Broadway On The Beltway

Celebrities and politicians. Politicians and celebrities. You can usually find one around the other. But why?

Author Alan Schroeder examines these strange bedfellows in his book "Celebrity-In-Chief: How Show Business Took Over The White House."

Mr. Schroeder is an Associate Professor of Journalism of Northeastern University and an Emmy Award-winning former television producer. He spoke about his book with CBS News Correspondent Melissa McDermott.

"Celebrities are kind of dangerous for candidates," he said. They play by different rules." Schroeder cited Willie Nelson's revelation that he smoked marijuana at The White House after visiting with then-President Carter. He also discusses Elvis Presley's then-secret, now-famous visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 1970 to meet President Richard Nixon.

Schroeder traces the roots of this phenomenon back to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's White House, which often hosted Hollywood stars, including Shirley Temple. It was the young star who reportedly showed First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt how to wave for the cameras.