The real story behind ‘Elvis & Nixon’: 15 facts not in the film

This photo of the real Nixon meeting Elvis is the most requested photo in history from the National Archives.

Not even this photo of Buzz Aldrin landing on the moon is as popular as the photo of Elvis and Nixon.

Elvis delivered a rare handwritten letter to the White House gate, requesting a meeting with Nixon. 

Elvis asked for a badge to allow him to work undercover as a narcotics agent. 

The war in Vietnam made Nixon one of the most unpopular presidents in U.S. history. 

Nixon didn’t see the benefit of meeting with Elvis, but fortunately, his aid, Egil Krogh (Colin Hanks) did. 

Nixon reluctantly decided to meet with Elvis, though he was paranoid about what Elvis really wanted. 

Both Nixon and Elvis bonded over their hatred for The Beatles, who were America’s new sweethearts.

After hearing about the meeting, McCartney said he felt betrayed by Elvis.

Seen as a digestive aid, Dr. Pepper may have been named after pepsin, a digestive enzyme.

The fictional Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), also drank Dr. Pepper when he visited the White House. 

Nixon subsidized corn production, creating cheap high-fructose corn syrup that was used in soda like Dr. Pepper. 

The irony is that Elvis was known to take illegal drugs and abuse prescription drugs. 

Elvis died on Aug. 16, 1977 from a heart attack, most likely brought on by an excessive amount of codeine pills.

The film Elvis & Nixon imagines what happened during their meeting. It opens in theaters April 22.