Posted by One Upon a Time... on June 19, 2003 at 10:38:24:
In Reply to: What musical quality standard? posted by The President's Own on June 19, 2003 at 04:28:42:
In the distant past, Presidential appreciation for the Marine Band, probably hit its nadir when General Grant was President: he was tone-deaf. He is quoted as having send he knew only one tune, Yankee Doodle, and that all bands playing sounded like Yankee Doodle to him.
Grant, of course, is the President whose endoresement "McNamara's Band" of 1930's fame received:
"When General Grant to Ireland Came
He took me by the Hand,
And Said he'd never seen the like
of McNamara's Band!"