The original documents are located in Box 1, folder “9/4/74 - Kennedy Center” of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Transcript
The original documents are located in Box 1, folder “9/4/74 - Kennedy Center” of the
Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Some items in this folder were not digitized because it contains copyrighted materials. Please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library for access to
these materials.
BACKGROUND:
THE WHITE Housr.:
WASHINGTON
DROP-BY RECEPTION IN HONOR OF THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS, THE ATRIUM. AND ATTEND PERFORMANCE OF "MACK & MABEL", THE OPERA HOUSE
THE KENNEDY CENTER
Wednesday - September 4, 1974
(Business Suit-Long Dresses)
From: Terry O'Donnell
The 10th Anniversary Celebration of the National Council;for the Arts will be highlighted by the reception-buffet in the Atrium from 6:00 to 8:00 p. m. , followed by the performance of "Mack & Mabel" in the Opera House at 8:00 p. m.
Approximately 275 guests have been invited to the reception in the Atrium. Your participation, along with Mrs. Ford, will involve attending the last half-hour of the reception in the Atrium where you will mingle with the guests, brief remarks to the reception guests if desired (suggested remarks at TAB A), and attendance of the 8:00 p. m. performance of "Mack & Mabel" in the Opera House. During intermission, you may wish to dropby a reception in the Golden Circle (a room adjacent to your box) to greet the Members of the National Council on the Arts and, if desired, make a visit backstage after the performance to meet the cast.
Background material on the National Council on the Arts, along with a list of current members and special guests at.the reception are attached at TABB.
A seating diagram of your box and the adjacent boxes is attached at TAB C.
Attached at TAB Dis a press release issued by the Kennedy Center on "Mack & Mabel."
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Digitized from Box 1 of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
SEQUENCE
7:25 p. m.
7:3~ p.r~ ..
8:00 p. m.
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The Kennedy Center 2. Wednesday - September 4. 1974
You and Mrs. Ford depart the South Portico, board motorcade, and depart en route the Kennedy Center.
NOTE:
(Driving Time: 5 minutes}
You might wish to eat dinner prior to departure since you will not have an opportunity to do so at the recepti.onbuffet.
Arrive Kennedy Center and proceed directly to the Atrium where you will be met at the entrance by Miss Nancy Hanks, and Mr. and Mrs. Roger Stevens.
PRESS POOL COVERAGE, 1'
The Stevens and Miss Hanks will escort you and Mrs. Ford into the Atrium to mingle with the guests (no formal reception line).
NOTE: You should slowly work your way to the opposite end of the Atrium.
PRESS POOL CO VERA GE
A lectern will be available at the far end of the room should you wish to make brief remarks.
NOTE: Nancy Hanks would introduce you in this case.
You and Mrs. Ford. accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, Nancy Hanks, and Marion Anderson (your box guests) depart the Atrium and proceed directly to the Presidential box where you will hold briefly in the anteroom.
8:05 p. m.
8:10 p. m.
9:30 p. m.
9:50 p. m.
10:45 p. m.
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3. The Kennedy Center Wednesday - September 4, 1974
You and Mrs. Ford are announced and proceed into the box and take your seats. (The box guests will have previously taken their seats.)
Performance begins.
Inte rm is s ion.
You and Mrs. Ford may wish to proceed to the Golden Circle to greet the Council on the Arts Members.
Second act commences.
Play concludes.
You bid farewell to your guests and proceed to motorcade.
NOTE: ;:
You may wish to ask Roger Stevens and Nancy Hanks to accompany you backstage to greet the cast.
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MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
September 4, 1974
TERRY O'DONNELL
DAVID J. WIMER~ National Council on the Arts
Per your request, below is a paragraph describing the functions of the National Council on the Arts and a list of the current member ship of this Council.
The National Council on the Arts, which was established 1fo September, 1964, is a Presidentially appointed body of 26 distinguished citizens recognized for their broad knowledge, or for their profound interest and expertise, in the arts. Nancy Hanks serves as Chairman. The Council advises the National Endowment for the Arts on making the arts more widely available to millions o! Americans, preserving our cultural heri tage, strenghtening cultural organizations, and encouraging the creative development of the nation's finest talent. These aims are accomplished in part by awarding grants to individuals, to state and regional arts agencies and to other nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations in a variety of cultural fields.
