miss the movie’s ironic level that inside 4 years, not solely would Nixon be compelled to resign (to get replaced by Gerald Ford), however one of many “commi-Beatles” would certainly be requested to the White Home.

Fifty years in the past in December, (December 13, 1974) George Harrison would turn out to be the primary Beatle to enter the White Home (Paul McCartney would have a number of visits later in life). George would settle for the invitation from the President’s son, Jack Ford, who had attended Harrison’s live performance at Utah State College a month earlier. George was large information on the time, being the primary ex-Beatle since their 1970 break-up to execute a large-scale continental tour. For the go to’s assist, he introduced keyboardist Billy Preston, sitar nice Ravi Shankar, saxophonist Tom Scott, and George’s father, Harry.

Earlier than Bob Geldof, George Harrison stood because the prince of rock’s charitable facet, having organized and carried out the Live performance for Bangladesh three years earlier. This was the primary of its form, two Madison Sq. Backyard charitable exhibits of superstars whose revenues can be given to the practically 10 million refugees of the Bangladesh Liberation Conflict together with victims of the current Bhola Cyclone that reaped devastation to the world. Little doubt this stood out when younger Jack steered it might be PR transfer for his father to be seen with the long-haired entourage (certainly, press footage from the Oval Workplace assembly have been dominated by Preston’s enormous Seventies afro).

When arriving that day, George stepped out of one of many two limos parked on the White Home driveway, and after introducing his bandmates to the small, assembled press constituency, he took a number of questions.

With the Christmas-decorated White Home entrance behind him, George mentioned of the invite, “It’s great. Very form, very good, I’m flattered.” When requested if his go to was going to assist Bangladesh, George instantly shook his head and mentioned, “No, I don’t know. I’m certain he [President Ford] has a number of issues in the meanwhile to be considering of. I don’t need to impose….I feel he has quite a bit on his plate, I don’t need to add to that.” The reporters then requested Jack if his father was a Beatles fan, and he smiled and supplied, “Most likely not. He doesn’t hearken to a number of music.”

In fact, the inevitable pop music query of the 1970’s got here to the fore: “Do you suppose the Beatles will ever get again collectively once more for a live performance?” Now George’s head bowed, and shook within the unfavourable, “I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m having extra enjoyable with this band, you understand? To let you know the reality, all of us grew up residing in a room collectively for years and years. It’s a pure factor for us to develop individually. Individually talking for myself, I’ve by no means been so comfortable than being on this band.”

At that time, one of many reporters seen that George was carrying a number of buttons on his plaid jacket, and wished to know why he was not carrying a WIN button. The button was serving because the administration’s PR marketing campaign slogan to WIN (Whip Inflation Now) with Ford’s insurance policies for an ailing economic system. George smiled and admitted he didn’t know what a WIN button was. As soon as the button was defined he smiled and soft-shouted “They haven’t given me considered one of them but!” Jack Ford threw again his head with laughter and supplied “We’ll give him one inside.” With George following up with, “Yeah, I’ll get one on the way in which out.” Closing the impromptu press convention, George mentioned he was glad to be visiting at that interval in time, “I really feel good vibes from the White Home,” he said whereas wishing everybody “Hari Krishna” earlier than strolling away.

Studies from contained in the Oval Workplace assembly have been skinny on particulars, nevertheless it was indicated that each one the members of the entourage wore smiles, shook palms, and held thoughtful conversations. These there described George as mellow and well mannered. George has labeled this level in his life as a “naughty interval,” given he had been battling a re-entrance of medicine in his life, together with shifting ahead with a divorce from his spouse Patti.

To a lesser extent, George had additionally been absorbing intestine punches from the press who have been ruthless of their opinions of his latest album Darkish Horse. Maintaining the banter mild and basic was seemingly his technique, as the very last thing George Harrison was contemplating was a political debate with the President of the USA. “I didn’t ask him [Ford] about Bangladesh,” George commented afterward. “I didn’t need to bug him.” Years later, George described his assembly the President in his autobiography, I Me Mine: “Ford was pleasant. I met [Henry] Kissinger. Kissinger seemed like an Arab, talked like a German, and was tanned throughout, like Clark Gable. He was a bit like Charlie Chaplin, like a Rutle.”



Upon leaving the 15-minute go to with the President, George was lastly given his WIN button. George in return gave President Ford an “Om” mantra pin. “Om” in written type is crucial image within the Hindu faith, it serves as a sonic illustration of the divine. Later that night throughout his Washinton live performance, George was seen carrying his WIN button on stage. There aren’t any reviews of Gerald Ford carrying his Om button.

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This put up was beforehand printed on CultureSonar.

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