The original documents are located in Box 10, folder “7/29/76 - White House Spouses Briefing” 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 Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.

Digitized from Box 10 of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

3301 New Mexico Ave., N.W. Suite 3}0 Washington, D.C. 20016 362·5894

...

»~ ~~~I ~.l..f~.NJ> 71'8/l'­ w~dfN.GTON DA·TEBOOK Fords Charnl· .D.~~I,ig P~rty

MWhite• House . .: · By ~n~ Stackelberg : When President and Mrs. Ford had their first party at !fie vt)Ute House someone said it was like a Grand Rapids ' ~ - club on Saturday nigbt - lively, ~incerely fr!end- "'~ . .:.:.. ~ .., ..~ ,... ly, but appropnately digmfied. ~ , • : · . ' And It's been the same ever ~ . ~ since. If someone else sticceeds J to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue the: 1 Fords will be missed. i The unity and love that i came to the fore over this Bi- ··I centennial year and especia~y , .. . ~ , t over the 4th of Jul! was still m : ··t~ t- ··J evidence at the reception the · ; ·· f ' l Fords gave at the White House ~i'I.._ ·at the end-of July for the foreign· chiefs of mission and members of the Organization of American States. · Ambassadors and Wives from all parts of the world :came, some in the most imP.ressive native robes. They- · arrived at the East Gate about 9 p.m. and were U3hered to lbe. south lawn. An 18th Century ·touch was given to the ilcene by 24 torches. tall iron 'poles holding burning· pine bots. which were authentic "crossets" loaned by Wil- liamsburg authorities. ' • ;..,_ ·· . The President and Mrs. Foret appeared on the up.. ~t"nrrace with a light s~ on them as the Marine &nd played "Hail to the Chief. • Mrs. Ford was stunning ln a sapphire blue ehiffon dress, ber eyes sparkling. They . then descended the stairs on the right leading to the gar-_ an and stood to receive guests: : Then everyone filed into the beautiful rose garden ·under a big .tent, where Queen Elizabeth's dinner bad been held. The Prel!ident thanked the assembled for their gener. ous response to the American Bicentennial then introduced Mrs. Ford as a "refugee from the Martha Graham dance •group." Mrs; Ford paid tribute to John Warner, the direc- tor of the Bicentennial.. She said: . . , . • "Nobody could have asked for a peater success. To me it wu like a big love.in." • 1 .. lbat mood ~ed.~ the entire evenbig. Warner introduced the ormers starting off with "The World's Greatest Jau Band;' then country singer Tammy w~. and Roger Miller who- sang "King Of lbe...BDad.' Finally jazz queen Ella Fitzgerald sang like a ~ Toward the end she said:: .- • ;.7 "I am nervous, feel like I ani auditioning for the ~4fent." At. that, President Ford In bis charming way ;rt bis arm around her and she continued-to sing. .. _ Roger Millet said after his performance: "I think the most powerful thing you could do, Mt. President. is to Ji.sk. litty to be.yaiz: runniilg rate!.. . · · : After that it was up to the state dining ~m for a ~ of roast beef curry puffs, salads, cheeses, brown- JesA etc. , . . At. the same time; President and Mrs. Ford started _ofnli~ dancing. in the east l"OOlll. The President danced with Ella Fitzgerald. Both Fords are superb dancers and lbe. dancing 'feDt OD until well after 1 a.m. The evening was much more tun as there was more mobility than at lhe ·lisually more stiff state dinners~ With so much on his Jllind I don't see how the President can appear so relaxed -and make everyone else feel completely at ease. . . That night, John Warner escorted Ellzabeth Taylor who looked beautiful in an electric blue dress and big sap.. j>hire and diamond pin on her shoulder. She rather flaunt. eel a bandage on her calf which she said was the result of a fall from a motor bike she was riding at Warner's coun­ !ry place in ·Middleburg.

