LORAN SMITH: O’Learys first UGA letter winners to vsit Trump White House

The last we heard, the Golden State Warriors are undecided about going to the White House and the Pittsburgh Penguins say they only need an invitation. It is quite interesting to flashback with regard to the White House invitations to star players and teams historically.

Researchers say that Andrew Johnson invited a couple of amateur teams to the White House as far back as 1865. In 1869, President U.S. Grant welcomed baseball’s first professional teams — the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

Researchers also say that the first baseball team invited to the White House was the Washington Senators in 1925 after winning the World Series in 1924. The president was Calvin Coolidge. That is strange, since I recorded Red Grange talking about visiting the White House when Coolidge was president and Red made it sound like Coolidge was not much of a sports fan.

Grange recalled that he and a teammate were invited to the White House to meet Coolidge by the senior senator from Illinois. The senator introduced Grange and his teammate to the president and added, “They are with the Chicago Bears.” Coolidge replied, “Hi fella’s, I always did like animal acts.”

In the last half century, the president usually called the coach or manager of the championship teams with congratulations. Then Richard Nixon decided to attend the 1969 Texas-Arkansas game in Fayetteville to present a citation to the winner of the game as national champion. Undefeated Penn State chaffed loudly at that “insult.”

Joe Paterno, speaking at PSU commencement ceremonies five years later, got in the last word: “I wonder how Nixon could know so little about Watergate in 1973 and so much about college football in 1969,” Joe commented to raucous laughter.

Most of our latent presidents seem to have a bent for sports. Georgia’s first letter winners invited to the White House are Bill and Nan O’Leary. (Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was a Bulldog footballer, but as a freshman was not entitled to a letter.) I could be wrong in that Trump’s buddy, Herschel Walker, may have gotten there before the O’Learys.

The way it came about for the O’Learys is that the president called Jack Nicklaus (Nan’s dad) and invited him to come join the Trumps for dinner at the White House. He included Jack and Barbara’s five kids and their spouses.

The Nicklaus clan flew up for the private dinner and tour, which included the kinds of stops that you have heard about over the years — highlighted by photo-ops in the Oval office. But the president, a long time friend of the patriarch, escorted his South Florida friends through the private living quarters. That was especial. Everybody learned that the “rookie” president has already boned up on the history of the White House, taking his South Florida guests through the Lincoln Bedroom and identifying the great works of art. (Another Georgia alumnus, Julie Bryan Moran, has flown on Trump’s private jet which displays a priceless Monet.)

“He could not have been more entertaining and hospitable,” said Nan O’Leary. “He was enthusiastic and eager to be a host.” Nan sat by the president at dinner, finding it interesting that he ordered thousand-island dressing for his salad and drank Coca-Cola.

The president was an eager tour guide, taking his guests to places like the Lincoln Bedroom. His knowledge of Honest Abe was thorough as he noted that Lincoln’s son died in the bedroom. The president also provided insights into artifacts and lore throughout the White House, including a tribute to Sacagawea, the Indian maiden who served as an aide and interpreter to explorers Lewis and Clark.

“He was so enthusiastic and upbeat,” Nan said. “You could tell he respects the White House and is greatly pleased to host friends and guests. He took the time to talk to all of us.” When he was introduced to the O’Learys, the president said, “How is Nick doing?” Their son, Nick, is a tight end with the Buffalo Bills.

Nan O’Leary was a UGA volleyball letterman in 1983 and Bill O’Leary was a football letterman in 1984-85.