#allamericansports

[usnatarchives]

Pelé and President Ford, 6/28/1975 (NARA IDs 12082700 and 6829578).

RIP Pelé

Brazilian soccer legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento (aka Pelé) died today at age 82. After retiring from a dazzling and historic international soccer career, he played for the New York Cosmos (1975-1977) and is widely credited with sparking American interest in the game. 

In his role as a soccer global ambassador, Pelé was a frequent visitor to the White House.

Pelé and Nixon (5/08/1973, NARA IDs 194508 and 1552580).

See the “Memoranda of Conversation” from this meeting (excerpt):

Pelé and Reagan (10/14/1982 NARA ID 75852465).

Pelé, Reagan, and Brazilian President José Sarney (9/1/1986, NARA ID 75855009)

Pelé and Clinton (10/15/1997, NARA ID 81122856)

See related: 

In Memoriam: Pelé (1940-2022), National Archives News

Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooal!, Pieces of History blog

Soccer in the National Archives and Sports in the National Archives, National Archives News special topics pages

All American: The Power of Sports exhibit, National Archives Museum, Washington, DC, through 1/7/2024.

[douyemusic]

Boys on skates....skateboarding # skateboarding #teenagers #allamericansports #beach skate #santabarbara #santabarbarabeach

[usnatarchives]

NARA gif from NARA ID 24715.

RETRO WORKOUT TIPS! "Lets Get Physical" circa 1911-1952!

Check out these great exercise gifs from our new exhibit All American: The Power of Sports. Read Victoria Macchi's National Archives News story to learn more about these athletes: National Archives Debuts Sports GIF Pack to Fuel Your Retro Workout.

Tommy Kono, who learned to lift while imprisoned in an WWII incarceration camp then went on to become an Olympian. NARA gif from NARA ID 2569520.

NARA gif from NARA ID 24715.

All American: The Power of Sports! National Archives Museum, DC, 9/16/22-1/7/2024

This 3,000-square-foot exhibit showcases more than 75 items including original records, artifacts, and photographs. Highlights include original sports equipment and jerseys gifted by star athletes to Presidents, early 20th-century tobacco baseball cards, trophies, rare pictures and film footage, patents, and more! Press release here, National Archives News story here. All American: The Power of Sports is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of AT&T, AARP, and Mars, Incorporated. Additional support provided by HISTORY® and the Lawrence F. O'Brien Family.