The current membership of the National Council on the Council is as follows:
Nancy Hanks, Chairman by virtue of being Chairman of the National Endowment Henry J. Cauthen, South Carolina Clint Eastwood, California James D. Robertson, California Rosalind Br is som, California Billy Taylor, New York Judlth Jamison, New York Eudora Welty, Mississippi James Wyeth, Pennsylvania
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Member ship continued.
Maurice Abravenel, Utah Kenneth Dayton, Minnesota Charles McWhorter, New York Beverly Greenough, New York James Jones, New York Leland E. Webber, Illinois Charles Eames, California Robert E. Wise, California Mrs. David Wilson, Tennessee Richard F. Brown, Texas
*Angus L. Bowmer, Oregon *Van Cliburn, Louisiana *Jerome Robbins, New York *Thomas Schippers, Ohio *Gunther Schuller, Massachusetts *George C. Seybolt, Massachusetts *Harry M. Weese, Illinois *Dolores Wharton, Michigan
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* New appointments, announced 9/3/74
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Partial List of Attendees
Buffet-Reception honoring 10th Anniversary of the National council on the Arts
Wednesday, September 4, 1974
6-8 P.M. Buffet-Reception The Atrium Kennedy Center
8 P.M. Peformance of !'Mack & Mable" Opera House, Kennedy center
Members (Present and Former} of the National Council on the Arts:
'tarian Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Stern Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Dayton Ms. Jean Dalrymple Mr. Edward Villella Ms. Agnes deMille Mr. & Mrs. Henry Cauthen Mr. Charles McWhorter Ms. Judith Jamison Mr. & Mrs. Jamie Wyeth Mr.·· Lawrence Halprin Ms. Nelle Harper Lee Mr. & Mrs. Paul Engle Mr. & Mrs. Phillip Hanes Mr. James Earl Jones Mr. Charles Eames Mr. & Mrs. Robert Merrill Mr. Richard Brown Mr. Richard Hunt Mr. James Robertson Mr. Billy Taylor Mr. & Mrs. George Stevens, Snr. Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Brisson (Rosalind Russell) Mr. Oliver Smith Mr. Otto Wittman Mr. & Mrs. O'Neil Ford Mr. & Mrs. Robert Berks Mr. & Mrs. David Wilson Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Peck (and 2 children} Mr. & Mrs. Bush-Brown Mr. George Seyboldt Mr. William cannon Mr. Maurice Abravanel Ms. Eleanor Lambert Ms. Beverly Sills
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Attendees (Partial List) Arts - Reception
Outside Guests
Mr. & Mrs. David Eisenhower Mr. & Mrs. Clifton Daniel Mr. & Mrs. Charles Robb
Dr. & Mrs. Arthur Burns Mrs. Nancy Howe - and daughter
Mr. & Mrs. James Keogh Mr. Raymond Price
Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Garment Mr. David Rockefeller
Mrs. Jouett Shouse Ms. carol Harford
Former Chairmen arid Deputy Chairmen of the Nat1onal Endowment for the Arts
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Stevens Mr. & Mrs. Livingston Biddle
Mr. George P. Shultz Secretary Rogers Morton Secretary William Simon & Mrs. Simon
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Page 2.
Attendees (Partial List) Arts - Reception
Congressional
Senator & Mrs. Hugh Scott Senator & Mrs. Javits
Senator & Mrs. George McClelland Senator & Mrs. Pell
Senator & Mrs. Henry Jackson Senator & Mrs. Robert Stafford
Senator & Mrs. George Aiken Senator Stuart Symington & Guest
Senator & Mrs. Mark Hatfield
Congressman & Mrs. Jack Edwards Congressman & Mrs. Phillip Burton
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MarionjAnderson I ;,1_~~~~ I l • I ' I
Mrs.j Ford I I I
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Mr . Roger Stevens
Presi~ent. i 1----i
Nancy Htnks
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1 Mrs. Roger
Stevens
I I Susan Ford Mrs.
I I Clifton
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Gardner ~ritt i Mr.
