The top ten connections between Barbra Streisand and the American presidents

In honor of President's Day, here's a top ten list of Barbra Streisand's connections to the American presidents. Having been in the public eye for 50 years, Barbra's had a bunch of chances to rub shoulders with more than a few Presidents of the United States. For instance…

1. Barbra sang for President John F. Kennedy on May 24, 1963, not long after her debut LP, "The Barbra Streisand Album," had been released. She appeared at the White House Press Correspondent's Dinner and she dedicated "Happy Days Are Here Again," the traditional Democratic party theme song, to President Kennedy. Later, when she was introduced to JFK, Barbra actually asked for his autograph...saying it was for her mother. The President obliged and asked Barbra how long she'd been singing. Barbra's response, "About as long as you've been President," made him laugh.
2. On December 5, 1963, Barbra was scheduled to return to Washington to perform at the White House at the invitation of JFK. However, on November 22, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Barbra was devastated. She later told CNN's Larry King about her memory of that day: she'd just bought an expensive piece of jewelry, one of the first times she'd been able to afford something like that. After learning about the President's death, she could never wear it because she associated it with the tragedy.   
3. Because of her support for Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern in 1972, Barbra was put on President Richard Nixon's Enemy List -- later called the master list of political opponents. That information came out on June 1, 1972, as part of the Watergate investigation.
4. When Barbra starred in the ABC television special, "Funny Girl to Funny Lady," it was staged at the Kennedy Center where "Funny Lady" had its world film premiere. On stage, and before the TV cameras, Barbra performed for President Gerald Ford and his family. They were photographed afterwards.
5. Streisand was one of the stars who performed at President Lyndon Johnson's Inaugural Gala on January 18, 1965. Also on the bill were Elaine May and Mike Nichols, Carol Channing, Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Bobby Darin, Johnny Carson, Ann Margret, Woody Allen, Harry Belafonte and Margot Fonteyn. After the fact, and despite her loyalty to the Democratic Party, Barbra recalled the experience of singing for JFK's successor as joyless.
6. Barbra spoke out against President Ronald Reagan because of his stance on the AIDS epidemic. At the AID Project LA "Commitment to Life" gala in 1992, in which Barbra was one of two honorees, Barbra's impassioned speech went after the President. She said: "I will never forgive my fellow actor Ronald Reagan for his genocidal denial of the illness' existence, for his refusal to even utter the word AIDS for seven years, and for blocking adequate funding for research and education which could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives."
7. As an ardent member of the Democratic party, Barbra campaigned -- including singing at fundraisers -- for some candidates who did not win, including Eugene McCarthy (who lost the nomination to Hubert Humphrey in 1968), Michael Dukakis in 1988, Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004. She never performed for President Jimmy Carter.
8. Streisand sang at a fundraiser for Governor Bill Clinton, the Democratic presidential candidate, on September 16, 1992. That night she did not do his favorite song of hers, "Evergreen." Barbra told the Governor that if he won the election, she'd do the song at his Inauguration.
9. On January 19, 1993, Streisand kept her promise and performed at the Clinton Inaugural, prompting CBS to broadcast the show as a television special. Streisand closed the show with her 20-minute set, a performance which was a prelude to her return to the concert stage in 1994. Streisand also became close friends with President Clinton's mother, Virginia Kelley during that time. When Virginia died in January 1994 -- very soon after having been Barbra's guest at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for Streisand's New Year's Eve show -- Barbra went to Hot Springs, Arkansas for Mrs. Kelley's funeral. Barbra then established a breast cancer research grant in Virginia Kelley's name. The experience inspired Barbra to do an album of spiritual music called "Higher Ground."
10. Barbra performed at a presidential fundraiser for Senator Barack Obama on September 16, 2008. She sang four songs, including a special version of "Make Someone Happy" with lyrics dedicated for Obama. Streisand then introduced the candidate to the crowd.