Robert Montgomery

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Robert Montgomery & Sen. White, Maine, 4/3/39 (Harris & Ewing/Library of Congress)

Robert Montgomery (1904-1981) was a famous actor, director and producer and the first president of the Screen Actors Guild. As an actor he appeared with the biggest cinema stars of his era, including Greta Garbo, Myrna Loy, Joan Crawford, Helen Hayes Carole Lombard, Bette Davis, and Ingrid Bergman, among others. An early television host, he later criticized the networks and championed public television. Robert Montgomery was the first show-business professional to hold office in the White House, as television coach to President Eisenhower.