WASHINGTON -- “I remember the day the 1976 election results were announced,” former Marine Band Director Col. Timothy Foley said. “The joke going around the band was that we'd better brush up on our country music because our next president was a peanut farmer from Georgia.”
Then a clarinetist in the Marine Band, little did Foley know that works by Mozart, Bach and Wagner were actually some of president-elect Carter's most-preferred composers.
“After Carter took office, the White House folder was chock-full of classical music, including Mozart's late symphonies, all six Bach Brandenburg Concerti, and Wagner's Siegfried Idyll; and this was to be our primary White House musical offering for the next four years,” Foley said. “Speaking personally, I loved playing my clarinet as a member of the orchestra during those unforgettable days.”
The formal relationship between President Carter and the Marine Band began on the day of his inauguration – January 20, 1977. After taking the oath of office, he was immediately rendered a rousing musical welcome with “Hail to the Chief” performed by the band seated nearby. It didn’t take long for President Carter to begin dashing other public assumptions about his musical preferences as well.
A 1977 article from The Washington Post noted that “Carter discourages such trappings of the imperial presidency except at state dinners…” when referring to the Marine Band performing “Hail to the Chief” at his arrival to an event.
Another article from that year references the State Arrival ceremony for British Prime Minister James Callaghan: “President Carter, who has declared himself against pomp but has taken no romantic fantasy, grinned as the U.S. Marine Band played ‘I’ll Be Loving You, Always’ instead of “Hail to the Chief…”
Though Carter desired to downplay the formality of musical honors, to some degree he still had to take it in stride. Hearing the Marine Band play “Hail to the Chief” is just as much a part of the presidential treatment as are holding the keys to the Oval Office.
In his memoir Play On!, 25th Marine Band Director Col. John R. Bourgeois recalls the potential dilemma posed by Carter’s preferences:
During the Carter administration, the press and some of my colleagues in the Gridiron Club often reported that the president had eliminated the playing of his traditional honors, ‘Hail to the Chief.’ While he did not require ceremonial music at all public events when he was away from the house, ‘Hail to the Chief’ was always performed by the Marine Band at the White House whenever presidential honors were appropriate.
Nonetheless, President Carter was known to be a man who loved music and greatly embraced the Marine Band’s presence at the White House. A number of personal anecdotes from former Marine Band members describe that he genuinely enjoyed and appreciated the musical support provided by “The President’s Own”:
Current Marine Band Director Lt. Col. Ryan Nowlin recited a fun moment of Marine Band lore: “One of the most charming stories from the Carter administration involved composer and conductor, Marvin Hamlisch. An admirer of classical music, President Carter had Marine Band musicians perform for a variety of events, including a special South Lawn performance of music by Mr. Hamlisch. Following this performance, President Carter told the audience, ‘The only problem is that Mr. Hamlisch wants to take my Marine Band back with him. He can’t have them!’”
Clarinetist Master Gunnery Sgt. Stan Burroughs shared, “One of the fondest memories I have from my 20-year career in the Marine Band is a candid moment of President Carter. We were rehearsing on the South Lawn for a job that evening, and I looked up and saw President Carter walking toward us wearing nothing but gym shorts. No shoes. No shirt. Just the shorts. He sat down in the grass and listened to us rehearse for a while before he got up and went back into the White House. This casual moment with the President of the United States gave me goosebumps at the time!”
“Very early in his presidency we were playing for a reception, and we were playing Mozart’s ‘Eine Kleine Nachtmusik’ and he came over to us to listen,” Double Bassist Master Gunnery Sgt. David Wundrow recalled. “When we finished he said ‘I like that kind of music: “A Little Night Music” and in German “Eine Kleine Nachtmusic, K. 525.” Wow - he even knew the Köchel number. All of us were impressed. President Carter was a delightful person, and he was always very complimentary to us.”
Col. Bourgeois also wrote about a brief encounter he had with the president during his first years as Marine Band director:
President Carter had an avid interest in music and often took time from his busy schedule to listen to the Band's music. One morning while I was rehearsing the Orchestra prior to a reception in the White House, I became aware that the musicians were being distracted. I stopped to discover President Carter standing behind me in a position of repose while he was listening to the rehearsal.
Usual protocol is not to initiate a conversation with the president, but I could tell that he wanted to talk so I said, "Mr. President, I read that you have classical music piped into the Oval Office.’
He replied, ‘Yes, that is correct.’
I continued, ‘And that you are particularly fond of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde.’
‘That is correct.’
‘Well, perhaps I should include some Tristan in our music folder.’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘The Prelude to Act III would be great.’ Now the Prelude to Act III is scored for English horn and strings alone. A perfect choice for our chamber orchestra instrumentation. Indeed, he did know his Tristan!
“I only had the privilege of serving President Carter for a year and a half, but I did shake his hand once,” Guitarist Gunnery Sgt. Kent Ashcraft said. “I do recall one incident vividly: He was speaking to an audience in the rose garden, and our combo was a good ways away on the south lawn. We got word that he’d really appreciate if we could do ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’ in honor of the Iran hostages. I volunteered that I could sing it, so a microphone was brought over for me.”
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Carter was indeed a lover of music. In addition to being well-versed in the classical genre, he was also known to enjoy rock, country, gospel, blues and jazz.
The 2020 documentary “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President” describes how Carter came from humble beginnings in rural Georgia—his exposure to music at a young age included all-night gospel sings at church and limited broadcasts of country and Glen Miller piped into his childhood home on his father’s battery-operated radio. In an interview, Carter joked that he didn’t play an instrument, but instead he played the stereo.
