The White House: Soul Night

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So were the 180 others who turned out to honor the Duke. Though the Nixons left at midnight, the President sternly reminded the crowd that "the night is still young." No one needed a second invitation, and before long the black-tied and begowned guests, who could hardly sit still for the fast rhythm, pushed back their gilt chairs and began dancing. The floor did not empty until 2:15 a.m. Ellington had set the pace himself in one of his songs: "Praise God with the sound of the trumpet./Praise God with the psaltery and harp/And dance, dance, dance, dance, dance!"

Nixon—or his successor—may have a chance for another party in the White House when Ellington celebrates his 75th. The Duke is far from retired. He has just about finished one opera, is planning another and thinking about new ballet and orchestra pieces. "I don't know where I'm going," he said, "but you know, I'm going like crazy." There was only one complaint among the guests who helped him celebrate. Soul Singer Lou Rawls joshed the President that "the hors d'oeuvres could have at least been fricasseed chitlins on toothpicks." Still, Rawls issued an informal communiqué that summed up the evening. "This," he said, "is a groove." Quoth the Duke: "Lovely."