Nation: Operation Big Daddy

The first White House dinner of the 1967 social season was an old-fashioned love feast, and the hyperbole was as calorie-laden as the chocolate souffle. Noting that his three guests of honor had “each suffered the venomous abuse that often attends public life,” Lyndon Johnson defended them as “adventurers, pioneers and statesmen who have blazed the trail of human dignity.” Replying in kind, Vice President Hubert Humphrey likened Johnson to Franklin Roosevelt, House Speaker John McCormack toasted him as “a man bigger than life,” and Chief Justice Earl Warren psalmed the joys of fellowship. “Behold,” proclaimed Republican Warren, “how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity.”

For all the ingratiating words, the warmest notes at the gala black-tie party were struck by a guest who had to sing for her supper—Musical Comedy Star Carol Channing. A Johnson favorite, especially after her Hello, Dolly! number was appropriated for his 1964 campaign theme, Channing is currently appearing in one of the show’s road productions. But she and other cast members took time out—”Operation Big Daddy,” she dubbed it—to put on an abridged version for the President and his guests, who included most leading Washington luminaries, as well as such show-biz notables as Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Joan Crawford and Al Hirt.

Our Girl. Before the musical began, its leading lady clued in the press about her special relationship with the First Family. On Election Day 1964, Channing related, she received a long-distance call from the President’s wife, who asked: “Is this our dear little Carol?” Channing continued: “I said, ‘Yes it is, Mrs. Johnson.’ And she said, ‘I called you Carol, Carol.’ And I said, ‘So you did, Lady Bird.’ And that was the first time I ever called her Lady Bird.” After Mrs. Johnson had finished, “a deep voice came on and said, ‘Hello, is this our girl?’ And I was so silly, I said, ‘Who is this, please?’ And he said, This is Lyndon.’ ” The President, she added, then invited her to come to the White House to perform. “And I have, and isn’t it all just wonderful?”

The 30-minute show, tailored to the small stage in the East Room, drew raves, but not nearly so many as Channing’s offstage performance. After she had completed a rousing encore, the President gave her a bear hug and a kiss, soon whisked her onto the floor for a fox trot—the first time he has danced in public since his celebrated solo with Imelda Marcos at the Manila Conference. As the rest of the revelers stood aside to watch, L.B.J. smiled gamely, his face all but obscured by the red ostrich-feather hat that covered his Dolly’s tangerine-colored wig.

When the Johnsons brought forth a red-frosted, three-tiered cake to commemorate the fourth season of Hello, Dolly!. Channing paraphrased a line from the show. “I’m deeply grateful to the Great Society,” she exclaimed, “because you know exactly how to spread it around!” At another point, L.B.J. brought Everett Dirksen over for an introduction, and Carol bubbled: “I’m so glad to meet you. People keep saying we sound alike.”