The 1980s brought the American public its fair share of odd-couple pairings—Brooke Shields and Nic Cage, Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte, Michael Jackson and anyone. On the political front, the Reagan White House got in on the action with a meeting of the minds between First Lady Nancy Reagan and “A-Team” action star Mr. T, immortalized in a photo of the two in front of a Christmas tree at the White House in 1983.
At the zenith of the mohawked tough guy’s fame in 1983, the Republican and rather reserved First Lady invited Mr. T to unveil the White House Christmas decorations dressed as Santa. Mr. T brought her a Mr. T action figure and got a kiss on the forehead for his trouble.
Mr. T told the “Independent” in a 2008 interview that the invitation was the most surprising of his life:
When I got invited to the White House to meet Ronald Reagan in 1983. Nancy Reagan was campaigning to get kids to say no to drugs, and they heard about me going round schools telling kids to stay away from drugs. It was a real honour for a black kid from the ghetto who grew up on welfare.
Monday, Mr. T took to Twitter to eulogize the First Lady, who died Sunday in her California home at 94:
I mourn the death of First Lady Nancy Reagan, who was Very Special to me….
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 7, 2016
…Not only did she invite me to the White House in December ’83, after meeting with her and President Ronald Reagan,…
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 7, 2016
…she then asked me to help her with her “Just Say No” program which I gladly accepted with humility and honor….
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 7, 2016
…That was the highlight of my career to be asked to work with the First Family on such a great cause. It wasn’t political because…
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 7, 2016
…I am not a Republican nor am I a Democrat….
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 7, 2016
…But I am just a Christian Brother from the Hood trying to do some good! I will truly miss First Lady Nancy Reagan….
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 7, 2016
…I will Never Forget her….
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 7, 2016
…I will continue her work in trying to keep kids from the Dangers of Drugs. GOD Bless You First Lady.
— Mr. T (@MrT) March 7, 2016
Here is Mr. T in an anti-drug PSA that is perhaps the greatest of all time:
