Lucy Calls the President and Says Good Bye to an Old Friend

November 21, 2009- It has been 32 years since two of the greatest actresses in history acted on screen together... On November 21, 1977 the television special "Lucy Calls the President" aired on CBS. It featured Lucille Ball as Lucy Whittaker...a housewife who calls President Jimmy Carter during his radio show to ask his help in preserving a playground in her neighborhood...President Carter agrees to stop by her house for dinner to discuss it with her. Once the news gets out Lucy is flooded with pleas from her friends for an invitation... Also featured in the cast were Ed McMahon (as Floyd, Lucy's husband), Gale Gordon (as Omar, Lucy's father-in-law), Vivian Vance (as Viv, Lucy's neighbor and best friend), Mary Jane Croft (as Midge Bowser, wife of the local mayor) along with Mary Wickes and Steve Allen... This special featured the final time that Lucille Ball and Vivian Vance appeared on screen as their respective "Lucy" and "Viv" characters...Vivian Vance was already seriously ill when she appeared in this special and Lucille was devistated to see her comedic partner so ill... At the moment I haven't seen this special but I hope to some day... **It should be noted that Lucille and Vivian did appear on camera together at the CBS 50th Anniversary tribute in March 1978 but they did not perform at all** In Memoriam Remembers: Lucille Ball & Vivian Vance's final project together

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