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Cash & Nixon Memories on Netflix

Written by Don Reid on January 21st, 2019 Posted in General

Almost two years ago, April 27, 2017, I wrote a blog about the infamous invitation to Johnny Cash and the whole troupe to come perform at the White House. (The Statlers were then a part of John’s concert tours, recordings and tv series. See blog titled MEETING MY FIRST PRESIDENT.) Then President, Richard Nixon, had made a couple of song requests that never got filled and it made news headlines like you wouldn’t believe. I must be a few months ahead of my time because now it’s making news all over again.

 

There is a special currently on Netflix, TRICKY DICK AND THE MAN IN BLACK, that chronicles the whole story with film and commentary that is worth the hour if you are so inclined. I was asked to be a part of this production, so on September 25, 2017, the trucks came up my driveway and cameras, lights and microphones, along with director and crew, filled my living room and we talked about that night of 47 years before. It was fun, sad, and nostalgic to relive that evening for the media. I drew on some memories that had hidden themselves somewhere deeper than I usually go for words and recollections. Others who were there that night at the White House, such as Pat Buchanan, were included in the piece as was good friend, Mark Stielper, Johnny Cash historian extraordinaire.

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If you decide to take in this documentary, be prepared to revisit or discover anew the turbulent and disturbing 1960s. A lot of good things happened to me in that decade but a lot of horrible things happened to the world. It brought to mind an instance that happened to the Cash troupe in London during this era that I haven’t told for years. We were playing the Palladium one night and had gone to the venue for a sound check that afternoon. The Viet Nam war was raging and the feelings and sensitivities against Americans were so high that protestors surrounded the Palladium that day and wouldn’t let us out of the building until police and security were called to escort us all back to our hotel. Such were the Sixties and such were the times.

 

—-Don Reid