Some presidents of the USA remembered political activity while also finding time for musical creativity. Among them, Harry Truman stands out, whose musical talent was always associated with him. Another bright example was Richard Nixon, who played piano, saxophone, clarinet, violin, and accordion. Regardless of the political party to which they belonged, these leaders, starting with Truman and ending with Barack Obama, shared the belief that "music is important in political life."
Harry Truman was an accomplished pianist from childhood. At an early age, he managed to practice for five hours every morning, which allowed him to hone his skills before going to school. At 15, he abruptly quit music lessons, believing they didn’t bring him the desired fame. He joked: "My choice was made early in life: either I become a pianist in a bar, or a politician, and, to be honest... between the two, there’s really no difference."
Richard Nixon, who began with piano, mastered several instruments and, despite lacking musical notation skills, successfully performed complex musical compositions by ear. His talent was revealed when he appeared on the famous show "Jack Paar Tonight Show," playing "Concerto for Piano No. 1." His mother noticed his musical abilities and sent him to study music at an early age.
Bill Clinton also didn't stray from music. As a future student, he sang in the school choir, played the saxophone, and spent hours on music every day. Subsequently, he admitted: "I loved music and thought I could be really good at it, but I knew I could never reach the level of John Coltrane or Stan Getz."
Barack Obama distinguished himself with his vocal talent, performing songs by various artists in public. He sang with artist Al Green and B.B. King, and participated in many musical events. His performance of the song "Amazing Grace" at the memorial service for Pastor Clementa Pinckney, who was tragically killed in a shooting at a church in Charleston, was very touching.
It is important to note that music accompanied these leaders throughout their lives and, possibly, even influenced their political careers, making them more relatable to the electorate.
