Collection: Elvis

On December 21, 1970, Elvis Presley arrived at the White House to meet President Nixon.

On his flight from Los Angeles to Washington, Elvis wrote a letter to the President in which Elvis stated, “The drug culture, the hippie elements, the SDS, Black Panthers, etc. do not consider me as their enemy or as they call it the establishment. I call it America and I love it. Sir, I can and will be of any service that I can to help the country out. I have no concern or motives other than helping the country out. So I wish not to be given a title or an appointed position. I can and will do more good if I were made a Federal Agent at Large and I will help out by doing it my way through my communications with people of all ages….”

Elvis’ letter and the famous photographs of the meeting, photographed by White House photographer Ollie Atkins, are in the holdings of the National Archives at the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum.

The National Archives Store is pleased to offer prints of the famous photograph and an assortment of apparel and gift items commemorating the day the King met the President. Purchases from the National Archives Store generate financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records, to people around the U.S. and the world.