LUCY & THE PRESIDENTS

Presidents’ Day

On a November 1, 1971 episode of “Here’s Lucy”, When Lucy asks Harry to move up payday to Tuesday, he replies “Not a chance! They can shove Washington’s birthday anywhere they want to, but my payday remains Friday.”  In June 1968, a bill was enacted that consolidated Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays into one holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February which eventually became….

PRESIDENT’S DAY!

Lucille Ball often said that there was some Ball blood in George Washington since his mother’s maiden name was Mary Ball. Genealogists say that the Father of Our Country is the 8th cousin 7 times removed to the Queen of Comedy!

LUCY: (Looking at a dollar bill): “Well, hello George. Long time-no see!”

On Lucille Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband,” President George Washington is mentioned in “The Absolute Truth” on January 28, 1949. and again in “Liz Exaggerates” on January 20, 1951.

On “Lucy Gets Ricky On the Radio” (ILL S1;E32) first aired on May 19, 1952, the “Mr. & Mrs. Quiz” jackpot question is “What did George Washington say when crossing the Delaware?” Ricky is truly queasy at how poorly he’s doing on the show, so he blurts out to Lucy, “Please let me sit down. This is making me sick!” which wins the prize!

When “Lucy and Viv Open a Restaurant” (TLS S2;E20) on February 17, 1964, they decide on a Colonial theme and dress as George and Martha Washington.

George Washington (Don Wilson) dropped by for a word with Mr. and Mrs. Paul Revere (Lucy and Jack Benny) on “The Jack Benny Program” in October 1964.

Mr. Mooney briefly appeared as ‘the Father of His Country’ (in painting form) when “Lucy Gets Mooney Fired” (TLS S6;E9) on November 6, 1967.

The famous unfinished portrait of President George Washington by Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828), who is widely considered one of America’s foremost portraitists, is also seen in quite a few episodes of “I Love Lucy”….

…and “The Lucy Show”. This is his best known work and is sometimes referred to as ‘The Athenaeum’.

The George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River between New York City and New Jersey, is part of one of the most famous scenes of the entire series, from ““California, Here We Come!” (ILL S4;E13) on January 10, 1955.

In 1940, on a publicity tour for Dance, Girl, Dance, Lucille Ball and Maureen O’Hara pose in front of the Washington Monument (opened in 1888) in Washington DC, the nation’s capitol. Naturally, the capitol city and the monument were named for President George Washington.

On a 1973 episode of “Here’s Lucy” an antique chair (a rare Twimby) is rumored to have belonged to George Washington at his Mount Vernon home. Naturally, Lucy Carter can’t live without it!

FRED: (To Ethel): “Show them your birth certificate.”
ETHEL:  “No!”
FRED: “You can cover up the date. I just thought they’d like to see what Lincoln’s signature looked like!”

The portrait of President Abraham Lincoln in “Lucy and the Raffle” (HL S3;E19) is by David Bustill Bowser (1820-1900) finished in 1865.

Another portrait of President Lincoln hung in “The Courtroom” (ILL S2;E7) in 1952.

n 1963 “Lucy Visits the White House” (TLS S1;E25) Lucy accidentally gets stuck in a rocking chair that belonged Tad Lincoln, the son of  President Abraham Lincoln! Tad Lincoln’s rocking chair is not in the White House, but held is from the collection at the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois. It is now in the Lincoln Heritage Museum in Lincoln, Illinois.

President Lincoln turned up on the t-shirt of Flip Wilson during the “Gone With The Wind” sketch on “Here’s Lucy” in September 1971.

In “Lucy Goes Into Politics” (TLS S2;E25) candidate for local office Theodore J. Mooney adopts the 1840 slogan of William Henry Harrison “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!” as “Tippecanoe and Theodore Too!” The slogan celebrates William Henry Harrison (the “hero of Tippecanoe”) and his VP John Tyler (the next President) while denigrating incumbent Martin Van Buren.  Three mentions in one!

When “Lucy Misplaces $2,000″ (TLS S1;E4) on October 22, 1962 Lucy gazes lovingly at the four $500 bills and remarks that President McKinley has a lovely smile. The $500 bill was last printed in 1934 and officially discontinued in 1969, so the bills must be from the final series minted from 1928 to 1934.

In the “My Favorite Husband” episode “Liz and the General” (1948) an eccentric neighbor (Hans Conried) suggests that Liz (Lucy) stage the Battle of San Juan Hill in her living room – and that she play Teddy Roosevelt!  Desi Arnaz’s grandfather was a physician who is said to have been at the Battle of San Juan Hill with Roosevelt in 1898.

The action of “Lucy Wins A Racehorse” (1958) is set at the now defunct Roosevelt Raceway on Long Island. The raceway is named after the village of Roosevelt, which was named for ‘Rough Rider’ President Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt.

On “My Favorite Husband” Liz Cooper (Lucy) confuses President Herbert Hoover with a vacuum cleaner in “Over Budget – Beans!” in January 1949.

