POTOMACFranklin D. Roosevelt’s “FloatingCURRENTS White House” Oakland, 2006 Volume 3 Number 2

DOCENTS, GUIDES, FROM WHITE HOUSE TO B-24s – 1941-1945 EDUCATORS and more… TECH SGT. GEORGE FRASER’S STORY

By Ron Arrants By Angie Papastefan Tech Sgt. George Fraser thought he had died and gone to heaven when he awoke in a hospital in There was a great turnout for the Potomac Foggia, Italy. The year was 1944 and – no – it was not a hallucination. Standing beside his bed was Association’s annual docent training! Fifty-sev- a beautiful blonde vision in the form of Madeleine Carroll. For the younger folk: Madeleine Carroll en volunteers got an overview about safety re- was one of the top movie stars of the period, and was there as a Red Cross worker. sponsibilities, basics of giving tours to passen- gers and ongoing student cruises. This training That was only one of the many experiences related by the former Tech Sgt. during our Oral His- along with dedicated commitment are the key tory Program on March 11. Should George Fraser ever write a book about his life’s journey, per- reasons Potomac docents are a competent and haps he might use the following chapter titles caring group of individuals. Another major rea- (we have included only some of the highlights son is that they are also committed to the USS of what we heard). POTOMAC and its history. …From Head Usher in a DC Movie The- A warm “Welcome Aboard” was extended ater to ’s White House to our new docents who have stepped up to be Office. While working as an usher in a movie part of a great team. They will begin by shadow- theatre, he heard about an opening he could ap- ing the “seasoned” docents and then be off on ply for in the Treasury Department. He took their own, giving tours both at dockside and on the test and passed, going from $10.00 a week cruises. Each orientation/training session brings to a job at $100.00 a month. Next came an op- eight to ten new docents into the Potomac fam- portunity for transfer to Mrs. Roosevelt’s White ily. House office.

Docents are an integral part of the opera- … From White House to Air Cadet Pro- tion of the USS Potomac. They prepare the ship gram. Here he would tell us that on December by setting out chairs and soft drinks, checking 7, 1941, he was attending a football game during for safety and cleanliness, and guiding tours which announcements broke in relaying orders for more than 2,500 passengers during the year. to various high level military men to report to Dockside docents will give tours to about 2,000 their offices or units immediately. After a few guests. Our free student cruises will reach more of those, George realized something big was than 1,300 school children and hopefully, with happening. Then the devastating news came: the help of our docents, instill in them a curios- PEARL HARBOR HAD BEEN ATTACKED. ity about the FDR era and the Potomac’s role in He could go on to describe his decision to enlist that history. in the Air Cadet Program to become a pilot and the strict regimen he placed himself on in order Photograph by Bill Hodges This is the embodiment of our mission - to to pass the physical. keep alive the history of the FDR era. …From Pilot Training to Radioman. George’s dream of becoming a pilot almost came true. Although he made pilot classification, when it came to training it was discovered that he had some- thing called claustrophobia (whenever he put goggles on) – not a commonly known affliction at ✮✮✮✮✮ the time. He had trained in Nashville, Albany (Georgia), Biloxi, and now was reassigned to be an Cont. on Page 3 Page 2