. . N024 R FORD - PARTY oY FRANCES LEWINE WASHINGTON CAP) - - JAZZ , COUNTRY MUSIC AND SHUW TUNES ECHOED FROM THE WHITE HOUSE ROSE GARDEN AS PRESIDENT AND MRS . FORD GAVE A d!CENTENNIAL '' THANK YOU ' ' ?ARTY FOR THE WASHINGTON DIPLO~ATIC CORP~ . FORD SAID HE THREW THE PARTY TUESDAY NIGHT TO EXPRESS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S APPRECIATION FOR THE ' 'GENEROUS AND ENTHUSIASTIC '' ~AY OTHER NATIONS JOINED THE UNITED STATES ' 200TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION . PRESENTING THE AMERICAN MUSICAL SALUTE WERE COUNTRY SI~GER TAMMY WY~ETTE , SINGER - COMPOSER ROGER MILLER, JAZZ QUEEN ELLA FITZGERALD, AHO YANK LAWSON AND BOB HAGGART AND THEIR ''~JRLD'S LARGEST JAZZ BA~D. '' THE FORDS AND SECRETARY OF STATE AND MRS . HENRY A. KISSINGER GREETED THE 500 3UESTS ON THE SOUTH LAWN , WHERE THE MARINE BAND PLAYED AND CHAMPAGNE WAS SERVED . THE WHITE HOUSE BORROWED 24 TORCHES FROM COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, VA ., TO PROVIDE A COLORFUL BICENTENNIAL EFFECT . BUT THE TORCHES ALSO SENT A PALL OF EYE - STI~GING SMOKE OVER THE PARTY SCENE . ''AT LEAST IT KEPT THE BUGS AWAY , '' ONE WHITE HOUSE AIDE COMMENTED . THE DRESS WAS WHITE- TIE AND THERE WAS MORE FORMALITY THAN USUAL AS THE GUESTS DINED I~ THE ROSE GARDEN UNDER A WHITE CANOPY TE~T . JOHN WARNER , THE FORMER NAVY SECRETARY WHO HEADS THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION tiICENT ~ NNIAL ADMI~ISIRATION , ATTENDED THE PARTY WITH ACTRESS ELIZABETH TAYLOR , WHO DISPLAYED A BANDAGED LEG UNDER HEF bLUE CHIFtON GOWN . SHE CONFESSED SHE GOT IT IN A FALL FROM WARNER'S MOTOR BIKE ON HIS VIRGI~IA FARM. 07- 21 - 76 10:34EDT