The film also depicts how Carter once leveraged the music of Nashville to develop diplomatic relations with China. In an act of hospitality, he arranged for Chinese Ambassador Chai Zemin to visit Music City, pulling out all the stops in an attempt to thaw out working ties with the nation. As a result, the ambassador visited the Grand Ole Opry, enjoyed a private performance by singer Barbara Mandrell, and strummed a few chords on Johnny Cash’s guitar with assistance from the singer/songwriter himself.
The experience undoubtedly made a positive impact: In photos, the wide smiles of Chinese nationals alongside The Man in Black himself tells it all.
“I always thought music was our best ambassador,” Carter said in the film. “I think music is the best proof that people have one thing in common no matter where they live, no matter what language they speak.”
As president, Carter had countless other opportunities to host other world leaders and dignitaries, and though it went unmentioned in the documentary, the Marine Band also proved itself a critical tool for diplomacy.
Performances by Marine musicians in support of the Carter administration numbered in the hundreds, many taking place for receptions, dinners and events of all kinds at the Executive Mansion. During his single term in office, Carter even held a record 40 State Dinners in honor of visiting foreign leaders. No other president has ever held as many in a span of four years.
As a result, music by “The President’s Own” routinely played an exceptional role in creating an atmosphere where positive working relationships between nations could flourish in the Carter White House.
During State Visits, music is firmly woven into the itinerary. Depending on the schedule, foreign leaders are welcomed to the South Lawn of the White House with the band sounding their nation’s anthem; receptions or luncheons with heads of state and/or their spouses are accompanied by music from a solo instrumentalist or small ensemble; and State Dinners, which offer reprieve from a day of diplomatic talks and negotiations, are supported by an orchestra or range of small ensembles for entertainment and background music to the event. In each instance music breaks the silence, and sometimes tension, and opens a forum for conversation and cooperation.
Marine Band support to White House functions fell alongside many significant events during President Carter’s term, including the landmark peace resolutions between Israel and Egypt. A piano trio performed at the reception following the official announcement of the Camp David Accords in 1978. A variety of musical support was made available for the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979, including a band, orchestra, and a number of other small ensembles. In a special celebration commemorating the first anniversary of the treaty, an elaborate production was formed, including a choir of members from all the premiere service bands.
Col. Bourgeois recalls in his book a glimpse of the event:
With consultation of Social Secretary Gretchen Poston, on 23 March 1980 I assembled the choruses of the Army, Navy, and Air Force along with Marine Band vocalist Michael Ryan and the Marine Orchestra to perform a special setting of ‘Shall We Gather at the River,’ whose fourth verse evokes a powerful image in:
Soon we’ll gather at the river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.
He also remembers the musical liberty he took as Music Advisor to the White House for the 1978 State Dinner for Yugoslavian President Tito: “Other than the official honors music, I chose the music of J.S. Bach for reception, receiving line and dinner music. The acoustics of the marble grand foyer make for a glorious sound.”
Entering the White House to a “glorious sound” made a positive first impression for guests and set an appropriate tone for the celebration to come.
Col. Timothy Foley recounted his experience preparing to conduct the Marine Band for the arrival of the pope: “I didn't begin assistant directing until the fall of 1979, while the band was on tour,” Col. Timothy Foley said. “My first big White House job as assistant director was a doozy: the arrival of Pope John Paul II on October 6, 1979. I wracked my brain trying to find appropriate music for this unique welcoming ceremony. Sousa marches just weren't going cut it. After unsuccessful trips to Library of Congress and the National Shrine I was about to give up when, lo and behold, I discovered in our own Marine Band library, a medley - arranged for band - of Polish Catholic songs and hymns. His Holiness, being the first Polish Pope, this was unbelievably perfect and too good to be true.”
Bassoonist Gunnery Sgt. Richard Polonchak recalled an instance where the orchestra became a focal point for the evening: “President Carter very much loved the orchestra – so much so that he would make all the guests come out of the state dining room and listen to us. The lobby where we played was packed with dinner guests – but now quiet and attentive. For him, we were not background music! Everybody had to come out and join him and First Lady Rosalynn Carter while we performed. Very different from state dinners I played before he came in to office. And he would often come over and chat with us, too. He was very friendly and personable.”
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“I can't remember which State Dinners I did, but I always remembered President Carter as being very quiet and very nice,” said Master Gunnery Sgt. Earl Hurrey, former Marine Band librarian and stage manager. “He would always speak to you when he was in the room or on the South Lawn setting up for an event.”
“I have one other memory about President Carter,” he added. “It was the spring/summer of 1980 and we were setting up for the Congressional Barbeque. President Carter was running laps around the circle drive on the south lawn. He saw me in my uniform and stopped running and came over to say hello. He knew that I was a Christian, and he loved to talk about our faith when he would see me. We had several chats about God and faith over the short time I was in the band. After he retired and I retired in 1997 he asked me to work with him on Habitat for Humanity projects. I consider myself very lucky to have served and known this great and humble man. I don't believe there are many men who will be remembered for their goodness and faith more than President Carter.”
As final preparations are made to honor the life of President Jimmy Carter, “The President’s Own” stands by to give its final performance for the 39th leader of our nation.
“President Carter was in office the year I was born, so decades later, it is a true privilege to honor his legacy and life of service through music,” Marine Band Director Lt. Col. Ryan Nowlin said. “The Marines of ‘The President’s Own’ and I remain grateful for the kindness President and Mrs. Carter extended to our musicians during their tenure, as well as during the half-century that followed. He was tireless in his steadfast dedication as a champion of humanitarian causes and values. We are honored and humbled to offer a musical tribute with selections specifically chosen by the Carter family, in remembrance of a life committed to service. We wish peace and comfort to all who hold his memory dear and hope our music will provide solace during this time of national mourning.”
The Marine Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Lt. Col. Nowlin, will perform one last time for President Carter at his funeral service at 11 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 9 at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
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