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FROM: Department of Publicity and Promotion Wayne Shilkret, Director; Leo Sullivan, Associate Director John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington, D. C. 20566 Contact: {202) 254-3696
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DAVID MERRICK'S NEW MUSICAL ''MACK & MABEL," TO OPEN 1974-75 THEATER SEASON AT KENNEDY CENTER
David Merrick's production of "Mack & Mabel," the new Broadway
bound musical starring Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters. will launch
the Kennedy Center's 1974-75 season when it opens a four-week engagement
fn the Opera House on Tuesday, September 3. A collaboration of the same
team that created Mr. Merrick's bigg~st Broadway hit. "Hello, Dolly!".
the production has a book by Michael Stewart, a score ~Y Jerry Herman,
with direction and thoreography by Gower Cham~ion.
"Mack & Mabel," now on a four-month pre-Broadway tour, ts currently in
Los Angeles where 1t excited critics to write rave reviews, comparable to
those that first greeted "Dolly." "A rousing hit" was the consensus of
reviewers and th~ public alike.
Robert Preston plays Mack Sennett of slapstick, silent screen fame
and Bernadette Peters plays Mabel Normand, Sennett's favorite leading
lady on and off the s~reen. ,Basically a love story of two talents caughi
up fn the exciting uproar of Hollywood's new industry, "Mack & Mabel"
recreates the zaniness of Mack Sennett's pie throwing antics, his Keystone
Kops and his bathing beauties.
The role of the pioneer film maker marks Robert Preston's return to
the musical stage where he stunned Broadway as Professor Harold Hill in
•the Music Man" and also was seen in the title role of "Ben Franklin 1n
Paris" and as Mary Martin's spouse in "I Do! I 06!" Bernadette Peters
first won theatergoers' attention fn "Dames at Sea»" after which she
starred on Broadway in «ta Strada" and "On the Town." (MORE)
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"Mack & Mabel" -2-
Lisa Kirk, who is remembered for stopping the show singing "The
Gentleman Is a Dope" in "Allegro 11 and 11 A1ways True to You in My Fashion"
in "Kiss Me, Kate," is costarred as a dancer fn the Sennett stable.
James Mitchell is cast as ill-fated director William Desmond Taylor.
There will be three matinees during the musical 's opening week, on
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as evening performances Tuesday
. through Saturday. During the remaining three weeks, performances will
·be presented on a regular Monday through Saturday schedule, with matinees
Atrium of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Tenth Anniversary
~ rsvp Secretary of the National Council on the Arts Luna Diamond 382-58 71 (no transfer of invitation)
Come with us to the "Mack & Mabel" performance which begins at 8:00 p.m. The Kennedy Center has kindly set aside a block of tickets at $10.00 each. If you wish to purchase tickets please advise when you respond.
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In Honor of P.L. 88-579
Public Law 88-579 88th Congress. H. R. 9586
September 3. l 964
2ln 2lct 76
To provide for tile ei<t11blishme11t of a Nation11l Conndl on the ArtR to asHist in the growth 11nd development ot the arts In the l'nlted 8tates.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre8entative8 of the National Arts and United States of America in Oongress assembled, Cultural Develop•
rnent Act of 1964. SHORT TITLE
SEC1'ION 1. This Act may be cited as the "National Arts and Cultural Development Act of 1964".
DECLARATION OF POLICY
SEc. 2. The Congress hereby finds and declares-( 1) that the growth and flourishing of the arts depend upon
freedom, imagination, and individual mitiative; (2) that the encouragement and support of the arts, while
primarily a matter for private and local initiative, is also an appropriate matter of concern to the Federal Government;
( 3) that the Nation's prestige and general welfare will be promoted by providing recognition that the arts and the creative spirit which motivates them and which they personify are a valued and essential part of the Nation's resources;
(4) that it is in the best interests of the United States to maintain, develop, and disseminate the Nation's artistic and cultural resources; and
( 5) that, in order to implement these findings, it is desirable to establish a National Council on the Arts to provide such reco~nition and assistance as will encourage and promote the Nation s artistic and cultural progress.
