This Content Is Only For Subscribers
In September 1980, country music legend Willie Nelson found himself in one of the most coveted smoke spots imaginable – the White House roof. That’s right, weed at the White House. During a stay at the presidential residence, Nelson and a companion stealthily made their way to the rooftop overlooking DC for a discreet joint. This audacious toking session entered Nelson lore, with the mystery companion’s identity only recently confirmed as none other than Chip Carter, Jimmy Carter’s son.
Willie Nelson’s Well-Known Pot Love
Willie Nelson is about as legendary for his love of weed as he is for his music. The outlaw country pioneer has built his image around being America’s most beloved stoner uncle. So it’s not shocking he’d be down to burn one in the White House if the chance arose.
Nelson has openly touted the benefits of marijuana for decades. In his songs, interviews, and memoirs, he extols the virtues of lighting up. And he became an endearing advocate for cannabis legalization.
So when Nelson scored an overnight stay at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1980, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity for a White House smoke session. At the time, Nelson was at the height of his pot-loving notoriety, having been arrested just a year earlier in Texas for possession. Clearly, a little thing like being in the president’s home wasn’t going to stop Nelson from enjoying some herb.
A Late Night Roof Adventure
The opportunity presented itself in 1980, when Nelson performed at the White House and stayed overnight as a guest of President Jimmy Carter. Nelson wrote in his 1988 memoir that late into the evening, a “White House insider” offered him a private tour ending on the roof, where the two casually lit up beneath the stars.
Though Nelson coyly kept his smoking buddy anonymous, many speculated it was Chip Carter, the president’s adventurous middle son. But Nelson remained tight-lipped, and the ceiling-high session became woven into his eccentric life lore.
For decades, the tale seemed more apt for Nelson’s elaborately mythic persona than actual reality. But the truth has gradually come out.
Confirmation from the Source
In the 2020 documentary Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President, the peanut farmer-turned-president himself spilled the secret – yes, it was his own son Nelson smoked with.
“He says it was one of the servants at the White House,” said a chuckling Carter. “Actually, it was one of my sons.”
Chip Carter subsequently confirmed it, recalling how after Nelson’s show, he suggested going up to the roof to take in the view. Nelson told Chip, “Let’s go upstairs” until they reached the top with a joint in hand.
For Nelson’s part, he’s expressed not wanting to out Chip as a “pot-smoker like him.” But now the truth is out – Willie Nelson smoked weed with the president’s son on the White House roof.
The Aftermath
Remarkably, Nelson’s overnight stay and pot use didn’t spark any presidential fury or consequences. While Carter’s Baptist roots made him no fan of drug use, he maintained an amiable friendship with Nelson despite their differences.
Carter tolerated Nelson’s marijuana lifestyle, recognizing his immense talent and cultural significance. And Nelson returned the respect, calling Carter “a great president” in his memoir. Their unlikely bond thrived despite clashing outlooks.
But the White House weed caper remained hidden until after Carter left office. Nelson first went public about it in his memoir after Reagan took over. By then, any fallout was no longer Carter’s concern.
While the illicit roof rip understandably stayed hush-hush, its reveal decades later only bolsters Nelson’s legendary status. It represents the ultimate clash of the outlaw country stalwart and the buttoned-up presidency.
That night, Nelson not only lit up a bone, but also briefly lit up the often pretentious White House atmosphere. He brought the irreverent spirit of the anti-establishment decade into the halls of ultimate power and propriety.
Final Thoughts
Over 40 years later, Nelson remains a cannabis advocate, having launched his own marijuana brand Willie’s Reserve. Meanwhile, the White House remains federal land where pot possession gets you handcuffed, whether you’re a guest or president’s kid.
But for one night in 1980, Nelson and Chip Carter pulled off a bold law-breaking feat. Their discrete yet daring rooftop smoke session now enters White House lore as an amusing moment when cannabis infiltrated the highest office.
While presidents since Carter have become progressively more marijuana-friendly, the plant is still forbidden at the White House. Nelson and Carter’s ceiling rip is a reminder of the cultural gap that can exist between stodgy politicians and unconventional musicians. But for one night, herb brought them together at the pinnacle of power.
Additional Facts
10,000 Shows
Willie Nelson’s guitar which he named Trigger, after Roy Roger’s horse, has been with him since 1969 and has been used in over 10,000 shows.
1-800-IRS-TAPE
In 1990, Willie Nelson was slapped with a massive $32 million tax bill by the IRS, leading to one of music’s highest-profile tax cases. After a raid on his home and assets, Nelson negotiated a creative settlement – he recorded an album called The IRS Tapes, with proceeds going to pay off his tax debt. This allowed Nelson to satisfy the bill and move on from his legal troubles.
2002 Nobel Peace Prize
Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his decades of work providing diplomacy to international conflicts, advancing democracy, and promoting economic and social development. He played a key role in mediating conflicts in Haiti, North Korea, and the Middle East through diplomatic means during and after his presidency. The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised Carter’s “vital contribution to the Camp David Accords” between Israel and Egypt in 1978. Carter donated the $930,000 prize money to charity.
