While conductor of the Marine Band, which plays at all the state
functions given by the President at the Executive Mansion, I saw
much of the social life of the White House and was brought into
more or less direct contact with all the executives under whom I
had the honor of successively serving--Presidents Hayes, Garfield,
Arthur, Cleveland and Harrison.
They were all very appreciative of music, and in this respect were
quite unlike General Grant, of whom it is said that he knew only
two tunes, one of which was "Yankee Doodle" and the other wasn't!
The President's Embarrassing Demand.
I think I may say that more than one President, relieved from the
onerous duties of a great reception, has found rest by sitting
quietly in the corner of a convenient room and listening to the
music.
Once, on the occasion of a state dinner, President Arthur came to
the door of the main lobby of the White House, where the Marine
Band was always stationed, and beckoning me to his side asked me to
play the "Cachuca." When I explained that we did not have the
music with us but would be glad to include it in the next
programme, the President looked surprised and remarked:
"Why, Sousa, I thought you could play anything.
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