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When U.S. Presidents George Bush, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson visited LA, they often chose the Century Plaza Hotel for accommodation. It was even coined as the “The White House of the West” during Ronald Reagan’s administration.
And because of that nature, it was very common to see protesters along the Avenue of the Stars to divert the Presidents’ attention to them. As a matter of fact, at least 10,000 protesters rallied outside this hotel in June 1967, making President Johnson’s visit a record.

Bill Clinton stayed here several times even though he had friends living nearby. He even delivered a speech here for the National Education Association while Rod Stewart and Elton John were entertaining the audience. Barrack Obama worked out at the Equinox gym and chose the Beverly Hilton for his lodging. It was the same place that President John Kennedy occupied during his visit.

The Century Plaza hotel is a prestigious place and it has become symbol of majesty along the Avenue of the Stars. It was constructed for two years starting from 1964 to 1966. Since its construction, it has accommodated celebrities like The Supremes, Jack Benny, Debbie Reynolds, Irene Dunne, Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Dale Evans, Roy Rogers, Barbara Eden, Tommy Lasorda, Dennis Franz, Robert Stack, Jane Seymour, Burt Reynolds, Magic Johnson, Tom Hanks, Sharon Stone and Meg Ryan.

In 1969, the Apollo XI astronauts celebrated a party here together with President Nixon to celebrate the success of the first ever human landing on the moon. When Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo were married, they rode a hot-air balloon which took off from the hotel’s parking lot. Ronald Reagan celebrated two electoral victories at the hotel. The first was in 1980 and the second was in 1984, after being re-elected. In 1995, the hotel was widely publicized after David Begelman, former president of the Columbia Studios, committed suicide in one of the hotel’s room.

In 2009, a shocking news was announced by the owners after they expressed their intention to demolish the hotel and substitute it with 600-foot tower. However, their decision was instantly met with an overwhelming opposition from different groups who considered the hotel as a historical landmark. The original plan was withdrawn instantly and the owners decided to just add up new nearby buildings.
Location: From Rodeo Dr., turn southwest to Santa Monica Blvd., and go 1 mile to Ave. of the stars.