Hoover’s 1928 campaign slogan “A Chicken in Every Pot and a Car in Every Garage” was satirized in “Lucy Goes Into Politics” (TLS S2;E25) in March 1964 when Mr. Mooney runs for Danfield Comptroller as “A Chicken in Every Pot and a Mooney in Every Garage!”

In “Ricky’s European Booking” (ILL S5;E10) in 1955, Lucy and Ethel are looking through their husband’s pants for spare change (aka GTHP), all Ethel finds in Fred’s pockets are an old Woodrow Wilson button and some lint. Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, serving two terms from 1913 to 1921.

In “Lucy and the Gold Rush” (HL S1;E13 ~ December 30, 1968) the old prospector (played by Phil Bruns, above left) is named after President Calvin Coolidge, who famously spent the summer of 1927 panning for gold in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

Lucille Ball was one of the famous faces at one of the January 1944 galas celebrating President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 62nd birthday at the White House. Ball was also part of both televised birthday celebrations of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1959 and 1960.

President Harry S. Truman was mentioned on the “My Favorite Husband” radio episode “Speech for a Civic Organization” aired on February 4, 1949.

LUCY: “Harry and Bess Truman got the last table.”

Political references were rare on “I Love Lucy,” but Harry and Bess Truman are mentioned by Lucy Ricardo in “Ricky Asks For a Raise” (ILL S1;E35) when Lucy plots to fill the Tropicana with guests who will not show up to see Ricky’s replacement, Xavier Valdez.

On November 23, 1953, Vivian Vance, William Frawley, Lucille Ball, and Desi Arnaz were part of CBS’s live coverage of the White House dinner marking the 40th anniversary of the B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation League. President Dwight D. Eisenhower speaks about his pride in America.

“The Sublease” (ILL S3;E31) on May 24, 1954 references Ike and Mamie, aka President Eisenhower and the first Lady. Mamie is also mentioned in “The Golf Game” (ILL S3;E30). The First Lady is said to have watched “I Love Lucy” and invited Ball to the White House shortly after Ball was accused of being a Communist sympathizer in 1953. More people tuned in to see the birth of Little Ricky than Eisenhower’s inauguration a day later!

In 1963, Lucy Carmichael didn’t wait for the president to come to her, she went to him in “Lucy Visits the White House” (TLS S1;E25) to deliver a sugar cube White House created by her cub scouts. At the time, John F. Kennedy was occupying the Oval Office. Although he did not appear, a voice double supplied a final offstage line.

LUCY: “I’m sure Jackie can make room on the mantle for a sugar cube White House.”

The voice double was Elliott Reid, who had appeared on “I Love Lucy” doing his expert imitation of Edward R. Murrow in “The Ricardos are Interviewed” (ILL S5;E7) in 1955. Reid also had a small role in “Lucy Visits the White House”  so the TV Guide Close-Up also lists Reid’s Kennedy as “The Voice”. His spot-on imitation of JFK’s New England accent got him invited to the White House to perform!

When “Lucy Becomes an Astronaut” (TLS S1;E6 ~ November 5, 1962) she quotes John F. Kennedy’s famous inauguration speech “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

LUCY: “I collect for the Red Cross. I buy savings bonds. I was with the WAVES.  How much does that man in the White House want from me?”

When “Lucy Decides To Redecorate” (TLS S2;E8 on November 18, 1963) Lucy mentions President John F. Kennedy’s much-publicized fitness program. President Kennedy was assassinated four days after this show first aired. The following week’s episode was pre-empted for news coverage of his funeral.

In a sketch from “The Bob Hope Show” (October 24, 1962) Lucy played a District Attorney and Bob a gangster named Bugsy Hope. A spray of gunfire comes through the window, narrowly missing Lucy’s head. Lucy remarks “Just what I wanted, a Jackie Kennedy hairdo.” Considering the tragic assassination of President Kennedy on November 22, 1963, the lines could never be re-aired. When  the clip was seen again in 1976 on “Bob Hope’s World of Comedy” and in 1989′s “Bob Hope’s Love Affair With Lucy” the lines were edited out.

In “Lucy the Stockholder” (TLS S3;E25), Lucy Carmichael is so grateful for her tax refund that she says she wants to write “Lyndon” a thank you letter. In the same episode, Mr. Mooney has a framed photo of President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) above his desk.

When “Lucy Sues Mooney” (TLS S6;E12 ~ November 27, 1967) Lucy’s lawyer (Jack Carter) pretends to be on the phone to someone he calls “Sir” and says “Give my regards to Lady Bird.”  Lady Bird Johnson was the First Lady at the time. He is trying to make Lucy think he has President Lyndon B. Johnson as a client!

In 1964, Lucille Ball served as the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival and Parade’ Grand Marshal in Winchester, Virginia. The Queen of Comedy was joined by another famous Lucy – Luci Baines Johnson, the daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson, who was named Queen Shenandoah. Luci Johnson changed the spelling of her birth name, which was also Lucy!

