Presidents Who Performed In Front Of A Live Audience
The other day, President Barack Obama sang "Sweet Home Chicago" on PBS along with BB King, Mick Jagger, Jeff Beck, and Buddy Guy. The group of famous musicians were performing at the White House as part of a PBS taping for Black History Month. The President proved that he has a pretty good voice when it comes to singing the Blues. In the past, presidents and presidential candidates have often taken to the stage to show that there is a human side to them and to relate to the general public. This was not the first time that President Obama has done this. Just last month, he sang "Stay Together" in Harlem, New York with Al Green and totally nailed the song. Of course, this type of grandstanding has negative results with his political opponents who have called him "The Entertainer in Chief" and are running attack ads against his performances. Nonetheless, the spirit of performing seems to go hand in hand with the President of the United States, no matter what side of the aisle they are on. Here are five examples of the Presidents Who Performed In Front Of A Live Audience
BARACK OBAMA DANCING ON ELLEN
Think the man can only sing? He's got some dance moves, too. Then-Senator Barack Obama put on a bit of a dance performance on the Ellen Degeneres Show when he guest starred in 2007.
GEORGE W. BUSH DANCING
Did you think George W. Bush was only about starting wars and giving tax breaks to the rich? Not so! Here he is with the Kankouran West African Dance Company dancing and playing the drums in the Rose Garden at the White House when they came to see him in April of 2007. All and all, I think the man had some rhythm.
BILL CLINTON ON ARSENIO HALL
In 1992, Bill Clinton showed up on the Arsenio Hall Show to play a saxophone during the election. He pulled off the shades pretty well and this rendition of Elvis Presley's, Heartbreak Hotel, was really good. This Rhodes Scholar showed that he could do more than just talk.
RICHARD M. NIXON ON JACK PAAR
OK, it isn't exciting, but Richard Nixon not only performed this number on national television after losing the election to John F. Kennedy, but he also wrote the piano piece. Note how Jack Paar pokes fun at Nixon by saying that he'll be accompanied by "15 Democratic Violinists".
HARRY S. TRUMAN
OK, so I don't have a legitimate video of Harry S. Truman playing the piano. This might be a good thing because, according to the former President, he wasn't very good at it. His mother wanted him to be a concert pianist, but by the age of 15, Truman knew that he would never be able to do that. That didn't stop him from giving a concert every now and then. Here he is pictured with actress Lauren Bacall. There are other images with him performing with comedian Jack Benny.
