POTOMAC CURRENTS Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Floating White House” Oakland, 2007 Volume 4 Number 1

POTOMAC GREETINGS TO OUR TROOPS IN IRAQ

Captain Wade Church and Captain Skip Eltringham, two of the Potomac’s stalwart captains, came up with a smashing idea to send homemade cookies and goodies to the troops in Iraq for the holidays. That idea took hold in a matter of minutes with our staff and volunteers, and on December 9th we had a packing party on board the Potomac. We sent out a total of 38 small boxes (one box for two soldiers). Two large boxes were sent in care of the son-in-law of one of our volunteers, who is stationed with a communications group in Iraq. Atogether approximately 120 service members received goodies from the Potomac family with cards extending our warmest regards and thanks. Potomac T-shirts were made especially to send to Iraq, and the volunteer docents, staff and crew Enjoy the Photo Art contributed both homemade cookies and nearly $900.00 in cash to pay for supplies and shipping. Of Captain Jan Tiura Over 25 of our crew and docents showed up on the 9th to bag cookies and pack the boxes. The Potomac’s own Sr. Captain Cookies came in all shapes and sizes. Funny story about that: apparently the very generous baker March 1 thru 4 at California Maritime Academy, made 30 dozen cookies for our project on Friday and put them in Potomac Visitor Center the trunk of her car to deliver. Well, somewhere along the way the key to the car was misplaced, 540 Water Street and after much panicked searching, a decision was made to make another 30 dozen cookies to meet Opening Reception the Saturday deadline. We want to say a very special thanks to Romaine Purdy for baking a total March 1st - 5 pm - 7 pm of 60 dozen cookies (the original batch arrived on Monday and was shipped by separate cover to a Call 510-627-1215 for Information special unit in Iraq), and to Skip Eltringham for arranging for pickup and delivery of all the cookies from CMA. The photos below by Lee Ditlefsen show By Marti Burchell some of our gang hard at work packing

Boxes and Cookies Ready to pack The two who started it. Serious packing

Now for the labels Boxes all done Off to the Post Office Page 2 AHOY! Marti’s Musings Volunteers needed for the historic, Presidential Yacht Potomac I do an awful lot of bragging about our ship, crew and do- cents, both in print and to anyone who will listen. I feel fully justified in my “bragging rights,” but I thought that you all The Presidential Yacht USS Potomac, Frank- might like to hear what others have to say. lin D. Roosevelt’s “Floating White House,” is seeking adventuresome volunteers to be Dock- From a gentleman who took a History Cruise with us we side and Cruise Docents, maintenance volunteers have: As a fairly critical executive, I am so impressed with the or- and administrative volunteers at the Potomac ganization, teamwork, helpfulness and enthusiasm of your en- Association and on board the ship. Volunteers tire association and crew of the November 2nd cruise. There are needed for history cruises and special event are many interesting things to do in the world, but few that cruises on the bay scheduled throughout 2007. have a group that make them so pleasant and easy to enjoy. The crew, from the ticket sales to docents to historical sales We are also seeking volunteer docents to con- to bridge personnel, is outstanding and obviously like what duct dockside tours and tours for school children they do. from throughout the Bay Area. Maintenance I have toured aircraft carriers, submarines, bombers, PT boats, museums, missile sites, military volunteers are vital to keeping the Potomac in museums, airbases and had volunteer groups make a real effort. I have had parties on several local excellent running condition. If you like to “tin- historic ships, but the friendliness of the Potomac out-did them all. The team on the Potomac on ker” you’d enjoy being part of the maintenance November 2nd made my son’s 40th birthday an outstanding success for all seven of our party volunteer gang on the Potomac Your Skipper and his support team went out of their way to make my son feel special on his birth- day, with little effort on my part. Usually, to get special things done on organized events is tough, The Potomac Association is a non-profit his- but not on the Potomac. The special announcement, the wheelhouse hospitality, the picture with the torical and educational Association that runs the captain and the sincere effort to make us have a good time is rare but your crew made it magic. USS Potomac (President Roosevelt’s “Float- I thought this letter seemed a little mushy, but when I read it again, there is not one word I would ing White House”). The ship is berthed at Jack take back because the experience was so superior to others that I have been involved with, and com- London Square in Oakland. manded for my family events. Your Potomac team have a real unique touch, from the moment your guests arrive at the office until they walk down the gang plank. Classes for volunteer and docent training As one who is usually considered a critical SOB, thank you again and I will enthusiastically send will be held on February 24, 2007 from 9am to you many guests in the future noon. Additional training will be held in March. If you would like to receive further information about becoming part of our “volunteer ship’s From a couple who had their wedding on board: Now that the waves have cleared, Jim and I just wanted to let you know how incredible our wed- company” please call 510-627-1667 ding was on the USS Potomac on May 30th. After all the meticulous planning, I simply couldn’t imagine a more amazing day on the Bay! “She’s Seventy-Three and still Cruising” So many elements lined up for a perfect evening: the extraordinary weather, the calmness at Angel Island for the ceremony, the sunset behind the Golden Gate Bridge as we sailed right under- neath, the absolutely crystal clear skyline views...the entire cruise truly exceeded my expectations in every way! My guests are STILL talking about it and I will never forget such a memorable and moving day. Kudos to you, your staff, the crew and especially to the affable Skip, who made it all look so easy! I would be happy to be called upon as a reference, should the need arise.

