Japan's PM 'Ain't Nothing but a Hound Dog'

With apparently no other pressing matters in the world to attend to, President Bush took time to tour Graceland with Elvis Presley's #1 fan - Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Japan's Prime Minister and Elvis
The heads of state played tourists after wrapping up two days of consultations.

Koizumi, who is stepping down from office in September, has been a member of The King's fan club for over 30 years.

Priscilla Presley and Laura BushThe President and Koizumi were joined by Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie Presley and his former wife Priscilla Presley. First Lady Laura Bush, dressed strangely similar to Priscilla,  was also on hand for the festivities which included Elvis' favorite meal of grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

White House aides came up with the idea of the Graceland visit as the perfect gift for the Prime Minister's last official visit to the United States. 

According to Elvis Presley Enterprises, which manages the estate, this was the first visit by any sitting president or world leader to Graceland.

Reader Comments

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16. Jag off????Jag offf???????????? That must be some kind of foreign Lingo?
Go Pres. Bush!!!!!! You Rock!!!!

Posted at 10:00AM on Jul 1st 2006 by candace

17. Priscilla is a widow???? Wow some of you sound soooooooo smart!!!!
I didn't realize she was a widow.....She had of course divorced Elvis ......
Anyway..............I would love to have Pres. Bush entertain me if I came to this wondorous country like that.........You are one awesome President Mr. Bush and Laura is beautiful as always:) You make us proud!!!!! Gotta love the PM's sunglasses!!!!

Posted at 10:31AM on Jul 1st 2006 by JellyBean

18. Priscilla is the one who saved Elvis Presley Enterprises from bankruptcy in 1978, the one who opened Graceland to the public in 1980 (It immediately became the second-most visited private residence in the country, right behind the White House, and has retained that honor since) She is the one who made Elvis the number one earning dead celebrity, using her business acumen and aqaintance with the right promoters and managers to FULL advantage during her stewardship of the estate, AND the one who orchestrated and officiated over the U.S. Dept of the Interior's declaration of Graceland as a National Historical Landmark on March 27th of this year. I honor her for her tireless commitment and energy in keeping Elvis at the forefront of the American culture for so many years after his unfortunate demise. You readers and posters to this blog have no right to criticize her for anything she has done or not done....NONE of you were courted, married, and then separated and divorced from history's most desired man... and then to have the sheer temerity to bolster him up to the eyes and ears of the world, and honor him as she has, attracting accolades to his estate and presiding over an empire that SHE made into an everlasting business (Neither Elvis NOR his father Vernon had managed to save so much as a petty expense account from his wealth, both men were simple when it came to business and investments, and Elvis squandered nearly his entire fortune before his death, having spent the latter half of his carreer on the edge of insolvency) An interesting note: Elvis Presley Enterprises made more money in the few years after his death than in his entire carreer....why? PRISCILLA! I, a very devoted fan of his, extend to her my deepest thanks for honoring his memory as she has. Point to another ex-wife who has done half as much to honor her ex. Now please stop criticizing her. What business is it of yours? who have YOU honored lately?

Posted at 10:53AM on Jul 1st 2006 by Andris

19. All I can say is Laura looks like a stepfordwife and Priscilla! looks like a clown. Bush always looks like a dumbass! This is a time of war and it doesn't seem fair that Bush is out kicking his heels up, meanwhile our troops are fighting for their lives in that hellhole in Iraq.
The biggest threat to the Bush Administration is an informed public.

Posted at 11:47AM on Jul 1st 2006 by Rainlillie

20. Both Laura Bush and Priscilla look as though they've went overboard with Botox.

Posted at 11:53AM on Jul 1st 2006 by Jen

21. Yes I agree.

I thought is was great that the president did this. This how we should get along.

I am not a Busch fan, but good job this time.

Posted at 12:50PM on Jul 1st 2006 by Laura

22. Laura looks great for her age. But I must say, what the heck happened to Priscilla's mouth? Too much botox and the strings are pullled too tight behind her ears. Why would she ruin herself like that? She was a great looking chick in her day. Why can't these celeb's be happy? Robert Redford lets it all hang out. He's adorable. Paul Newman. Sophia Loren. My favorite man was Walter Matheau, love that guy. So glad he never messed up that wonderful face. Wish he was still around.

Posted at 1:42PM on Jul 1st 2006 by monique

23. WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIM GOING TO GRACELAND? I WENT LAST YEAR AND IT IS MARVELOUS!! HE HAS THE RIGHT TO ENJOY SOMETHING HE IS A FAN OF. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN, YOU NEED TO GO, THAT IS IF YOU LIKE ELVIS. HE WILL ALWAYS BE YOUNG IN MY HEART!!

Posted at 2:44PM on Jul 1st 2006 by ALICE

24. Cool the whole world is going to hell in a handbasket and Bush visits Graceland... If this weren't so tragic it would be funny. 64 people were killed in Iraq today. Shame on GWB for sending our troops to fight in this unnecessary war!

Posted at 3:48PM on Jul 1st 2006 by Kara

25. Our First Lady was gracious as ever, and in particularly unusual circumstances. She looked better than anyone except possibly the PM who was clearly having a great time. What better parting gift to remember America, than to visit the King with the President. You go George!

Posted at 5:34PM on Jul 1st 2006 by babbs

26. So glad that President Bush, and The Prime Minister Of Japan had such a grand time at Graceland, and Priscilla looks just as lovely as ever and the gracious hostess as always, and Lisa Marie also. Go Priscilla and Lisa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A Great Honor for Graceland, to have such high men in office visit the WHITE HOUSE of TENNESSEE. A wonderful day in history.

Posted at 6:05PM on Jul 1st 2006 by Louise

27. The correct term for Priscilla would be widow, not former wife, as they were still married when they divorced.

Posted at 6:09PM on Jul 1st 2006 by Terri

28. Did she really divorce Elvis? I thought that they were still married at the time.

Posted at 6:10PM on Jul 1st 2006 by Terri

29. How sad that people are more concerned about how others look, rather than the fact that we're still at war and they're over 2,528 young American men and women who lost their lives in this war. By the way, The Japanese PM is pulling his troops out of Iraq this month. At least he's wise enough to do so. BRING OUR TROOPS HOME!!!!!!

Posted at 7:02PM on Jul 1st 2006 by Ryann

30. Elvis' gospel music helped me get through my battle with cancer. Like millions of people his music was loved. Not just by Americans
,

Posted at 10:08PM on Jul 1st 2006 by georgia Simpkins Ellis

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