You know me. Planes, trains and automobiles, right? Well, it’s close this week. So settle for two out of three and read along…
Presidential travel is usually a bit more than complicated that calling for someone to bring the Chevy sedan around from the back. In fact, it’s downright plush. If you’ve seen some of the news crews and their coverage of trips with any of our nation’s Commander’s-In-Chief over the last few administrations, they tend to travel pretty well. Air Force One is the leading example with all of it’s various accoutrements. Nothing like those seen in the movie of the same name, but still much better than what we get traveling in coach.
Several years ago, I had the chance to be aboard Air Force One myself. Quite an honor for the transportation enthusiast like me. Okay, so the airplane is only called “Air Force One” when the President is actually aboard. So it wasn’t really Air Force One, then. And it wasn’t even one of the two Boeing 747-200B’s so designated whenever “G.W,” and company are aboard. And if the truth really be told, it wasn’t even one of the previous versions of the 747 to have that honor. Nor was it the movie version with all of the extra (read fictitious) features…
No, it was one of the Boeing 707’s or VC-137B’s that filled the role of Air Force One. It was the first jet powered Presidential airplane, SAM-970, and carried then President Dwight Eisenhower on his first jet flight and a European tour in 1959. Today, anyone can visit this first incarnation of Air Force One on display at Seattle’s historic Boeing Field at the Museum of Flight. Check out the web pages for more Presidential details as well as information on how you too can step aboard Air Force One at the Museum, Another recent addition to their collection is one of British Airway’s now retired Concorde’s – also open for tours! Another reason I need to get back to Seattle soon…
The Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio has a very complete collection of Presidential aircraft including the Boeing 707 or VC-137C SAM-26000 that was Air Force One for President John Kennedy for his fateful trip to and from Dallas in November 1963. It made many other trips of note during the Kennedy administration including the trip to Ireland and Germany for his famous “Eich bin ein Berliner” Speech.
The VC-137C that succeeded this plane, SAM-27000 is slated to go on public display at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California in 2005. Check out their store for a selection of Air Force One merchandise to support the project!
Well as promised, how about Oakland and another Presidential favored mode of transport? Would you believe the Presidential yacht “Potomac“? It was called “The Floating White House” by members of the Press during the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. While not the first yacht used by various Presidents, and likely not the most ornate (being built during the Depression, it was outfitted as austere but functional; complete with a then hand operated elevator that FDR used to get between decks! Now owned and lovingly restored by the Port of Oakland, it is open for tours and occasional cruises on the San Francisco Bay. Berthed at the historic Jack London Square, you’ll be able take in a great time during a visit. A seat on the fantail offers a fine view either out on the Bay or just the passing parade of boats up and down the Oakland estuary while at the dock. Here’s another link from the National Park Service with some great photos!
And bringing up the rear, let’s not overlook another favorite of FDR — the private railroad business car, “Ferdinand Magellan“. Built in 1928, it was one of six cars named for famous explorers — F erdinand Magellan, David Livingstone, Henry Stanley, Marco Polo, Robert Peary and Roald Amundsen. and used in special charter service by the Pullman Company. Before World War II, FDR traveled aboard the “Roald Admundsen” on many trips. (Today this car also survives and is on display in Scottsdale, Arizona in the McCormack-Stillman Railroad Park.
The “Ferdinand Magellan” was specifically outfitted for Presidential service in 1942 with the addition of nickel-steel armor plate five-eighths of an inch thick, riveted to the sides, floor, roof and ends of the car. As well, the windows were replaced with three inch thick bullet-resistant glass. This was produced by laminating twelve sheets of quarter-inch thick glass into one sheet. Further changes to the car included reducing the number of bedrooms from five to four to enlarge the dining room and observation lounge, a shower-bath for the President and two special escape hatches – one in the ceiling in the observation lounge, and the other on one wall of the shower-tub. All of the changes almost doubled the weight of the car from almost 160,000 pounds to over 285,000 pounds. It required special trucks with roller bearing axles to carry the car – the heaviest passenger railroad car in the country, then and now.
It was retired from service in the late Fifties, having served President’s Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower. While FDR preferred travel at a stately thirty-five miles-per-hour, Truman routinely enjoyed riding the car at eighty miles-per-hour, much to the chagrin of locomotive engineers assigned to pull the POTUS or President Of The United States specials.
After being offered to the Smithsonian (who declined it’s acquisition), the car became part of the Gold Coast Railroad Museum’s collection in Miami, Florida. Yet, the story doesn’t end there! In February of 1985, the National Park Service honored the car by designating it as a National Historic Landmark – the only railroad passenger car so selected. The Museum placed the car on display in a prominent location in it’s train shed.
But the car’s Presidential days were not over quite yet. During his bid for re-election in 1984, President Reagan made use of the “Ferdinand Magellan” for a brief whistle-stop tour on October 12 of that year, between Dayton and Toledo, Ohio – making five stops en-route. According to the Museum’s web pages, Reagan made reference to the history of the car at in his speech at each stop. He also remarked that this trip was the highlight of that campaign, and that he preferred travel by train over airplane. (Too bad he didn’t show as much in funding for Amtrak over the years of his administration!)
Finishing up today’s tale, the “Ferdinand Magellan” even has a hurricane story. In 1992, when Hurricane Andrew came to call, the train shed where the car was on display was heavily damaged as the trusses holding up the roof collapsed and fell on the car, along with the rest of the equipment on display. The damage to the car was minimal, being only a few dents and some paint removed by the sand blowing at high speed. (While I couldn’t find proof, I have heard stories that some of the Museum volunteers sought shelter from Andrew aboard at the height of the storm. Talk about a wide ride…) Normally, the car and the Museum are open for display. But after the passing of Frances and Charlie and the possible advance of Ivan, they’re taking a well-deserved break.
Not quite planes, trains and automobiles of the Presidents, but close! Hope you get a chance to visit one of them for something interesting in Presidential history, other than the upcoming political fracas. Yes, mud will be slung, and it’s only begun.
I know I’ve been pushing the American Red Cross for your consideration at the end of my last few columns. I’m doing it again today. There are one heck of a lot of people they continue to help on a daily basis all over the world, but especially in Florida and right now. If you can share something, now is a really good time to do so. ’nuff said!
If you’re looking for some more information on Presidential travel, consider the following books (even a few available on Amazon):
The President Travels by Train: Politics and Pullmans by Bob Withers
Presidential Cars & Transportation: From Horse and Carriage to Air Force One, the Story of How the Presidents of the United States Travel by William D. Siuru, Andrea Stewart
How to Be President: What to Do and Where to Go Once You’re in Office by Stephen P. Williams
Cruising Historic San Francisco Bay with FDR’s Presidential Yacht Potomac by David Lee Woods — available at the Potomac Gift Shop at Oakland’s Jack London Square. (510-627-1215).
Next week? Well, we’re not done in Oakland just yet. How about a look at a few classic saloons of note? That’s where Roger’s headed, in more ways than one…