Franklin D. Roosevelt's “Floating White House”
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Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Floating White House” Oakland, California 2010 Summer Edition THE BELL COMES HOME INSIDE THIS ISSUE: By Hank Laney, Curator Sea Lions and bombs… Oh, my! During my early days as Curator for The Potomac takes part in the Potomac, I needed to go through Homeland Security training. our archives, page by page, to get a by Marti Burchell . .2 sense of what it contained before it could be organized. In an otherwise Marti’s Musings… unremarkable file I found two letters. The Potomac teams up with the One was written in 1985 by Dr. James Red and White Fleet for a unique Roosevelt, FDR’s son, to the Secretary cruising experience . 3 of the Navy requesting the Potomac’s original ship’s bell to complete the res- Mooring Lines toration. Attached to this was a reply A note from the Editor essentially approving the request with It’s BACH… and BLUEGRASS! instructions to contact the Curator of Our second season begins this the Navy when ready. September . 3 I realized that the original bell still existed and knew who had it. In some 25 years Our Flying First Lady no one had followed up. With proof in hand, I decided to pursue the request. A look at Eleanor’s love for The Curator of the Navy has a very informative website listing how, and under flying and her friendship with what conditions, archival objects can be obtained along with rules governing their Amelia Earhart. “care, custody and control.” It made clear that the Navy always retains title to its by Paulette Langguth . 4 property, but also has a loan program for qualifying organizations. FDR and the Fireside Chats I certainly thought we would qualify as we have FDR’s Presidential Yacht, in We remember so many… addition to being a National Historic Landmark. In January 2009, I wrote to the by Edward I. Bloom . 5 Curator requesting the original bell and included a number of documents they requested about our association. I followed up a week or so later with a phone 2010 Cruise Schedule call to the Curator who expressed enthusiasm, and had in fact, seen the Potomac A cruise on the Bay aboard the out on the bay during a visit to San Francisco. He had already begun processing Potomac offers something for the request. everyone! . 6 After no small amount of time I again called. The original Curator had left, files Friends of the Potomac were in disarray, and they had lost the request. Could I resubmit the request? The most important page in this issue. .7 More time passes, more phone calls, more “we are working on it.” This went on for months. POTOMAC LINKS: All I could do was be patient while trying not to be a pest. And then suddenly Cruises and Special Events came an email; they had located the bell and it was ready to ship!! They also had Student Tours lost the paperwork (again) and requested another copy for their files. Private Charter and Events Become a Friend of the Potomac I made arrangements to ship it to a local UPS outlet so we could inspect it at our leisure. After notification of its arrival, Ron Gammon and I located the crate and opened it for inspection. It was exactly as hoped, with USS Potomac 1936 proudly Continued Page 2 Sea Lions, and bombs... under the Potomac, oh my! By Marti Burchell Recently, the Presidential Yacht Potomac participated in two national anti-terrorist activities. Both were training opportu- nities for agencies charged with Homeland Security. The first exercise involved the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Commission. These folks train dolphins and sea li- ons to detect “limpet mines” that have been attached to the hulls of ships, bridge pilings, commercial shipping docks, and the like. It was fascinating to watch this two-day exercise, and of The sea lions and their trainers came along side the Potomac course, to have the opportunity to get up close to the beau- in a small boat. A diver was then sent under the ship to place tiful sea lions. Carla Betts, Potomac Association President, the dummy mine on her hull. Once the diver surfaced and and I were invited to go aboard the team’s boat and meet returned to the boat, the sea lion was released. She swam the sea lions. These animals are noted for their ability to see under the Potomac, and returned shortly to let the trainer extraordinarily well under water, and even in murky circum- know she had found a mine. The sea lion was then given a stances. Not hard to believe, as they have beautiful, dark mouth-held bit attached to a rope and returned to the “mine.” eyes the size of eggs. A diver then followed the rope to the mine and neutralized the threat. The second training exercise was held by the Department of Homeland Security and TSA. This involved hiding “terrorist bomb materials” in two locations on the Potomac. A pair of instructors came aboard first and placed the materials in places where they determined a terrorist might have an op- portunity to hide them. A team of security trainees and members of the law enforce- ment bomb squads from around the Bay Area were then turned loose on the ship to find the materials. They used all sorts of sophisticated detection devices, none of which I can pronounce. The speed at which they were successful in find- ing the materials was very impressive. Equally impressive were the men and women who are charged with the duties of keeping our country safe from those who would do us harm. Their dedication and professionalism was a pleasure to observe. The Bell from Page 1 engraved on the body. It weighs about 80 pounds and measures approximately 16 by 16 inches. By then more than a year was spent waiting, making calls, and sending letters. It was worth it. We plan to make a special display for the bell in the Dining Saloon on the wall where the ship’s clock and Presidential seal are located. This wall is pretty much the focal point of the Saloon, but more important, it is made from ¼-inch plate steel that will provide a secure mounting on a moving ship . People often ask me if the clapper is still in place. The answer is yes, but it will be disabled for obvious reasons. We hope by the time you read this issue of Potomac Currents we will have the bell mounted on the ship where it belongs, and reunited with the Potomac after some 60 years in a Navy warehouse. -2- MARTI’S MUSINGS…Partnerships Partnerships between non-profits and for-profits have been around for many years. The for-profit gains the marketing exposure, tax incentives, and feel-good quotient that come with supporting a non-profit organization. Non-profits gain the financial and in-kind support, expertise, and talent that for-profits can offer. It makes a lot sense and it’s just smart business. The Potomac has had numerous partnerships over her history in Oakland. The maritime com- munity offered enormous supportive partnerships throughout the 15-year-long restoration of the ship. Companies in Oakland and San Francisco have partnered with the Potomac for special projects since her restoration. The Potomac also had a 25-year partnership with the Port of Oak- land, and while that contract was recently dissolved, the Port still lends its support in the area of in-kind facilities use. We are about to embark on a new partnership and we are delighted to be aligning our National Historic Landmark Presiden- tial Yacht with a respected and equally venerable tour and bay cruise company. Through a fortuitous confluence of interests, and the work of consultant Bruce Burtch, we have been in contact with the Red and White Fleet company in San Francisco to form a partnership. In 1892, seventeen year-old Thomas Crowley started with one small boat to deliver goods to the larger ships serving the San Francisco area. His service was successful, and in 1906 the Crowley Launch and Tugboat Company was incorporated. Following many years of continued success, the company operates today as the Red and White Fleet under the direction of Thomas Crowley’s grandson, Tom Escher. We are very excited about our new partnership with the Red and White Fleet, and about working with the fine people who run the company. The Potomac will benefit from this partnership through enhanced international marketing, additional char- ter business revenue, and invaluable exposure to the San Francisco side of the bay. The Red and White Fleet benefits as we work together to add high-end specialty charters and additional education-related bay adventures for their international and local marketing packages. Our partnership, which began during the restoration with the donation of new engines by Crowley Marine for the Potomac, continues both of our traditions of education and service to clients and new friends from all over the world. We are looking forward to launching this agreement in early July. MOORING LINES . Bluegrass & Bach On Board returns to the Potomac Sep- It all happens on the Potomac tember 9. The success of these dockside concerts last fall this fall, and a portion of the prompted us to do it again, and we have quite a lineup for proceeds will go to the As- The Second Annual Fall Music Series. High Country and 49 sociation’s educational cruise Special, both award-winning bluegrass bands, will return for program for East Bay school this year’s series.