. . - tt· - WA SHI NGTO N

. . -Wuhinllton Star Photoerapher Walter O&~ FORMAL AFFAIR, WHITE BANDAGE - Actress Elizabeth Taylor Is escorted by John Warner, head of the American Bicentennial Commis­ sion, through the receiving line at the White House last night wh~e they attended the first of a series of receptions held to celebrate the Bicenten­ nial. Taylor, wearing a flowing dark blue evening gown that was almost a duplicate of First Lady Betty Ford's, also wore a band88e on her right knee .... the result of a motorcycle accident suffered at Warner's farm in Virglnla's hunt country. (See Betty Beale's column on B-2.) •• The ambassador isn 't diplomatic By ANN WOOD ahead of him and the other ambassadors, who were, after all, the guests of honor. Washfogton (News Bureau) They lined up according to protocol on the Jimmy Carter likes country life and sbuth lawn of the White House with the blac~ smoke from 24 torches borrowed from Colonial fish fries and has been running against Williamsburg for the occasion swirling arougcl Washington, but before he turns in them and adding an unusual note to such a his blue jeans he should know that if formal event.,. he wins the presidency, he also gets A ch111y look the booby prize. Mrs. Jouett Shouse, patron of the arts and Whether that's the whole diplomatic corps, friend of Betty Ford, broke into the line and or just the dean, Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa the ambassador behind her gave her a chilly of Nicaragua, is a matter of opinion. In any look that took in her lameness and cane, but case, it was not ~ proble'll when Car~r was . still conveyed the impression that his national governor of Georgia. borders had been invaded. Unlikely to leave Even Elizabeth Taylor, li:nping from . a motorscooter accident at the country home of. AmbaS£ador Sevilla-Sacas:.i Is dean because her newest Washington beau, John Warner. he has been here since 1943, 22 years longer went to the end of the line. Mind you, Ambq.. than his nearest competitor, and he is unlikely sador Sevilla-Sacasa holds the title as Waw to leave. He loves his work which puts him at ington's biggest bore, not only because _., the head of receiving lines of ambassadors observes all the rules of protocol, but as a and in position t<> speak for them as he did true artist can stretch them to suit himaelf at the White House party t.his week. to the maximum. His love of the protocol that pr<.>tects his One hour and twenty minutes after the star spot in ceremonies is well known and he guests arrived they were through the receivins is happy in white tie and tails, the only attire line and finally seated for the cntertainmeaa.t that permits him to wear his three rows o:f which was preceded by President Ford"lnaking mefair, Ambassador Sevilla-Sacasa is only the Forrestal in case Ford didn't i·emember be!Jll Nicarag~'$ Ainbassa­ most glaring example of prickleness, art ani­ there. · '! bassadors pride themselves on. dor Sevilla-Sacasa There'll no beating a champion like that. Cast a weight I'he party was billed as a major bicentenlilal . (above) adds the entertainment for diplomats, congressitaal: But it cast a weight on the party that not proper touch to tl\e leadership, the cabinet and governors. ~' even the combined presence of Elizabeth huge tent in the Rose Garden, still up from occasion: a kiss on the Taylor, Shirley Temple Black, on the job for the Queen's visit, was about two thirds fun hand for Betty Ford. her first night as chief of protocol, and a of mostly. diplomats who sat P!)litely throash concert of Ella Fitzgerald, Roe-er M;iller, the hour of top American performers·and. then Secretary of State Tammy Wynette, ·plus the World's Greatest headed inside to the bar in the State dining Kissinger looks on; Jazz Band did much to lighten. room while President and Mrs. For{l 'nd a Sevilla-Sacasa was not the firs~ person to few loyal followers twirled around the.. Eaat President Ford greets go through the receiving line, since the White Room floor. · _, · ,, . · Mrs. Sevilla-Sacasa. HOWie for some mysterious Teason put a few Jimmy Carter wlll never get these 1>4J!)Pti -j At right: other atten­ Pord eabiuet offkerJi .-nil White House aides to a beer bust _in ~! suburbs. .. - ., tive guests at WJ.ite • I i.• House entertainmeat • 1 included Qeft to right) the President's counsel, Philip Buchen, Mrs. Buchen, Liz Taylar end escort John Wa,,.., - UPI Photos 't~ ... I ' . -:- . '1'\ .,. ~ THE WASHINGTON PO JPednesday, /uly 21, l9i6 ·-.; .... •• RI . B =· ., Wthite By Joseph McLellan But she needn't have worried; Mr. is Betty Ford) it was a good sample of Ford proved to be a kindly music conservative, mainstream Ameriean pop· and Dorothy McCardk critic-perhaps to the point of inac· ular music, and it was generally very well performed. curacy-when he described the eve­ "Our audiences are .usually a lit:le At least, t4ere was a burst of spon­ le>oser than this," Roger Miller qUip­ ning's program as ·"the very best in taneous applause at • the opening American music." ped, peering out through the spot­ words of "King ot-the Rf>ad," indicat­ Perhaps he suspects that Aaron ing that sometimes some music can Jlghts at some 500 members of the Copland' is not a Republican, even diplomatic corps primly assembled in be a kind of international language. though he did write a piece about Last night's reception was billed by long dresses, white ties and tails in Abraham Lincoln. the tented and air-conditioned White the White House a~ the first of a ser­ House Rose Garden. Superlatives abounded from the be· ies of white-tie affairs to celebrate ginning of the program, which was the Bicentennial. "I was a little nervous at first," he opened by an organization that calls John Warner, head of the American confessed to the audience later, after itself "The World's Greatest Jazz loosening them up with a couple of Revolution Bicentennial Commission, Band" and probably should insert the was among last night's guests, but the 111>ngs and a good fiddle rendition of word Dixieland somewhere in that 'trhe Orange Blossom Special." cameras-and the gaze of many of title, in the interest of accuracy if not the diplomats-were focus.ed on his "But then the lights went up and I modesty. companion,. actress Elizabeth Taylor, a.w a lot of familiar faces. I see you Some kind of superlatives were earned who brought up the end of the receiv· 0n television all the time. Hi there, by Tammy Wynette, who postponed her ing line in a flowing dark tilue even­ Mr. Kissinger." honeymoon to perform at the White ing gown that was almost a duplicate Miller sings just about the same House and who is now dedicating her of First Lady Betty Ford's. way he talks, only it's better because classic "Stand by Your Man" to her new Many of the guests who were aware usually there's a kind of tune. He husband. She didn't sing her other clas­ of such things took note of the fact would have stolen the White House sic, "D-I-V·O-R-C-E." Along with her that Taylor's right leg was bandaged .how completely except that he wu standard country numbers, she included to above the ·knee. This, the actress followed by Ella Fitzgerald, who stay­ a medley of hymns. Nobody can make explained, was the result of a motor­ ed nervous all the way through but "Amazing Grace" sound bad, but she cycle accident suffered at Warner's ang all the better for il She sang makes it sound better than usual. farm in Virginia's hunt country. Gershwin and Cole Porter, and Duke For most of the evening, tile applause During the evening, President Ford lQUngton's "Satin Doll," which add up was diplomatic, making it hard to esti· presented the dean of the· diplomatic to' a f8ir match for "Walkin' in the mate how this cr,qwd-whlch is not the corps, Nicaraguan Ambassador Guil· SlmShine" and perhaps even for kind you nre likely to run into at the lermo Sevilla-Sacasa, with an elabo­ 1Jng of the Road." av~rage concert ball-actually felt about rately carved piece of California red­ Ella admitted that she was "all the music. And if it was not quite what wood. Each of the ambassadors re­ aervous because I feel like I'm doing the President claimed for it (he may be ceived a similar souvenir to take an audition in front of our Presidenl'" partial to the impresario, whose name home. Nicaragmln Am I ... ' . t.l~~:. ...".r. ' . ·'·~·:· .... " Entertainment . '. l~ ·.-~-;,. i ·~-" W'.EDl\ B'l