LAGNIAPPE Marti’s Musings Cajun- A little something extra

The USS Potomac, like any lady of quality, endeavors to Here are some quotes to ponder. maintain her appearance in the best possible light. After ten years of excellent and dedicated service, she was in need of The only limit to our realization of tomor- a bit of a make-over and some new “clothes.” In the last 18 row will be our doubts of today. Let us move months the Potomac has experienced a myriad of visible and forward with strong and active faith. not-so-visible improvements. Franklin D. Roosevelt The most important improvements have been the not-so If we adhere faithfully to the Charter of the -visible enhancements to the operation and safety of the ship. and walk forward in sedate and They include: a new state of the art Furuno Radar system; a sober strength, seeking no one’s land or trea- comprehensive overhaul of an engine cylinder liner and new sure, seeking to lay no arbitrary control upon gaskets on all cylinder head covers, a thorough diagnostic the thoughts of men, if all British moral and check of her main engines, (thanks to Advanced Engine Tech- material forces and convictions are joined with nologies); relining of all the watertight doors with new rubber your own in fraternal association, the high roads gaskets; a new fire-pump engine; a dry docking, and lots of of the future will be clear, not only for us but small “tweaks” and gadgets to make certain that our 72-year for all, not only for our time but for a century -old Grande Dame runs safely and well. to come. , 1946 The more visible improvements include the replacement of numerous worn and faded ships’ furnishings and accoutre- Life in the twentieth century is like a para- ments. These are: new canvas on the main deck fantail, main deck and boat deck railings; covers chute jump; you have to get it right the first for the life boats; new window curtains throughout the ship; new vinyl and foam padding on the time. fantail couch; a new “period” dining table and chairs, and a cleaned and rebound oriental carpet in *Margaret Mead the Saloon; new hand-crafted wooden frames for some of our historic photos; a framed status board and a beautiful table for the Pilot House (thank you, Ron Gamman); and upgraded brass fittings on It is often easier to fight for one’s principles the light switches and lamp holders (in keeping with the historic photos). Most recently we have than to live up to them. added 50 new folding chairs for the boat deck. Adlai Stevenson This “Lady’s” legion of caretakers (and admirers), also known as the Ship Keeper, and the twenty I am glad to see that men are getting their or so volunteer Maintenance Crew, have labored long and hard on her behalf. She is fresh, revital- rights, but I want women to get theirs, and while ized, impeccably dressed and awaits your pleasure for the upcoming cruise season. Do come join the water is stirring I will step into the pool. us for a sail on the Bay. Sojourner Truth

Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate. John F. Kennedy NOW HEAR THIS

*What would she say about the twenty-first Words from the mouths of some can convey hope, or the opposite. Words, such as those spoken century? by FDR and Winston Churchill, can and did inspire. Roosevelt spoke a language that we could understand and yet he was eloquent in expressing profound thoughts with very few words. He was also witty and, from what little I have read, without malice. Churchill, on the other hand, was also very quick with the comeback but one would not want to be his target. Nevertheless, he did have a way with words and the following, gleaned from The Churchill Centre in Washington, D.C., caught ELEANOR ROOSEVELT my eye. Ahead of Her Time After receiving a Minute issued by a priggish civil servant, An important ingredient for the politician is the objecting to the ending of a sentence with a preposition ability to attract and draw people to him. All and the use of a dangling participle in official documents, political action is filtered through other human Churchill red pencilled in the margin: “This is the sort of beings. pedantry up with which I will not put.”

Politics is the participation of the citizen in his Many thanks to all who have contributed story ideas and government. The kind of government he has other information for use in POTOMAC CURRENTS. They depends entirely on the quality of that partici- are always welcome. Very special thanks to Dorothy M. pation. Frye for her additional editing suggestions in preparing this issue of our newsletter. A good public servant becomes so at a high cost of personal sacrifice. We need such men: when Angie Papastefan, Editor we find them we owe them our gratitude and, [email protected] above all, our respect. Page 3 Fraser cont. from Page 1 RICK ANDERSON – A LEADER IN THE SHIPWRIGHTS aircraft radio operator with training in Chicago. UNION TALKS TEAK………………..

One of his many pleasant memories was that We asked Rick Anderson, longtime member of the Potomac Board of Governors, Commander in living quarters were in the somewhat luxurious Chief level supporter, career shipwright and master carpenter, to tell the story of the beautiful teak Stevens Hotel overlooking Lake Michigan. He decks onboard the Presidential Yacht Potomac. There is no better source for this story, as Rick was learned to take Morse code and type at the same the man who almost single-handedly designed and laid the decks. time. At Scott Field in Illinois, he learned the intricacies of air corps radios, including disman- Rick was born into a maritime family and followed a career as a shipwright beginning in the mid tling and then putting them back together. There 1960’s. By 1985, Rick was serving as the elected leader of the Shipwrights Union in the Bay Area, was gunnery training in Florida, then it was on (Local 1149, United Brotherhood of Carpenters). to .

