Article: Michelle Obama Wasn't the First First Lady To Take Part in the Oscars...

[Tx4obama]

Michelle Obama Wasn't the First First Lady To Take Part in the Oscars. So Who Was?

You could almost hear the collective groan from certain corners of the Internet last night when Michelle Obama made her surprise appearance during the Oscars telecast to announce Argo as the year's Best Picture. Given that, it's probably worth reminding everyone that—regardless of what you thought about her specific performance—her presence on screen wasn't the first time a first lady has taken part in the Hollywood extravaganza.

That honor—as far as my Internet sleuthing can find—goes to Laura Bush, who participated in this taped "What Do the Movies Mean to You?" segment for the 74th Academy Awards in 2002. (She shows up at around the 2:15 mark.)

-snip- (video at the link below)

At least two presidents have also gotten in on the Oscars fun. The first was FDR, who delivered a radio address from the White House during the 13th Academy Awards. Here's how the Los Angeles Times recapped his remarks at the time:

President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the 13th Academy Awards ceremony, addressing the nation and the crowd at the Biltmore Hotel in a six-minute direct-radio-line speech from the White House. Roosevelt was the first president to participate in the Academy Awards. He declined a special invitation to Los Angeles because of the world's political climate but made the most of his time as the opening act, chatting about the Lend-Lease Act and thanking Hollywood for raising money for defense and promoting the "American way of life" in its movies.

Ronald Reagan also taped his own video message for the 53rd Academy Awards in 1981 (which, you may remember, were actually postponed 24 hours in the wake of an assassination attempt on his life). I'm having a hard time finding an archived write-up of his intro, but here's how the New York Times previewed it a few weeks ahead of the show:

-snip-

Full post here: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/02/25/michelle_obama_oscars_first_lady_wasn_t_the_first_to_appear_at_the_oscars.html

[Drunken Irishman]

1. There is no reasoning with the dipshits...

There is a reason they're dipshits, after all.

[graham4anything]

2. As LBJ famously said

"If I walked on the water tomorrow, the headlines would read "LBJ can't swim"

as Kris Kristofferson sang "Illegitimi non carborundum"

[southernyankeebelle]

3. They hate the black woman in the white house. That simple. I love her. She

is exactly what the average american women like. It kills the right because she is in tune with everyday people.

[ProSense]

5. A lot of it is race. n/t

[monmouth3]

7. And she really doesn't give two shites what they think. That's what I like the most..n/t

[southernyankeebelle]

22. I am glad she doesn't give 2 shits. She is way above them.

[monmouth3]

24. Absolutely. This has gotten beyond ridiculous...n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

25. You noticed that too, huh? One can't help but wonder why FLOTUS and Beyonce catch so much crap...

from the right, and DU's hater brigade. Nothing they can ever do or say will make them "acceptable" to Rush Limbaugh, and his minions on the left. They're not even clever anymore, and I wish they could finally be shown the door.

[southernyankeebelle]

27. Those two ladies are beautiful. They can't take black beautiful women who are

secure in their own skin and have power because they are good in their own right not because who their husbands are. We women can all learn from them no matter what color we all are.

[Tarheel_Dem]

28. The hate is coming from some very surprising (not really) quarters these days!!!

[southernyankeebelle]

29. Yep and its sad.

[Cha]

4. Thanks for the history on the Oscars, Tx4obama! I've been

passing a tweet around about FDR sending a radio message to the Oscars and your link has more info on it.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the 13th Academy Awards ceremony, addressing the nation and the crowd at the Biltmore Hotel in a six-minute direct-radio-line speech from the White House. Roosevelt was the first president to participate in the Academy Awards. He declined a special invitation to Los Angeles because of the world's political climate but made the most of his time as the opening act, chatting about the Lend-Lease Act and thanking Hollywood for raising money for defense and promoting the "American way of life" in its movies.

And, whose heads were exploding then?

[Tx4obama]

9. You're welcome :)

I wish the media would report all the facts when issues like this come up.

[Cha]

11. The lazy media?.. brawawaaa

[11 Bravo]

6. Yeah, but ... you know ... BLACK!!!!

[Scurrilous]

8. Thanks!

[Demo_Chris]

10. So she was the only First Lady to actually appear at the Oscars?

Also, not directed at anyone specifically, but save the "It's racism!" nonsense. All that does is diminsh real racism by equating it with trivial dislike or disagreement.

In this particular case, if the OP is correct, not a single President or First Lady in the history of the event has ever made a personal appearance at this event -- let alone gone out on stage to present an award. It's not a big deal, but it was clearly an odd thing to do, and it is unsurprising if some people are questioning it.

[EastKYLiberal]

13. I guess it's not surprising that people are that fucking petty. nt

[Cha]

18. No surprise at all.

[Demo_Chris]

20. I doubt it's a big deal to anyone actually

This is not a political event, it's an industry award ceremony. They have actually tried for years to keep politics out of it. And for good reason -- every time some celebrity gets up there and gives a political speach half the nation turns the channel.

Again, not a single President or First lady in HISTORY has ever handed out an award. Not one. It's never happened. So people asking what she was doing there is not exactly surprising. It's the Oscars, not the MTV People's Choice awards.

What's next? Is she gonna show up at the Tony's? Maybe make a surprise appearance on stage singing and dancing with the cast of Cats? This is practically beggng for a Saturday Night Live skit: Michelle Obama popping up in random places to grab some face time-- you just can't keep her away.

[leftstreet]

14. Apparently 'take part' is the same as 'appear'

As in 'appear' to hand out the most anticipated Oscar, as in 'appear' with a creepy backdrop of military people, as in 'appear' to endorse a film of anti-Iranian propaganda

Oh well

[Demo_Chris]

21. Yeah, there is that as well n/t

[Cha]

16. Newflash! Michelle Obama didn't "actually appear at the Oscars"..

but whatever.. rw assholes' heads exploded anyway and no big surprise.


First Lady Michelle Obama announces the Best Picture Oscar to Argo live from the Diplomatic Room of the White House, Feb. 24 (Photo by Pete Souza)

[ProSense]

19. Wait,

"In this particular case, if the OP is correct, not a single President or First Lady in the history of the event has ever made a personal appearance at this event -- let alone gone out on stage to present an award."

...let me guess: you're moving your outrage goal post to "let alone gone out on stage to present an award."

My guess is this is ill-informed and disingenuous. I'll let you figure out why.



"Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke to an Oscar audience by radio in 1941. "
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022426602

[Demo_Chris]

23. You are correct, I did think she was actually there presenting the award

This does not change what I posted or my opinion.

My opinion: Not a big deal, but this is not the kind of thing I want politicians involved in.

[Tarheel_Dem]

26. More goal post moving? Michelle Obama is not "a politician", her husband is. She's an independent

well educated, beautiful black woman as well as FLOTUS. Besides, you know what they say about opinions.

[Blue4Texas]

12. Thank you for posting!

This is the kind of information I need to stay sane around nonsense

[Yavin4]

15. FDR opened the Oscars by "chatting about the Lend-Lease Act"??

They must've played him off.

[Cha]

17. .. Go FDR!