The president and first lady often host guests at the White House. In honor of the Diplomatic Corps Members’ Children’s Christmas Party in December 1970, First Lady Patricia Nixon welcomed Sesame Street’s Big Bird! 1/6
Image Credit: National Archives and Records Administration
It was a joyous occasion with singing and dancing. Big Bird and his friends, including Oscar the Grouch, performed a skit for the children in the East Room of the White House. 2/6
Image Credit: National Archives and Records Administration
Newspapers reported that “they made a darling couple, standing there . . . holding hands—Mrs. Nixon and Big Bird.” The children also met clowns and Santa Claus and ate as many cookies as they could stomach. 3/6
Mrs. Nixon enjoyed Big Bird’s visit just as much as the children, reportedly wandering about the East Room “wearing two of his yellow feathers tucked in her diamond brooch.” 4/6
Big Bird has become a frequent guest, caroling for the Carter family, talking with Michelle Obama in the White House, & inviting Barbara Bush and Hillary Clinton to visit him on Sesame Street! 5/6
George H.W. Bush and William J. Clinton Presidential Libraries and Museums / NARA
Learn more about the legacy of First Lady Patricia Nixon in this episode of our podcast, The #1600Sessions 6/6: whitehousehistory.org/1600-sessions/…
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