Not only did her performances help spread her name throughout the country, her support for the USO marked the beginning of Pearl’s long-standing support for the United States military and diplomacy.

Pearl would later be appointed “Ambassador of Love,” by Richard Nixon, then Special Ambassador to the United Nations under President Gerald Ford.

She would continue to hold this position under the Carter and Reagan administrations before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Pearl, a lifelong Republican, was often invited to the White House to perform for dignitaries. For example, on October 27, 1975, Bailey performed at the State Dinner honoring then President of Egypt Anwar al-Sadat. It was argued that at the time Pearl received the most White House invitations only second to entertainer Bob Hope.

In 1988, two years before her passing, Pearl remained supportive of the US military traveling to the Persian Gulf to visit Navy Personnel. According to Pearl, “regardless of the sentiments concerning war, we cannot forsake our boys in uniform.” Pearl received multiple recognitions from the USO. In 1968, she received the Woman of the Year Award. In 1989, Pearl also received a special USO 50th Anniversary Award.