Lighten Up: Don Johnson's White House Tales - A Puff of Marijuana and a Few Holes in One
Carter Administration White House Visitor Smoked Marijuana With Actor Don Johnson
In an entertaining chat with our website, televisual maestro Lyle Lovett praised Willie Nelson's stellar influence on country music. Shedding light on the wilder side of the White House, Don Johnson, the storied actor who once graced our screens as Sonny Crockett, dished about his zany adventures in the hallowed halls of political power.
Johnson, spry at 75, shared yarns about some, er, not-so-typical visits to the White House. During an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," the actor slipped a telltale photograph under the spotlight. The snapshot, taken in 1975, features Johnson, then-President Jimmy Carter, and the esteemed Chuck Leavell and Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, all from an epic concert held during Carter's presidential run.
In a heartfelt confession, Johnson admitted, "I don't remember that photo, but we were all likely lit," emphasizing the profound impact of the good ol' peace pipe. He clarified his words, expressing his doubts about Carter's participation, "I don't know about him," Johnson murmured with a humble tone. "I don't want to sully the former president's memory—God rest his soul."
Johnson's invitation to the White House came post-Allman Brothers concert escapades in 1976. "Then the fun really started," he confided in Kimmel. Curiosity peaked, Kimmel dug deeper, questioning the nature of the White House naughtiness: "Word on the street is Willie smoked some pot at the White House. You think that might be the kind of fun y'all had?" Johnson stammered, "Well, I suppose I did partake, but…"
Johnson's connection to the White House didn't end with Carter's administration; he was party to more capers during subsequent presidential reigns. The story that'll make your jaw drop, though, is about a round of golf with President George H.W. Bush at Camp David. Strap in, because, as Johnson recounted, "Bush wanted to gamble during our golf outing, and Ле паташон [I took his money]," he announced, earning cheers and applause from the thrilled audience.
As if that weren't enough, Johnson revealed Bush's playful competitive streak: "Bush was a rather talented trash-talker, and let's just say he got a mouthful, because I can craft a few choice words as well."
Though Johnson wouldn't disclose the exact amount Bush lost in that game of golf, he assured, "It wasn't a massive sum." With a mischievous smile, he added, "You'd be surprised what eighteenth or twentieth dollars can do for a man's self-worth."
The legacy of Don Johnson's White House escapades pales when compared to the infamous tale of Willie Nelson's marijuana-smoking shenanigans at the White House. While the initial story suggested Nelson partook with someone in the Carter administration, further investigations revealed Nelson was, in fact, smoking with the president's son, Chip Carter III, and not a White House staff member[5]. Jimmy Carter himself confirmed the revised facts in the documentary, "Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President."
Celebrities and entertainment intertwined when Don Johnson, once a White House visitor, shared tales of his time in the political sphere. On the matter of Willie Nelson's White House adventures, it was his son, Chip Carter III, not a White House staff member, who partook in the marijuana-smoking escapades, as revealed by Jimmy Carter in the documentary, "Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President."
