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President
Nixon accompanies Pearl Bailey at a reception in
1974. National Archives
Music in the White House during the administrations
of Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter reflected
a wider segment of American culture than ever before,
with the appearance of jazz, gospel, ragtime, and
popular song, as well as classical concert and vocal
forms. Following various official state dinners,
Pearl Bailey, with Richard Nixon at the piano, sang
for President Pompidou of France; The Captain and
Tennille performed for the Queen of England, President
and Mrs. Ford and their guests: and Sarah Vaughn,
Dizzy Gillespie and Earl Hines entertained Shah
Reza Pahlevi of Iran under Jimmy Carter. But the
most important musical event of this period was
the inauguration of the first PBS series of five
hour-long programs broadcast nationally and throughout
Europe from the East Room. Initiated by President
and Mrs. Carter in 1978, the first series comprised
Vladimir Horowitz, Leontyne Price, Mikhail Baryshnikov
with Patricia McBride, Mstislav Rostropovich and
Andres Segovia. Elise
Kirk, Musical Highlights from the White House,
146-158.
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