Rick recounts how his involvement in the “Potomac Project” started. “Clarence E. Briggs, the …Meeting Crew and Plane. In Massachu- head of the Pacific Coast Metal Trades AFL-CIO, our parent shipyard labor organization, first apprised setts it was time to meet and train with the crew me of labor’s involvement in the (Potomac) restoration efforts and invited me to attend early board of ten who would be flying in the B-24 Bomb- meetings. Soon I was asked to join the Potomac Board. ers. Crews developed a very strong bond and it was almost a given that such a group would Our early emphasis was, of course, to be on fundraising. I contributed to that effort by creating be kept intact with few substitutions or replace- and selling the Potomac pin. The cost of the first 300 pins was donated by Local 1149. As with ments and only when necessary should someone the history of any major restoration effort, which has its ups and downs, ours was certainly to be no be incapacitated for a time. Of that crew, only exception.” Despite some substantial obstacles the organization persevered. two are still living. The planes were equipped with ten 50-caliber guns and nine 500-pound We asked Rick to continue the story, and tell us about the Potomac’s beautiful teak decks. bombs, or four (or five) 1000-pound bombs. “The physical part of my effort began in the early 1990’s when the Potomac finally returned to Clay Training took the men to Charleston and then Street. This followed her major hull rebuilding at the Fulton Shipyard in Stockton. Thanks to a to Cuba. Orders were discussed with crew only substantial contribution of new teakwood by Jim Oliver, owner of the Tropical Forests Company, after take-off. Final destination was the 15th and the able assistance of Toni Trip and others, it was possible to begin installing the new deck and Army Air Corps in Italy, with a few other stops handrails. (These installations were exact replicas of the original rails and decking that was in place in between. when President Roosevelt used the Potomac.)

…Bombing Missions and How I Survived Laid down in a traditional yacht fashion, each (teak) piece was hand fitted over the existing steel To Tell. George flew 37 missions. The limit sub deck. The pieces were then bolted down in a bedding compound onto 3/ ”inch studs welded to for American airmen was 50 missions; the Brit- 8 the deck. A slight taper milled in each of the 1-3/ ” thick teak deck planks allowed for a thread of ish had a limit of 25. On his 17th mission, July 4 caulking cotton to be driven in between each board. This was done to maintain watertight integrity 25, 1944, the target was the Hermann Goering during expansion and contraction caused by weather. These seams are then sealed over with a black tank factory in Linz, Austria. For George it rubber compound. Hence, the lines you see running down our deck.” was the scariest of all missions. The American planes were outnumbered by the German planes Rick expressed the following about his efforts and his feelings for the Potomac: “Being a ‘ship’ …three squadrons of seven planes each for a person, and as a former labor leader, I am fully endowed with FDR’s legacy to this nation’s people. total of 21 to 165 Messerschmidts. George’s Helping to recreate the Potomac as an educational tool and preserving the memory of what I consider plane was at the tail end and although hit several the most substantial president of the 20th century will always remain the pinnacle of my shipwright times, miraculously managed to stay in the air. career.” George did not realize he personally was hit be- cause of concern about the condition of a crew- The “Potomac family” and all of us who love this magnificent old ship are very grateful to Rick mate who was not moving. He went forward Anderson for all his efforts and contributions. Well done, Sailor! to the flight deck for help and in order to move Marti Burchell he had to remove his oxygen mask at great risk, since they were flying at over 20,000 feet. It was there that he was made aware that his boot dered into treatment for his injured foot, which …After Discharge: The White House, GI was bloodied. The airplane in the meantime meant surgery. Prior to the scheduled surgery, Bill and Georgetown University. George was struggling over the Alps at very dangerous he managed to get enough three-day passes so went back to the White House to work on Harry altitudes. Four men had been hit so instead of that he could attend a White House staff Christ- Truman’s staff. George’s impression of Presi- heading for their base the pilot landed at a major mas party (in 1944) at the invitation of Eleanor dent Truman was that he was “a delightful fel- air base, which had a hospital. The landing gear Roosevelt, where he also met a then ailing FDR. low.” Then thanks to the GI Bill another dream, was damaged and there was the added drama of Following surgery and recovery George was re- which was to attend Georgetown University, did whether they were going to be able to land; the classified and sent to Laredo, Texas, for train- come true. nose wheel was inoperable and there was gas ing as an instructor. From there he was sent to leaking. After everyone moved to the back Idaho to train others on B-32s. While there, the Note: George Fraser’s telling of his expe- of the plane, the pilot landed successfully and atom bomb was dropped, the war ended and, be- riences was very compelling and he graciously as quickly as possible everyone evacuated the cause he was a high-point man, George received answered the many questions that came up, and plane because of the possibility of explosion. an early discharge. Points were allocated by the shared his comprehensive scrapbook of the war George was treated and sent back into combat. military for service. George Fraser’s points were years. This account covers only some high- earned on the basis of his service in combat, as lights of his engaging presentation, and we are …Recovery and the End of World War a recipient of the Purple Heart, Air Medal with very fortunate to have a DVD of the entire talk, II. George Fraser’s story goes on. After his three Oak Leaf clusters, and the Distinguished which will be added to our library thanks to Bill 37th mission he was finally sent home and or- Flying Cross. Hodges. Page 4

