| Arnold Schwarzenegger's surprise announcement that | | | | friend Herbert Hoover but accepted an invitation to |
| he was seeking the California Governorship brought to | | | | meet the Democratic President at the White House in |
| mind the many times Hollywood figures have been | | | | 1933. Immediately upon arriving in the Oval Office |
| involved in politics. Here are some related anecdotes: | | | | Mayer surprised Roosevelt by pulling a clock from |
| When actors first came to Hollywood there were | | | | underneath his coat and placing it on the President's |
| signs put up in front of hotels and apartments that said | | | | desk. "What's that for, Mr. Mayer?" "Pardon me Mr. |
| no dogs or actors allowed, with the performers ruefully | | | | President. I heard you have the ability to have a man in |
| complaining about not getting top billing. The insecurity | | | | your hip pocket after 18 minutes." Brandishing his long |
| of the profession has come through in political | | | | cigarette holder Roosevelt threw his head back and |
| campaigns. When Ronald Reagan successfully ran for | | | | laughed, then began chatting with the film executive . |
| Governor of California in 1966 one of the fruitless | | | | He was startled when after seventeen minutes the |
| tactics used by his opposition was a television | | | | mogul got up, grabbed the clock and left the room. |
| commercial featuring Gene Kelley stating," In films I | | | | Another difficult encounter for the Roosevelt |
| played a gambler, a baseball player and I could play a | | | | administration was with Shirley Temple. Hoping to get |
| Governor but you wouldn't really want an actor to | | | | people's mind off the Great Depression the President |
| really be a Governor would you?" | | | | was nonstop in praise of the moppet's movies saying |
| Ronald Reagan at one time was such a Liberal | | | | that Americans should forget about their problems by |
| Democrat he drove friends to distraction with his | | | | paying fifteen cents to see "the smile of a little girl". |
| views. One day in the thirties he was driving a friend | | | | Both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were so |
| home from work, yammering on about President | | | | enamored they invited little Shirley and her parents to |
| Roosevelt's New Deal policies. Reagan who was near | | | | visit them at their private estate in Hyde Park, New |
| sighted and an erratic driver at best, seemed oblivious | | | | York. In the limo Shirley received mixed messages |
| to road conditions. "Ronnie, watch out for that truck!" | | | | from her Conservative parents. On the one hand they |
| the friend yelled. Missing an accident by a hair, Reagan | | | | were thrilled to meet the President and his wife, but |
| continued," Truck drivers, that's who the New Deal will | | | | they also hated their Big Government policies. Upon |
| help!" | | | | their arrival Mrs. Roosevelt graciously asked Shirley if |
| Like former President Reagan, Walt Disney claimed to | | | | she would like something fixed on the barbecue. "Oh |
| be a Roosevelt New Dealer until a nasty worker's | | | | that would be wonderful," replied the child star. As |
| strike at his studio made him take a right turn. Although | | | | Eleanor walked out back, the mischievous Shirley took |
| he campaigned heavily for Republican candidates the | | | | out a slingshot, checked to make sure nobody was |
| cartoon maker kept friendly relations with the other | | | | looking at what she was doing, and nailed the First |
| side. Walt loved giving personal tours of Disneyland, | | | | Lady in the rear. The Secret Service came running at |
| and enjoyed having former president Harry Truman as | | | | the sound of her shout, looked around the property for |
| his guest, even when his fellow Missourian turned | | | | possible intruders but never thought about searching |
| down a ride on Dumbo: Too much Republican | | | | the angelic little movie star, who had skillfully hidden her |
| symbolism. | | | | weapon. Dinner passed pleasantly and the Temples |
| Another mogul, Louis B. Mayer the founder of MGM | | | | returned to their hotel. Only then did Gertrude Temple |
| was a staunch Republican his entire life. Mayer never | | | | tell her daughter that she had seen her naughtiness, |
| quite got over Franklin Roosevelt beating his good | | | | and Shirley got walloped. |