- Irving Berlin's White Christmas movie contains a secret tribute to a US president, University of Sheffield research has revealed
- Documents held in the US Library of Congress show how the American songwriter documented his admiration for President Dwight D Eisenhower through the character General Waverly
- Berlin's manuscripts reveal he previously wrote a full, unpublished musical called Stars on my Shoulders about Eisenhower, that depicted him via the character of retired 'General Waverly,' who was being persuaded to run for president
- The unpublished musical - Stars on my Shoulders - was intended to be part of Berlin's real-life campaign, revealed in his letters, to persuade Eisenhower to run for the presidency
- Berlin went on to use songs from Stars on my Shoulders and the character General Waverly in White Christmas, which was released two years after Eisenhower was elected
One of the most loved Christmas films, which has been a staple family movie for generations, has a secret tribute to a US president, according to new research.
An expert in the history of Hollywood musicals, Professor Dominic Broomfield-McHugh from the University of Sheffield, discovered Irving Berlin's festive favourite White Christmas documents the American songwriter's admiration for President Dwight D Eisenhower.
While studying manuscripts and letters written by Berlin held in the US Library of Congress, Professor Broomfield-McHugh found evidence suggesting the character Major General Tom Waverly - played by Dean Jagger - is Berlin's tribute to Eisenhower.
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