:':;&:::':!-: c: ~ ·' Er ?!;. 1 = f "115f "B= . . . . - B~ " ·;~~;t;,;)1 ~~. :f1:< : J •' .. •. . ~~.(.~ :'.'l!JJ • 't ::- .. . ~ :,:."' 1 'it)' 1:~~~ ' - . "Ji . Jeannette -· Ind: Sputijerneu, inv. i~llal~ ·1ove ,.,t9·~1~1I ' <¥orgi;-.ilft;:,~ •. .'1 ADd ~: ~~ ~~: \~Bf myth -. -.,:-- I Jlt- . • ... ·/ • ., . stwk Yank~e~. ~ery ti~e. . ),/ . .:~·:1~:·· Tamm~ Wynette, the . st .Lady ofCoun­ P~P.I~i~st pia••~~z: ·.. -Folks )ove to hear: her· tell her Horatio . Tammy Wyit.e~,'.laughs wbe~i'~th'a.1,. ; try Music; whose 1968 n 'on-seller "Stand Alger story, about being raised on tha farm :And denies that SOltthernerif h~,~~ ~;:: · ~y Your Man"'belped b ak' the Nashville i~ ~tawamba, M;iss., pilex. But there she i.>, juSt' -tound into liJ.~JnStream pop 'charts, openett ing a construction w9i:ker at tr; ·~ving a: little old coiintry girl, the first 'to sell~;!; this meetqig in curlers and :a :bathrobe: three baqjes, a divorce, 2,500 hours · of million country albums, freshly helicop;.: Wynette, w' was mfried Sunday as a ''·beauty s~ool training. w.hich netted her tered from her orchid-studded wedding fiit recording of her own foice singing ~'Th~ $90 a week, and finaUY>; . ~ning« off to .the garden Qf. :her !,o)ksy' n:2. milUq:n.' all· Hawaiian Wedding Song," was playing, Nashville~,Iand of ~m~, 10 years ago. berge in Nashville, picking'h.er fingernails· ended the enC9unter by:rgoing off to press But lots-.of Southerners' ~nd co~try · si~g­ and worrying. I WorrYing about all tho,se the dinner jacket :her n (fourth) husban4· ei;s tell .stories like that, and' they purely diplomats she was ·going to sin'g 'for-last was planning to· wear · the White House love to pi:efaee it, in their most exaggerated night, sitting in· their decorations ariil' last night. · pique· ties, ..li&tening to her new· lilt, -~ drawls, as Sam Eriin' used to, ''l'rii justia I . She is-as co~ntry sibgers, mparticulir, plain old countr.y V'wyet (or little old .see WYNETtE,;iJ8, Col\ 1 Ddzu. -0- NASHVILLE, TENN. -- TAMMY WYNETTE WILL SING FOR PRESIDENT AND MRS. FORD JULY 20, IN WHAT IS BILLED AS THE FIRST WHITE HOUSE PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE COUNTRY RECORDING STAR. MISS WYNETTE AND GLEN CAMPBELL WILL BE THE COUNTRY PERFORMERS IN A ''TRIBUTE TO COUNTRY MUSIC" PROGRAM, WHICH ALSO WILL INCLUDE JAZZ AND POP ENT ER TA INERS. UPI 07-14 10:44 AED

