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1489502
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1/20/76 - Tribute to Pearl Bailey
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id
1489502
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document
title
1/20/76 - Tribute to Pearl Bailey
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Sheila R. Weidenfeld Files (Ford Administration)
Sheila Weidenfeld's Daily Events Files
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1489502
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1976-02-29
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1976
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1976-01-01
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 8, folder "1/20/76 - Tribute to Pearl Bailey" 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 Gerald R. Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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 8 of the Sheila Weidenfeld Files at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library MICHAEL RADOCK VICE PRESIDENT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR File - Pearl Baily Saluto FIRST LADY February 9, 1976 Dear Jim: Enclosed is an autographed picture of you from Mrs. Ford. I thought you would enjoy having it. I have also enclosed some other photographs which are fun and which you, Bob, Toni and Nancy might like. Thanks so much for the beautiful flowers. They meant a lot to me and I appreciate it. Please give my love to everyone. Fondly, Sheila Rabb Weidenfeld Press Secretary to Mrs. Ford Mr. Jim Peck Take It From Here NBC Television 4001 Nebraska Avenue Washington, D.C. SRW/fp FORD of LIBRARY PRESIDENT'S FILES Letter delivered personally by Mrs. Ford to Pearl Baily during "A Tribute to Pearl Baily" on the Take It From Here television show 1/20/76. January 19, 1976 Dear Pearl: On stage or off, you lighten hearts and brighten days wherever you go. I join your many, many friends and fans every- where in toasting your fabulous talent as a performer and a warm and loving person. Keep on being Pearl. With every good wish, /s/ Jerry Miss Pearl Bailey 8433 Melvin Avenue Northridge, California 91324 SRW/6P FORD & LIBRARY DERALD THE WASHINGTON POST Wednesday, Jan. 21,1976 * B3 Pearl Bailey, Shier and Retiring By Jacqueline Trescott "Oh, they told me you were in New York and I just told our age," Pearl Bailey squealed as Betty Ford led a parade of friends who dropped by to tape a show-business retirement salute to the 57-year-old entertainer at WRC-TV yesterday. Before going on, Mrs. Ford said her son Jack was a "good politician" but as to aspiring to be President, "I wouldn't wish that on him." She also said she had tried to get a plug for the Equal Rights. Amendment in- cluded in her husband's State of the Union address on Monday, but "there's so much to cover. As it was I thought it was too long-I'd like to see it about 35 minutes.' Mrs. Ford said she was "absolutely amazed" at former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter's show of strength in the Iowa caucus. Lynda Robb (whose husband, Chuck, N074 DW MRS. FORD-PEARL BAILEY BY FRANCIS LEWINE WASHINGTON (AP) -- FIRST LADY BETTY FORD JOINED TODAY IN A TELEVISION SALUTE TO SINGER PEARL BAILEY, WHO WAS GIVEN A "SURPRISE" FAREVELL AS SHE PREPARES TO END HER STAE CAREER THIS WEEK. MRS. FORD JOINED A NUMBER OF CELEBRITIES ON THE TELEVISION SHOW "TAKE IT FROM HERE'' (WRC-NBC-TV) WHO GATHERED FOR THE TAPING OF AN HOUR-LONG SHOW HONORING MISS BAILEY. IT WILL BE SHOWN WEDNESDAY MORNING. PEARL HAD LAUNCHED INTO AN INTERVIEW ON THE SHOW AND WAS EXPRESSING HER FONDNESS FOR MRS. FORD, WHEN THE FIRST LADY MADE HER APPEARANCE ON STAGE. MRS. FORD PERSONALLY DELIVERED A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TOASTING MISS BAILEY'S **FABULOUS TALENT AS A PERFORMER AND A WOMAN AND A LOVING PERSON." THE PRESIDENT SAID, ''ON