Pearl Bailey was a Republican (go figure) and was appointed by President Richard Nixon as America’s “Ambassador of Love” in 1970. She attended several meetings of the United Nations and later appeared in a campaign ad for President Gerald Ford in the 1976 Presidential Election.
At auction
Later in her career, Bailey was a fixture as a spokesperson in a series of Duncan Hines commercials, singing “Bill Bailey (Won’t You Come Home)”.
She was awarded the New York City Bronze Medallion award in 1968 and a Presidential Medal of Freedom on October 17, 1988.
I’ll bet that when Bailey’s mid-century fans said, “Boy, what a pair,” they weren’t talking about her medals.
And, in case you’re interested in grabbing a piece of history that you can look at and say “Well, Hello Dolly,” the auction site is here.
My pleasure to share.