creating the National Council on the Arts
the National Council on the Arts
Chairman: Nancy Hanks 1969-Roger L. Stevens 1965-1969
Deputy Chairman Michael Straight 1969-Douglas MacAgy 1968-1970* William Cannon 1967-1968 Livingston Biddle 1965-1967
Present Members: Maurice Abravanel Richard E. Brown Henry J. Cauthen Jean Dalrymple (1968-74) Kenneth N. Dayton Charles Eames Clint Eastwood O'Neil Ford (1968-74) Richard H. Hunt (1968-74) Judith Jamison James Earl Jones Charles K. McWhorter Robert Merrill (1968-74) Gregory Peck (1965-66; 1968-74) James D. Robertson Rosalind Russell Rudolf Serkin (1968-74) Beverly Sills Billy Taylor Edward J. Villella (1968-74) E. Leland Webber Eudora Welty Anne Potter Wilson Robert E. Wise James Wyeth
Former Members: Marian Anderson (1966-72) Elizabeth Ashley (1965-66) Robert Berks (1969-70) Leonard Bernstein (1965-68) Anthony Bliss (1965-68) David Brinkley (1965) Albert Bush-Brown (1965-70) Agnes deMille (1965-66) Rene d'Harnoncourt (1965-68)* Richard C. Diebenkorn (1966-69) Duke Ellington (1968-74)* Ralph Ellison (1965-66) Paul Engle (1965-70) Virginia B. Gerity (1970-72)* Lawrence Halprin (1966-72) R. Philip Hanes, Jr. (1965-70) Huntington Hartford (1969-72) Rev. Gilbert Hartke, O.P. (1965-66) Helen Hayes (1966-69; 1971-72) CharltonHeston (1966-72) Ruth Carter Johnson (1969-70) Herman David Kenin (1965-68)* Eleanor Lambert (1965-66) Warner Lawson (1965-68)* Harper Lee (1966-72) Jimilu Mason (1966-72) William L. Pereira (1965-68) Sidney Poitier (1966-70) Richard Rodgers (1965-68) David Smith (1965)* Oliver Smith (1965-70) John Steinbeck (1966-68)* Isaac Stern (1965-70) George Stevens, Sr. (1965-70) James Johnson Sweeney (1965-68) Donald Weismann (1966-72) Nancy White (1966-72) Otto Wittmann (1965-66) Minoru Yamasaki (1965-69) Stanley Young (1965-66)
POSITIVELY ADULTS OMLY! IH COLOR "STORYYILLE LADIES"
plus"LAMOUR DE FEMr· x C.OHr. l P~10 PM...PARKINGI
STANTON ART THEATER'> 3100-1 Ith St ... N.f. 526-6099"
.~. ·•·ow· L . ··' ; .!. &
" . TH! .
... _PUSSYCA by BiD Manhoff
"Racy Amilt eom~r~ .CEDAR KNOLL
DINNER THEATRE 6. •~. Parkway, Mt. Vernon.,. Ya. Group , R~tH Available, Reservations: . · ·
·360-7880 ·Sat. 8/24 Pert. Sold Out
.»·.. 'way --opening~. ~f::: the .new~:·. Graham.· troupe. years . ago, l." David· ·Merdck, "musical',: has indicated she· plans to j'. "Mack. and 'Mabel" at the Spotlight. the :arts while in
~. _ :~::~:.~~~ei: W~~n~s~~ . the Whit_e-;-~~~~~-~1 ;~: .<~~~.: l~=~~~~~iiiiiiiiiiiiiii~iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil '::I~ - _ . ·· ~w.;. o · , ··~.,,-~- ,.·Mrs;: Ford met~ yesterd&y '"~''Dist:,.:_.-,z1·'1"'--'lg'~• !\b -~ :- The s~ow Is ba_sed on the ~ with .Nancy:Hanb, the head :·~:"; 1&1;vi; ~QI 11111
i ~ .~::Ju~!r ~!~~~n~~:i=~~· ~l:1: ·:s~~:a;~Te c;~:~ :~l~'Movl~i~·crRrctol j silent movie star Mabel Nor- to.feature-. the arts in the ·,.. man. . .. :Executive.· Mansion. . ~ :A White Hc~use spokes.--. · · · .· .. ·· · ' , · - . }: man said yesterday the FORMERLY•••• ~ Fords are attending · the ~· musical anc;t a. reception._~ be- MARRIED ~ .fore curtain time at,:. the • '' Coclctall-PartyDa-· · ~ Kennedy Center in cotiriec· - :t-. Tonight-Saturday-··.,.;;. • .r; tion with the celebration,: of » August31st-9:00P.M..' 1:: the tenth anniversary of the 4228WIMOMlnAvenue,N.W. ')., National. Advisory Council · Washlngton,D.Cr ":.: .
on the Arla.if~~,_:- · Call 833-3636·~·''" _.. .:,· ,~:_.t~· forinfomoction&l:rochxe
Pteseritoction en Esponcl! Ml!rcedes C.arreno, RoQ&io Gonzolez
"l.AINOCENTE" (a colores) 2, 5: l 5, 8:30 p.m. odemas,
Fray .lose de Guodak.pe en "'SEGtilRE1'tJS PJl.SOS," 3:30 y 6:45
p.m.
