Which President did Johnny Cash perform for at the White House in 1970?

Johnny Cash performed at the White House for President Richard Nixon in 1970. The appearance took place on April 17, during Nixon's presidency, and became one of the most discussed examples of Cash's complicated relationship with American politics and authority.

Nixon's office reportedly requested that Cash perform "Okie from Muskogee," "Welfare Cadillac" and "A Boy Named Sue." Cash declined the first two songs, explaining in his autobiography that he did not know them well and had little rehearsal time. Instead, he performed songs including "The Ballad of Ira Hayes," "What Is Truth" and "Man in Black."

The choice of "The Ballad of Ira Hayes" was especially significant. Cash had recently used his music to draw attention to the treatment of Native Americans, and the song criticized the way the United States celebrated Ira Hayes as a war hero while neglecting him afterward.

Cash later became especially close to Jimmy Carter, but Carter was not the president at this 1970 performance. Nixon is therefore the single canonical answer.