The DAR has been in DC since long before the liberals took it over. They built Constitution Hall in 1929.
The Who were playing a sold-out show at DAR Constitution Hall on the evening of **March 31, 1968**. At the very same time, millions of Americans were watching Lyndon B. Johnson deliver a nationally televised speech about the Vietnam War. Near the end of the speech, Johnson stunned the country by declaring:
> “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.” ([Miller Center][1])
### What happened at the concert?
One of the enduring stories from that night is that before the concert began, Roger Daltrey walked onto the stage and announced that President Johnson had just said he would not run for reelection.
According to a firsthand account later published in *The Washington Post* by someone who attended the concert:
* Daltrey came out in front of the curtain before the show.
* He told the audience that Johnson would not seek reelection.
* The audience erupted in cheers, stood up, and reacted with astonishment.
* Daltrey then disappeared backstage, and moments later the curtain opened and The Who launched into their performance. ([The Washington Post][2])
### Why was it such a dramatic moment?
It’s hard to overstate how shocking Johnson’s announcement was.
Almost everyone expected his speech to be about Vietnam. Very few people—including many of his own advisers—knew he was about to withdraw from the presidential race. The announcement completely overshadowed the rest of the speech and instantly reshaped the 1968 election. ([Miller Center][1])
Imagine being at a loud rock concert in Washington and suddenly hearing from a British rock singer that the sitting President of the United States had just abandoned his reelection campaign. In 1968, there were no smartphones, text messages, or social media. Many people in that audience learned one of the biggest political stories of the decade from The Who.
### The concert itself
The show came during The Who’s first major U.S. breakthrough. They were touring behind **The Who Sell Out** and had become known for:
* explosive performances,
* Pete Townshend smashing guitars,
* Keith Moon’s wild drumming,
* and a volume and intensity that few American audiences had experienced.
For many attendees, the evening became memorable not only because of the band’s performance but because it coincided with one of the most surprising political announcements in modern American history. ([The Washington Post][2])
It’s one of those rare moments where rock history and presidential history intersect in real time.
[1]: https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-31-1968-remarks-decision-not-seek-re-election?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Remarks on Decision not to Seek Re-Election”
[2]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/another-1968-moment-the-who-deliver-the-news/2018/04/13/46b8fcb4-3cfb-11e8-955b-7d2e19b79966_story.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Opinion | Another 1968 moment: The Who deliver the news”