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I' r ""'" ·~• .•:"'\~~:-~ -, ~- ,,. "' "1; ····~ "Th~ · suite's composer is the current Seerebi?Y of·t\e_ NaVy:, who says he wrote the, ~~c last ye,a! t_o ~late his
Music Whai W.:: as: AlT. We{· · ~ L 1' ,r , "tf~. •
~ By ;~:w~ • IJ~, handsomety'·played by ·Tb;·~ua~ leaves' meLat ~ . , ' r· i..C'i": . , ~ James Toeco, t.he ... Seco~ 1o~s ·:'.t~r "wq~s, -·"e.x~eP.t to '
There are ~h wbt!ri no Symphony of Sibelius and - onde,; ~"'·~; if was played. ' ' · • · · -the ''Fledermaus" Over.ture w • ! · ·~w · · .
one ~ould ·~ about ~u- , o!Johann Strauss sQrroiind- The o~ol}s answer to that .
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lie. At .1,~."out of d<te>rs· • ed The Navy Suite by ~ WU.. quesp.on :~s painful: .. ~~ wo~td· Last Jdthtf hUDd'. 8:~ •t, Uam Middendorf. not have,been had \he , ~om· ., Wolf rrr._p 'Was one of thpse ~:1'~1'he- suite's compoier ls poser b'een ~ ordin.ary.J'ohn ~ times. Violent lightning a11d ·;'the current Secretary of the Q. Citizen. . lt .was an em:'·' heavy downpours immediate- ·'fia\ry, who says he 'Wr.ote barra.ssment to th!! mem~~ ly preceded tbe eoncert.:,and · lhe. inullie last year .tO.,:r~ of. U,le Na~onal S~ph(lny, the aound, ot a.. .ftea~. r:-J.n ·late . his "feeUngs and .ex- and' .conductor Murry Sidlin drippine down,:never .~~~~·; pmences iii · the United fi\ould not have-<~n a.ited It is a •und. that OV:ea a S.tates Navy, dating from· to;.~cti;Jt. • - " . ·~ whole new 41Uall~ -to. th.~ hiJ d~ as a young o~cer 'i'oeco is '•·• pianist wiw ~sts la."1be mUSic where, In the Paeific durin1 World balances fine example.s of ordinarllJ,_total silence~. War R• Its five sections the virtuosity currentam9ng .vaib. are titled: "The Fleet's Un- today•s·prlze.winningpianist$ r . . . • :
But .,er.. hundred peo- derwa.y; A Sailor's ij:orn, with a welcome poetic feei- '. '.S"fPlte ,,~ l>le valiantly mad.e . the. trip. pipe; · The Navy · Wives u,g. , On' another night, ; iQ. ·· . :-' '.!;: . and aat shivering through ·~ Waltz; Moon· Watch to anC)t'.her- place, it ~lLbe~ ~ · r. · . _ atranie bit :o1. history . . '.!'he Pearl; :t<Tavy Triumphal ~a~er , t:o evaluate ~··~1a;v,._ •. · ·' • . Second ~no ~. \~ March." mg :n more preci~ de~ ,, . '';g, .