And finally from a corporate executive who had a client event on board: Thank you and all of your staff and associates for their interest in my (corporate client apprecia- tion) event in September. It was a rousing success! Everything went according to plan including the weather! The Potomac docents were all extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Your recommendation of a Cruise to Old Sacramento caterer was absolutely perfect. Food, beverages, and staff were excellent. On the Presidential Yacht Your assistance throughout every stage of the evening’s event, from initial planning to execution was exemplary. Your interest in ensuring all details were taken care of is appreciated. POTOMAC I sincerely look forward to making time in the near future for my wife to join me for a “leisurely” Dates: April 11 - To Sacramento Potomac cruise where we too can fully enjoy your beautiful ship. April 16 - To Oakland Thanks again. Meals: Three meals - on board Cost: $225 per person one way So gentle readers, forgive me if I crow a bit. I think I have good reason. $400 per person round trip 510-627-1667 for information and reservations   Page 3 LAGNIAPPE NOW HEAR THIS Cajun- A little something extra Amongst the pleasures of “working” shifts as docents are the Here are some commonly used expressions, often lively discussions generated during “down” time. The sub- which have nautical origins. ject of war came up one Sunday afternoon and one thing led to an- other - until we decided to do some research on the internet. The TO EMBARK (Sp. Embarcar) result is the following. All of these quotes are by men who were To board a ship (barco). Similarly, to disem- actively involved in the conflict of World War II. They are ar- bark means to get off a ship. An embarcadero is ranged chronologically by year of birth beginning with Mahatma the place where ships are boarded. Gandhi (1869) and ending with Jimmy Carter (1924). They are thought provoking, profound, and in some cases, surprising. TO SHANGHAI SOMEONE To force someone against his will. This ex- ON WAR pression goes back to the days when ships could not find enough crewmen to sail to a distant What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruc- port, and they had to drug and kidnap men to tion is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty or democracy? meet their quota. Shanghai, China came to rep- Mahatma Gandhi 1869-1948 resent any distant place. Older men declare war. But it is the youth who must fight and die! TO BE THREE SHEETS IN THE WIND Herbert Hoover 1874-1964 To be drunk. A sheet is the rope attached 31st President to the lower corner of a sail used to control its angle. When it is loosened in a strong wind, it Never, never, never believe any war will be smooth and easy, or that anyone who embarks on the is said to be “in the wind,” and the sail flutters strange voyage can measure the tides and hurricanes he will encounter. The statesman who yields without restraint. In a gale, all three sheets are to war fever must realize that once the signal is given, he is no longer the master of policy but the “in the wind,” and the ship staggers and reels slave of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events. like a drunken sailor. Sir 1874-1965

TO GET OFF MY BACK War is a cowardly escape from the problems of peace. Leave me alone. This comes from a passage Thomas Mann 1875-1955 in “Sinbad the Sailor” in which the Old Man of the Sea climbs on Sinbad’s back and refuses to Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a leave until he is plied with alcohol. theft upon those who hunger and are not fed, those who are old and not clothed. Dwight D. Eisenhower 1890-1969 TO BE OVER A BARREL General, US Army This expression came from the British prac- 34th President tice of tying a man, who was going to be flogged, over the barrel of a cannon. Naturally, the common people don’t want war…but after all it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a de- TO GO THE WHOLE NINE YARDS mocracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, To proceed at full speed. A yard is a spar the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is which hangs crosswise to the mast to support a tell them that they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing square sail. On a three-masted ship, you have the country to danger. It works the same in every country. three sails per mast. If you are going at top Hermann Goering speed, you are using all nine yards. Nazi Field Marshall At the Nurenberg Trials 1893-1946 MESS HALL Means dining room. This comes from mesa, Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed. the Spanish word for table. Mao Tse-Tung 1893-1976