Board of Governors and Staff CONTRIBUTIONS and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS January 1 to March 31, 2006 Ewing, Bill and Marie Michael Roosevelt, Chairman Filice, Dorothy and Julie Carla Betts, President Patron Knowles, Rich and Uhlenberg, Merlyn Al Groh, 1st Vice President Gibb, Buzz Lambly, Neal and Nancy Tom Morehouse, 2nd Vice President Jacobsen, Stan and Werner, Emmy McGraw, David and Myrna Art Haskel, CFO Roveda, John Commander-in-Chief Welland, John Willis Deming, Secretary Bolen, Jim Rick Anderson Haskell, Art Fala Mary Bergan McLeod, Denny and Ruth Bonney, Donald Joe Brennan Pfeiffer, Gary Dorough, Gus David Connolly Echelberry, Joseph Virginia Furth Admiral Hintzman, Leroy and Marlene Buzz Gibb Groh, Albert Jaffee, Walter (Captain) Judy Goff Zampa, Richard John, Lucy Doug Higgins Moreland, Terry and Carolyn James McCloud Captain Rudser, Mary Fraser, George Woodruff, Robert Denny McLeod Papastefan, Angie Ron Paredes Proffitt, Stuart and Vallyn Student/Teacher Richard Zampa Roosevelt, Michael Brown, Ted Underhill, John Marti Burchell, Executive Director OOPS: First Mates Ken Kingsbury and Ray First Mate McMullin were inadvertantly omitted from the Bergan, Mary listing in our last issue for the 2005 year. Our Elander, Olaf sincere apologies.

Note: if you have any questions or comments about the above listing, please e-mail: gseligson@usspotomac. What did the Potomac org or write to Friends of the Potomac, Attn, Gordon Seligson, P.O.Box 2064, Oakland CA 94604 and the Titanic have in common? POTOMAC SCHEDULE 2006

SPECIAL CRUISE Mother’s Day May 14 • Father’s Day June 18 They both had false July 4th Champagne Cruise • Fleet Week Oct. 7 and 8 • Veteran’s Day Nov.11 smokestacks and they both sank. Angel Island Special Cruise, Tram Tour and Lunch. June 22, July 27, August 24, In the case of the Potomac, the false smokestack was Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 15. installed to house an elevator. This was used by FDR Call for reservations and pricing to move from the main deck to the boat deck.

The Potomac sank in 1981 at Clipper Cove, Treasure Island Naval Base. She had been seized earlier in DOCKSIDE TOURS by U.S. Customs and the DEA and towed to Treasure Island, The Potomac is open for docent-led dockside tours from mid-January to mid-December. Tours where tide and pilings conspired to pierce her hull. are approximately 45 minutes and include a 15 minute video shown in the Visitor Center. More interesting details available during our narrated Wednesday and Friday 10:30am to 2:30pm history cruises. Sunday 12 Noon to 3:30pm Dockside Ticket Pricing: The Potomac Association $7/Adult • $5/Seniors • 12 and under/Free 540 Water Street P.O. Box 2064 Oakland, CA 94604 Telephone: 510-627-1215 e-mail: [email protected] SPRING HISTORY CRUISES Enjoy a two hour narrated history Cruise with our knowledgeable docents. Complimentary coffee, The Potomac Newsletter is published tea and water will be available. Tickets must be purchased by contacting Ticket Web at-www.tick- by the Association for the Preservation of the Presidential Yacht, Potomac, Inc. etweb.com or by calling 866-468-3399. Spring cruising season resumes in May 2006. Reservations are highly recommended. Groups of 20 or more must make reservations by calling the Potomac Printed courtesy of the ’s Association at 510-627-1215. REPROGRAPHIC DEPARTMENT

Editor: Angie Papastefan All Cruises Depart at 11am Layout and Design: David McGraw Editorial Board: Ron Arrants, Marti Burchell, History Cruise Ticket Pricing: and David McGraw Adults $40.00, Seniors (over 60) $35.00 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: Youth 6-12 $20.00 Under 6 Free No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission by the publisher Groups of 20 or more: $30.00 For further dates and information: www.usspotomac.org