“President Johnson calls Savings Bonds the most important investment can make.”

Lucille Ball stepped out of character on the set of “The Lucy Show” to make a public service announcement for US Savings Bonds, re-iterating President Lyndon Johnson’s call for support during the Vietnam War.

In an episode of “Here’s Lucy” starring Van Johnson, Harry facetiously suggests another Johnson could use the work! Lyndon Baines Johnson aka LBJ was the 37th President of the United States. He essentially unemployed himself when he withdrew his bid for a second full term and was succeeded by Richard Nixon, who became President Elect a month before this episode was first aired.

In 1971, Lucy Carter spoke to the President of the United States on the telephone in “Lucy and the Astronauts” (HL S4;E5). Although his name was not spoken, Lucy does, however, ask about his daughters. President Richard M. Nixon had two daughters, Tricia and Julie.

Lucy’s daughter, Lucie Arnaz visited the White House several times. The first time was in 1972 meeting Richard M. Nixon.

In “Dirty Gertie” (HL S5;E10) on November 13, 1972, hobo Max (Hal Smith) puts the bite on mobster Benny (Johnny Silver) for five bucks for his wife. He says he was going to ask for ten, but the President froze her salary! President Richard M. Nixon signed the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 to stabilize rents, prices, rents, wages, salaries, interest rates, dividends and similar transfers. The law was dissolved in 1974.

In “Lucy The Sheriff” (HL S6;E18) on January 28, 1974, Harry says if Lucy were Sheriff at her grandmother’s time, Billy the kid would have wound up being President!  When this episode was filmed, President Richard M. Nixon was mired in the Watergate scandal. He resigned in August 1974 in ignominy. Is Harry comparing Nixon with Billy the Kid?

The November 21, 1977 special “Lucy Calls the President” had Indiana resident Lucy Whittaker call the White House to talk to President Carter and finds he has invited himself to dinner!  While President James Earl ‘Jimmy’ Carter never actually appeared, his mother did!

LUCY: “We’re practicing ‘Hail to the Chief’ so we can play it when President Carter gets here.  How did it sound?”
OMAR: “Like you voted for Ford.”

As Veep, Gerald R. Ford assumed the Presidency when Richard Nixon resigned. He then ran as the incumbent, but lost to Democrat Jimmy Carter.

In 1980, Lucille Ball and the cast of a Bob Hope USO Special, met President Gerald Ford. But back to Jimmy Carter…

VIV: “Come see my cake.  I’m so proud of it, Lucy.”
LUCY: “Oh, it’s a work of art. It was so clever of you to make President Carter’s teeth out of peanuts.”

Before entering politics, Jimmy Carter was a Georgia peanut farmer.

The special concludes with a Miss Lillian Carter, Jimmy Carter’s mother, making a phone call to Lucy to send her regrets that her son couldn’t make it to her home for dinner.  The real Miss Lillian filmed her segment at her home in Georgia.

LUCY: “Oh, gee, aren’t there any other movie actors you could call?”
MR. MOONEY: “Yes, yes, but they’re all too busy running for public office.” 

In this 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show”, Mr. Mooney is referring to Ronald Reagan, who ran for Governor of California in 1966 and won. His screen acting career began in 1937 and lasted right up until he became Governor. Actor Reagan appeared with Lucille Ball on two episodes of “The Ed Sullivan Show” in the mid-1950s.

President Ronald Reagan was mentioned in several episodes of “Here’s Lucy” during his stint as Governor of California.  Reagan had been elected Governor of California in 1967, a position he held until 1975. He was later elected 40th President of the United States and served until 1989.

In 1968′s “Lucy Visits Jack Benny” (HL S1;E2), Lucy balks at paying a penny tax, and penny-pincher Benny replies “Go fight with Ronald Reagan!”

In “The Hollywood Unemployment Follies” (HL S3;E22) in 1971, unemployment office clerk Harvey Hoople (Richard Deacon) decides to join up with the unemployed performers to write and direct their show. He says “Governor Reagan, I quit!  You can keep your old job! I’m back in show biz, Ronnie!  Don’t you wish you were?”

In “Lucy and the Raffle” (HL S3;E19), Lucy complains that the car her daughter won goes too fast (160mph!), teenage Kim promises to put a governor in the car. Lucy says “Ronald Reagan has enough to worry about without riding around with you!”

When “The Merv Griffin Show” did a tribute to Lucy on October 12, 1973, Ronald Reagan called in to add his praise of the redhead.

During his presidency, he was mentioned on “Life With Lucy” (1986) in “Mother of the Bride.” When Ted and Margo renew their wedding vows, the guest list jokingly includes Ron and Nancy Reagan (just to see what gift they’ll send).

A year later, Lucille Ball formally met Ron and Nancy Reagan when she accepted her Kennedy Center Honors at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.