BITTER END If I have succeeded in handing down to the reader the ancient lesson that each generation seems The bitt is the vertical post on a ship’s deck to forget—that war is evil, that it murders men—then I consider this my most constructive deed. to which ropes are made fast. When a rope is Herbert A Werner 1920-? paid out to the bitter end, no more remains to be German U-Boat Commander, author of let out. This is also the meaning of being “at the IRON COFFINS end of one’s rope.” War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never BRIG - Jail a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children. Shortened from brigantine, a small ship built Jimmy Carter for fighting and transporting captured prison- 39th President 1924- ers. Angie Papastefan, Editor [email protected] Compiled by Ron Ucovich Aided and abetted by Ed Bloom and Ron Ucovich Page 4 CONTRIBUTIONS and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Through December 31, 2006 CORPORATE PARTNER James McCloud Bob McMillan Alexander & Baldwin Foundation Stuart and Vallyn Proffitt Jim O’Connor Buchanan Street Partners Michael Roosevelt Art and Carrell Rankin PATRON John Roveda David Shaw American President Lines Gordon Seligson John and Fran Siler Buzz Gibb Sally Smyth Wanda Viviano Stanley Jacobsen and Emmy Werner John Underhill John Welland Floyd James FIRST MATE Mary Williams PG&E Bruce and Gail Adair Brian Withiam COMMANDER IN CHIEF Ron and Judy Arrants FALA Rick Anderson Salley Beck and David Brossard Donald Andrews Carla and Ken Betts Miriam and Leon Bloomberg Don Bonney Jim Bolen Roland Brandel John Bradley Willis Deming Windy and Jerry Butler Russell and Ann Bush Kurt Lauridsen Alice and Vern Carrier Ted and Lynda Chenoweth Virginia Furth Fred Cunningham Steven Colman Denny and Ruth McLeod Art and Ardeth Dreshfield Gus Dorough Tom and Carol Morehouse Lester and Elaine Dropkin Joseph Echelberry Gary Pfeiffer Olaf Elander Georgia Edlund Beverly Voelker Bill and Marie Ewing Leroy and Marlene Hintzman Richard Zampa (Ironworkers International) Dorothy and Julie Filice Walter Jaffee ADMIRAL Norman and Nancy Forrest Lucy John Albert Groh Bonnie and Earl Hamlin Frank McConville Ron Paredes Pieter Hazewindus Terry and Carolyn Moreland ELEANOR Robert Eakin and Avis Hendley Dawn Muller Ruth Adar Bill and Sue Hodges Dan Nunez Richard and Victoria Bartholomew Ray and Robin Hunt Ann Papastefan Dale Hansen Earl Jensen John Papastefan Family Douglas Higgins Nancy Kickertz William Peeters Angie Papastefan Kenneth and Margo Kingsbury Herbert Ploch David Lee Woods Rich Knowles and Merlyn Uhlenberg Mary Rudser CAPTAIN Neal and Nancy Lambly Jeffrey Walsh Mary Bergan Daniel Lamey Mary Whitehead Johnson Bogart Jack Lapidos Robert Woodruff Ron and Libi Cape Sandra Lundgren STUDENT/TEACHER George Fraser E. Richard Martin Ted Brown Linda Huber David and Myrna McGraw Elizabeth Hannon Carol Johnston Note: if you have any questions or comments about the above listing, please e-mail: gseligson@usspotomac. Bill and Mollie Kinney org or write to Friends of the Potomac, Attn: Gordon Seligson, P.O.Box 2064, Oakland CA 94604 Board of Governors and Staff POTOMAC SCHEDULE Michael Roosevelt, Chairman Carla Betts, President SPECIAL CRUISES Al Groh, 1st Vice President Cruise to Old Sacramento • April 11 to April 16 Tom Morehouse, 2nd Vice President Opening Day on the Bay • April 29 Art Haskel, CFO Mother’s Day • May 13 Willis Deming, Secretary Rick Anderson, Mary Bergan Angel Island Cruise, Tram Tour and Lunch • June 20 Joe Brennan, Curtis Davies Call for departure times, reservations and pricing David Connolly, Virginia Furth Buzz Gibb, Judy Goff DOCKSIDE TOURS Doug Higgins, James McCloud The Potomac is open for docent-led dockside tours from mid-January to mid-December. Tours Denny McLeod, Kirk Rowlands are approximately 45 minutes and include a 15 minute video shown in the Visitor Center. Ron Paredes, Richard Zampa Wednesday and Friday 10:30am to 2:30pm Marti Burchell, Executive Director Sunday 12 Noon to 3:30pm Craig Newton, Shipkeeper Dockside Ticket Pricing: $7/Adult • $5/Seniors • 12 and under/Free The Potomac Association SPRING 2007 HISTORY CRUISES 540 Water Street Enjoy a two-hour narrated History Cruise with our knowledgeable docents. Complimentary coffee, P.O. Box 2064 Oakland, CA 94604 Telephone: 510-627-1215 tea and water will be available. Tickets must be purchased by contacting Ticket Web at www.tick- www.usspotomac.org etweb.com or by calling 866-468-3399. Spring cruising season resumes in May 2007. Reservations The Potomac Newsletter is published by the Association for the Preservation are highly recommended. Groups of 20 or more must make reservations by calling the Potomac of the Presidential Yacht, Potomac, Inc. Association at 510-627-1215. Printed courtesy of the ’s REPROGRAPHIC DEPARTMENT History Cruises Depart at 11am Editor: Angie Papastefan History Cruise Ticket Pricing: Layout and Design: David McGraw Editorial Board: Les Marks, Marti Burchell, Adults $40.00 / Seniors (over 60) $35.00 and David McGraw ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Youth 6-12 / $20.00, Under 6 Free No part of this publication may be reproduced Groups of 20 or more $30.00 without written permission by the publisher For further dates and information: www.usspotomac.org