'¥q,ck and Mahl~' . ·"~ :~ · , THEA.TEX, )tr°"' Bi Stewart's script, set.· aa . ~·- ar~· ,.un~te!Jigtbly m~~d., . ~ G>. ~
~ aoing on, ~tff.d, 1;o .ucii-.. itiemory in a .ID9.Yie studio, - MJs!. 1-3 et~ra scores a Z!!ro. , · · .~ · , • popular lare u bathing' allows clesigner llobili, Wag- Constricted by bis. dif¢c.. . ·
beauties . and scam~ 'ner a :tnagnificent opportU- toriaJ, demands, Champion'• cop1. Taylo~i __ wrltten_ m •· . Jl!fy ·for· such a studiO...- choreographic eff~ts .are hap• balf-Qllllen.Slon, .l'll!es ~ ttlaee lights ladders · . ~at- oddly pointless. A fire acene ,
, Mabef to !lore amb1tioua .~ ... • .,. ' th :t l · of total confusiol) and a· ..... , projects, ' tets lier 011 dqpe 'W~s. . .,ut, . ere 1 s. routine of Keystonen are and gets DJurdered himself. · We re stuck with it aµ night, bound to be unfavorably (So lackin.B ta the humor in . as dJ,lll as actually spending contrasted with Jerome Rob-
1 this behemoth, that I longed · hQUl'I in a studio. A couple bins' similar but triuJJ!phant : "to Jiear Apita Loos' old line; · ~f .ilice effeets are managed number . of "High Button , It 1eems there was a gun ·-a ch,ute for "Hundreds of Shoes." : ? ~unmyha~:o:" o1it~::c:i. Girls" ' (actually 16) to ·slide . Wlth little to d~, •llth. ex• Mr .. Sherman.") 1J:·ft:"'l.-: down. some tinsel to s.uggest , r:J8 e as ~!m~~f~
Given aueb material,:.~ .• a Warner Bros., m~s1cal ~ - do t>1:1dldl despite <*the man's J.yricS and music are 193~ut the set hovers miuing insJcuent ~ vital~
,,muted, fatt!ll , to negative ~ grimly over the book and ity . . This -IS the department t thoughts and dril>py tunea. .allows -no vi8Ual variety. where "~a.ck and Mabel" is f There's something to be satd ~ 'tinaIJ:y, the characters wholly lacking--zest; crisp-- for "I · W~n·t Send-Roles" .11-.ve ·110 "'al·b~y. They are ness, ell.n. . ... · .;. ' • and "When Mabel Comes in even less deflmtive, in fact, Whoever urged the~Lex· • the' Room." But, as in uga th.an the snatches of old peiV of (!ur IJlualcaJ siage ·
Kirk's triumphant, next-to- scenes the book attempts te t<? get seripua and iJtrtlstic . closing "Tap Your Troubles mo c It Preston manfuuY did them and the rest of us
" · ~ d · d f a dreary· disservice. The run ~way, the staging ,;.s, e- suggests some moo s or la for foqr pre-Broadway , , , maned to, sho:;v us grimmer Mack but, hampered ,,1th weeks but 'If anythin.g's to .
matters while they're bei!li a ·whiny voice from which, salvage "Mack and Mable," 1Un1. lDOlt ot' -the· time, her lyrics it'll have to be from scratch.'
President ~otd,' · ~hose ,., Bet~y FartU"Wllen ~·m •dr·t forte has always been sports rounded ,'. by ·J.Betty ~·on o~ more . tH.an highbrow cul-.., ' ~ • . who's an expert , Oil ture; w.on applause and . man~ subjt?cts;'.' he 'Sti~ laughter lj!.st night irt bis "and "NaQcy· :ori' ·the other :first ,presi<jentlal vWt to 'the .. ·aide, ,rrii-.a .cbµipletely .hijsiKenne<fy Center 'fq see· tber · less . indivia~1. · , . : 1~·f
.-new· musical ·~~ack_ '~c;l. 1 · · •lt;s -a prlvlleie for me lo Mabel'.' _, . ,...., • ~,, ,... '.''go· :.frQm· lliUe Qr '..rio. appi'e-
'A rooinfuL-0f Jtars.'Wliltj!cr "."'Clatiod or .support. ;tor the expectantly to greet.' Mr . ., .arts,:. I'm•a:<;onverted in-· Ford in the Cente~s.~trt~ · diV;i\iuaL".,\The guests;Jaugh-. at a pre performanc.c;~~ceJ?; .. ed~~ one •1tout~~"Th.~y'.1"e tlon desiglied ~ marlt \the ':• the< best ldndt~· 1 ... • i: .:; "~ •
top reception .room,· many ~· od~ .tbU ihose l;>rowrht up the distinguished ·guests-- i fr;i: tbe·~nBl,\Hl..~~' :, ' • F: >' • • _ past .- and pr~sent mepibers. ,, . · :Mt"•n .... ~-.eot 'On~ cite , of the. cotincil-were beard ... _. ' ~~ . .. · . · . to chortle "l ~ shoolt · th~ -~ one brUah, •J91.blgbbp>!"