STAGE OR OFF YOU LIGHTEN HEARTS AND BRIGHTEN DAYS WHEREVER YOU GO.'' AMONG THE CELEBRITIES ON HAND WAS LYNDA BIRD ROBB, DAUGHTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON, WHO SAID OF HER MOTHER, NOW RESIDING ON THE LBJ TEXAS RANCH, "SHE'S GLAD TO BE WHERE SHE IS.'' FORMER PRESIDENT NIXON SENT MISS BAILEY A TELEGRAM RECALLING HER SUPERB PERFORMANCES** AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND SAYING, "SHE HAS BROUGHT LAUGHTER, JOY AND ENTERTAINMENT TO AUDIENCES ALL OVER THE WORLD.'' PRESIDENT FORD NAMED MISS BAILEY RECENTLY TO THE U.S. DELEGATION AI THE UNITED NATIONS AND NIXON SAID HER CONTRIBUTION THERE "*IS APPRECIATED BY ALL OF US.'' MISS BAILEY PLANS TO END HER LONG CAREER SATURDAY NIGHT WITH A FINAL PERFORMANCE IN THE MUSICAL, 'HELLO DOLLY, AT THE KENNEDY CENTER HERE. 01-20-76 15:46EST UP-027 (GOODBYE DOLLY) WASHINGTON (UPI) -- WEARING A RED HAI WITH TALL RED FEATHERS, A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES' DELEGATION TO THE UNITED NATIONS SALUTED PRESIDENT AND MRS. FORD WEDNESDAY NIGHT FROM THE STAGE OF THE OPERA HOUSE AT THE KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. THE GREETINGS CAME FROM ENTERTAINER PEARL BAILEY, WHO was PLAYING THE ROLE OF DOLLY IN "HELLO DOLLY" AND WHO SAYS SHE IS RETIRING FROM THE STAGE SATURDAY TO DEVOTE MORE TIME TO HER NEW ROLE AS A DIPLOMAT. AT THE END OF THE SHOW, THE HOUSE LIGHTS CAME ON AND MISS BAILEY, LOOKING UP TOWARD THE PRESIDENTIAL BOX, HAILED MRS. FORD SAYING, "I FEEL WARM JUST IN HER PRESENCE." TO FORD SHE SAID: "YOU KNOW, SIR, OF THE AFFECTION I FEEL FOR THE GENTLEMAN, THE PRESIDENT." THEN SHE PUT ON A 15 MINUTE DISPLAY OF VAUDEVILLE. FORD TOLD REPORTERS THAT HE WENT BACKSTAGE TO GREET MISS ILEY AFTER THE SHOW. ACCOMPANYING THE FORDS ON THEIR NIGHT OUT WERE SEN. AND MRS. ROBERT GRIFFIN, R-MICH.; REP. AND MRS. JOHN JARMAN, R-OKLA., AND FORMER ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN HAROLD COLLIER AND MRS. COLLIER. UPI 01-22 09:59 AES UP-105 (SECRETARY OF STATE BETTY) WASHINGTON (UPI) -- WITHOUT REALIZING IT, BETTY FORD ALMOST GOT THE EGYPTIANS AND THE ISRAELIS TOGETHER TUESDAY-- ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE. THE OCCASION WAS A TAPED TELEVISED SHOW HONORING SINGER PEARL BAILEY, WHO IS LEAVING SHOW BUSINESS. SOME OF HER CELEBRITY AND DIPLOMATIC FRIENDS FROM THE WASHINGTON SCENE WERE INVITED TO TAKE PART -- INCLUDING MRS. FORD -- AND SHOWED UP ON THE SET OF THE STUDIO. AMONG THEM WERE EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR ASHRAF GORBAL AND ISRAELI AMBASSADOR SIMCHA DINITZ. THE PRODUCERS WERE FLUSTERED, KNOWING THE TwO DIPLOMATS DID NOT WANT TO BE WITH EACH OTHER. BUT BOTH WERE TAKEN TO A HOLDING ROOM WHERE THERE WERE TWO DOORS. GORBAL AND ONE OF HIS STAFFERS STAYED ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROOM AND DINITZ AND AN AIDE HELD FORTH ON THE OTHER SIDE. THEY IGNORED EACH OTHER. TURNED THEIR BACKS ON EACH OTHER. BUT EACH GRACIOUSLY GREETED MRS. FORD WHEN SHE WALKED IN. HER REMARKS INDICATED THAT THE ROOTS OF THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT HAVE ESCAPED HER. SHE SHOOK HANDS WITH A SMILING DINITZ AND COMPLIMENTED HIM ON A RECENT TELEVISION PROGRAM SHE HAD SEEN. "I ENJOYED WATCHING YOU THE OTHER EVENING," SHE SAID. "I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT (THE MIDEAST SITUATION) OUT. IF I WATCH MORE CAREFULLY..." DINITZ TOLD HER SOOTHINGLY, "IT'S A VERY COMPLEX PROBLEM." "I SAID TO MY HUSBAND -- EXPLAIN IT,' MRS. FORD SAID, REFERRING THE PALESTINIAN DEBATE BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS. "HONEY," SHE QUOTED THE PRESIDENT AS SAYING. "IT WILL TAKE HOURS AND HOURS." "IT IS BECAUSE OF THE GREAT STATESMANSHIP OF YOUR HUSBAND AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE," DINITZ WAS OVERHEARD TO SAY. UPI 01-20 04:12 PES SERIAL R. FORD LIBRARY N074 DW MRS. FORD-PEARL BAILEY BY FRANCIS LEWINE WASHINGTON (AP) -- FIRST LADY BETTY FORD JOINED TODAY IN A TELEVISION SALUTE TO SINGER PEARL BAILEY, WHO WAS GIVEN A 'SURPRISE' FAREWELL AS SHE PREPARES TO END HER STAE CAREER THIS WEEK. MRS. FORD JOINED A NUMBER OF CELEBRITIES ON THE TELEVISION SHOW "TAKE IT FROM HERE'' (WRC-NBC-TV) WHO GATHERED FOR THE TAPING OF AN MORNING. HOUR-LONG SHOW HONORING MISS BAILEY. IT WILL BE SHOWN WEDNESDAY PEARL HAD LAUNCHED INTO AN INTERVIEW ON THE SHOW AND WAS EXPRESSING HER FONDNESS FOR MRS. FORD, WHEN THE FIRST LADY MADE HER APPEARANCE ON STAGE. MRS. FORD PERSONALLY DELIVERED A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TOASTING LOVING PERSON. MISS BAILEY'S 'FABULOUS TALENT AS A PERFORMER AND A WOMAN AND A THE PRESIDENT SAID, ''ON STAGE OR OFF YOU LIGHTEN HEARTS AND BRIGHTEN DAYS WHEREVER YOU GO." AMONG THE CELEBRITIES ON HAND WAS LYNDA BIRD ROBB, DAUGHTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT LYNDON B. JOHNSON, WHO SAID OF HER MOTHER, NOW RESIDING ON THE LBJ TEXAS RANCH, SHE'S GLAD TO BE WHERE SHE IS." FORMER PRESIDENT NIXON SENT MISS BAILEY A TELEGRAM RECALLING HER 'SUPERB PERFORMANCES** AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND SAYING, SHE HAS WORLD.'' BROUGHT LAUGHTER, JOY AND ENTERTAINMENT TO AUDIENCES ALL OVER THE THE UNITED NATIONS AND NIXON SAID HER CONTRIBUTION THERE "IS PRESIDENT FORD NAMED MISS BAILEY RECENTLY TO THE U.S. DELEGATION AT APPRECIATED BY ALL OF US." HERE. PERFORMANCE IN THE MUSICAL, HELLO DOLLY,' AT THE KENNEDY CENTER MISS BAILEY PLANS TO END HER LONG CAREER SATURDAY NIGHT WITH A FINAL 01-20-76 15:46EST UP-098 (BETTY) (BY HELEN THOMAS) WASHINGTON (UPI) -- BETTY FORD SAYS HER SON JACK IS A "GOOD POLITICIAN" BUT SHE WOULDN'T WISH THE PRESIDENCY ON HIM. SHE ALSO PREDICTED THAT THERE WOULD BE A WOMAN PRESIDENT SOME DAY, AND SAID WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF ANNE ARMSTRONG AS U.S. AMBASSADOR TO GREAT BRITAIN, HER HUSBAND WOULD BE NOMINATING OTHER WOMEN TO TOP JOBS IN THE FUTURE. SHE DECLINED TO BE SPECIFIC. MRS. FORD TALKED WITH REPORTERS AT NBC-TV STUDIOS WHERE SHE TOOK PART IN A TAPED TELEVISED SHOW HONORING PEARL BAILEY WHO IS MAKING HER FAREWELL TO SHOW BUSINESS WITH A PRODUCTION OF "HELLO DOLLY." THE FIRST LADY, KEEPING UP TO DATE ON THE POLITICAL FRONT, COMMENTED ON THE IOWA PARTY CAUCUSES "I WAS ABSOLUTELY AMAZED. I WAS SURPRISED AT JIMMY CARTER'S STRENGTH". CARTER, WHOM MRS. FORD MET WHEN HE WAS GOVERNOR OF GEORGIA, LED THE ROSTER OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES -- ONE OF WHOM COULD BE HER HUSBAND'S RIVAL IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. MRS. FORD ALSO SAID SHE THOUGHT HER HUSBAND'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS MONDAY "WAS TOO LONG." HIS DELIVERY RAN CLOSE TO AN HOUR. MRS. FORD SAID, "I LIKE TO SEE A -MINUTE PRESENTATION." ASKED IF SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE JACK, 23, AS PRESIDENT SOME DAY, SHE REPLIED "I WOULDN'T WISH THAT ON HIM,' BUT ADDED "HE'S A 60 0D POLITICIAN." AS THE PRESIDENT'S SON, JACK IS HAVING "DIFFICULTIES" LANDING A JOB, SHE SAID, BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS WHICH INTERESTED HIM AFE FEDERALLY FUNDED AND LEAVE HIM OPEN TO POSSIBLE CHARGES OF NEPOT 1SM. ASKED IF SHE STILL GAVE JACK ADVICE, SHE SHOCK HER HEAD. "HE'S 23 NOW, SHE EXPLAIIED. SHE MADE IT CLEAR SHE THOUGHT JACK HAD BEEN FORTHRIGHT IN A NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW IN WHICH HE ADMITTED HE HAD TRIED MARIJUANA WHILE HE WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT. "I THINK HE MADE A GOOD STATEMENT AND SAID WHAT HE THOUGHT." SHE SAID. IN THE PEARL BAILEY SPECIAL, MRS. FORD READ A WIRE FROM THE PRESIDENT, WHO LAST FALL APPOINTED THE SINGER TO THE UNITED NATIONS DELEGATION. "ON STAGE OR OFF -- YOU LIGHTEN HEARTS AND BRIGHTEN ALWAYS WHERE YOU GO," THE TELEGRAM READ. "KEEP ON BEING PEARL. IPONO WAS SIGNED "JERRY FGRD." UPI 01-20. 13:36 PES GREATO LIBRARY UP_000