- The Wasbin:ton Star Wednesday, July 14, 1976 Names/Faces . ' ta.. >- 0 Cfl -· THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. FORD HAVE INVITED MEMBERS OF THE WASHINGTON DIPLOMATIC CORPS AND OTHER OFFICIALS TO A BICENTENNIAL CONCERT AND RECEPTION AT THE WHITE HOUSE NEXT TUESDAY. THE WHITE TIE EVENT, DESCRIBED THURSDAY BY PRESS SECRETARY RON NESSEN AS ''THE MAJOR WHITE HOUSE SOCIAL EVENT IN HONOR OF THE BICENTENNIAL,'' WILL INCLUDE A CONCERT UNDER A TENT IN THE ROSE GARDEN AND DANCING AFTERWARD IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THE CONCERT WILL COVER THE WHOLE RANGE OF AMERICAN MUSIC. INVITED TO PERFORM WERE SINGER ELLA FITZGERALD, WHO WILL FEATURE BROADWAY SHOW TUNES BY AMERICAN COMPOSERS; TAMMY WYNETTE, WHO WILL PROVIDE COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC, AND THE WORLD'S GREATEST JAZZ BAND WHICH WILL SHOW AMERICA'S FAMOUS JAZZ HERITAGE. ABOUT 500 GUESTS ARE BEING INVITED, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS, AMBASSADORS FROM THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS. 07-15-76 14:01EDT

-io- - - - - WASHINGTON CUPI> -- PRESIDENT AND MRS. FORD HAVE INVITED WASHINGTON DIGNITARIES TO A WHITE TIE CONCERT AND RECEPTION TUESDAY EVENING AS THEIR "MAJOR EVENT IN HONOR OF THE BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION," THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCED THURSDAY. THE CONCERT WILL BE HELD UN:>ER A TENT IN THE ROSE GARDEN AND WILL FEATURE THE RANGE OF AMERICAN MUSIC, INCLUDING JAZZ, SHOW TUNES AND COUNTRY MUSIC. ELLA FITZGERALD, SINGING SONGS BY COMPOSERS COLE PORTER, GEORGE GERSHWIN AND JEROME KERN AND COUNTRY MUSIC STAR TAMMY WYNETTE WILL PERFORM. ALSO ON THE PROGRAM IS "THE WORLD•s GREATEST JAZZ BAND." -0!-

n 1 7 d co.ltaa Hilt~? d Plymouth, Minn. - the 18- -a role that he played in real year-old grandson of hotel life a fe-w years ago. d owner CC•NRAD HIL;I'ON is • • • 1 . working here. as a hotel bell- ··,.1 T h e H ag u e - QUEEN boy, hau!ing luggage, washing JULIANA of the Netherlands walls and mopping floors. left ;yesterday for -a six-week CONRAD HILTON ·3c1, who is vaoat1on in her summer home s paid $3 an hour said that he in Porto Ercole, Italy. Her hus· 3 thought that he did a pretty band, PRINCE BERNHARD, j will- join her next week when r Malclng Nete• he finishes... a' trip. to Kenya. . Grand Junction, Colo. - good job, especially in han­ Fortner REP. WAYNE ASPI· NA~L KC~ . mto tile.£~ 1Jf;i*.~k\t-reaiMrUioll>1:llqrw ~ .J. ... ____ ,,,---:- UP-052 CFORD PARTY> WASHINGTON -- PRESIDENT AND MRS . FORD WILL ST AGE THEIR MAIN BICENTENNIAL EVENT TONIGHT WITH AN AMERICAN MUSIC CONCERT UNDER A TENT IN THE ROSE GARDEN . SOME 500 GUESTS , INCLUDING THE NATION'S GOVERNORS AND MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO ATTEND THE GALA CONCERT WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A RECEPTION IN THE STATE ROOMS . SINGER- COMPOSER ROGER MILLER , PERFORMING TWO OF HI S COMPOSITIONS , "KING OF THE ROAD" AND " LADY AMERICA" ; ELLA FI TZGERALD SINGING COLE PORTER; COUNTRY -WESTERN VOCALIST TAMMY WYNETTE , WHO WROTE "STAND BY YOUR MAN; " AND "THE WORLD ' S GREATEST JAZZ BAND " PLAYING THE "SOUTH RAMPART STREET PA~ADE ." UPI 07 -20 1~ : 54 AED

FORDS TO ENTERTAIN DIPLOMA TIC CORPS WASHINGTON I.fl-President and Mrs. For~ have invited members of the Wash1ngton diplomatic co s other officials 'to a bicentenniit c~~~ ) cert and reception at the Wh·t House next Tuesday. · 1 e The white tie event described Thursday by Press Sec~tary Ron Ne~n as "the major White House 8?C1al event in honor of the bice te . I mal,~ Will include a concert un3er '!; tent m the Rose Garden and dan . afterward in the White House. cmg