• Presldeilt's hand!" f art .(aside •. fioor )lii.- w~~ s . . . · having been a .fif~ qr¥-
To .waves . of applause am dancer).' Jt W~ aii enfl'om, the fam~l,18 and -iio~ so counter With·"i iieuIPtQre by. famous, Mr. Ford app,roach· 4lexander'Cald~tet· up' oUt: ed the podium, b~ging"1th .door~ in bls b'i>metown ri! him Nancy Han~. chail'maJl; ;G.rand~Jtiipr~.1t1.lch. "It .w.Jll of the arts council anc:I ·head ·"bell hall~~ ·he ·~ict: "I of the National EndowmeQt; • • ·' < .. ·" . - ·· • • " • ~ forjhe Arta • .and .Flrst La41- See ~c;F;nt~ .. ;C3; Cc>~l~ - ,. ' . . , . ~ '·. "/· r."!f ..
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Washington Star-Dews Thursday, September S, 1974
SectionD M•
.. It ·was a big night for presidential daughters when President Ford went to the Kennedy Center last night to see "Mack and Mabel." With him are (from
) Margaret Tmman Daniel, usan For~, ~ynda, Bird John
Robb and husband Charles, vid and Julie Nixon Eisen
hower, and Mrs. Ford.
• Television
•People • Amusements •The.Arts
FOrd: a Conve.rt To the Arts
By Ymelda Dixon Special to the Star-News
President and Mn. Ford. daughter Susan and her date Gardner Britt converged upon the Kennedy Cen~ ter's Atrium last night for their first cultural sortie since Ford became President.
The occasion, a buffet reception celebrating the I 0th anniversary of the National Council on the Arts, was followed by the musical "Mack & Mabel." ·
· The Fords, escorted by Nancy Hanks, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. and her pre-· decessor in that position, Roger L. Stevens, stopped constantly to greet friends anCI . would-be friends all
i'along the way. "That's Agnes de Mille," exclaimed Betty Ford as she sighted the famed choreographer.
' " "I can't help but be amused" said Miss Hanb;.,_. "when the President of the t:Jnited States asks me lf l~cJ : introduce him (to Agnes de Mille). ' ':'°' · ) "Wh~n I'm surrounded on one side by Betty and on ·
the other by Nancy Hanks, both of whom are~ ... on many subjects. I am completely helpless, .-: t.h•'· '.t, President added. .. .. · !•. · : . • '.;·
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After stressing his support of the arts, a subject on which he concedes he ls relatively uninformed, Ford explained, "I am a converted individual and converts, as everyone knows.. are the best advocates." ' .
While the audience clapped in approval, Ford told his Calder story. "We have a Calder mobile In Grand Rapids," at which point, he was corrected by both Mrs. Ford and Miss Hanks - "a stabile - not a ·mo-: bile." Accepting the correction, he continued&- ·~1 still don!t have any specificity on what Calder was t1'11DI to tell us," and the crowd roared at the President's use of the word "specificity," used so often In the Heue Judiciary Committee bearings. "But I do kno'!~" con- ,
Beti;, ·Jt~ Marian ~n;.-•ar-,~~fnvliiii_li Dti.9iel. Preaitleiat Ford, SU10n Fard, Lynda Bird and Chuck Robb, ntm;d and Julie EitenlaOwer and Beft!l-F-.~;. Clarl.ti,.e· ~; f.CO.•lind Ruuell One{-Freddie Briuon. •1 ·
THE. FORDS' ..NIGHT OUT: ~~r just-~Jow .. btm aro~rid," said Betty Ford, daughter Susan. " I'm telllng her that I used to teach tap danehig, ;but sh~ five p~ces beMnd the President as they moved tbrougq cheering throngs _ doesn't believe me. But I really did, you know. Jerry and I ate really en~ -, in the atrium of the JFK center for the Performing Arts in Washington to ~- joyinglhis1" she told Eye. "We both like the work .. " She slipped away.to see the new musical, "Mack and Mabel." -. tell Margaret Trumaif Daniel : "I've been wanting to call your mother.
