Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Floating White House” Oakland, California 2011 Fall Edition

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Happy 75th Birthday to the USS Potomac By Paulette Langguth FDR and Churchill By EDWARD I. BLOOM The successful wartime alliance Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Presidential Yacht the USS Potomac is cel- between nations can be traced to ebrating her 75th birthday during 2011 - if it’s your 75th birthday year, the friendship and goodwill too, congratulations! Here are some of the interesting highlights of 1936: between these two top leaders . 3 Marti’s Musings Although LIFE did not actually publish a special By MARTI BURCHELL March 2nd edition, it does mark the date when the Welcome aboard to returning Potomac replaced the Sequoia as FDR’s presiden- crewmember Paul Harliss . . . . 4 tial yacht. Now President Roosevelt and those around him could rest more easily. A ship with a Mooring Lines wooden hull had been replaced by one with a steel By VIRGINIA RAPP hull – thereby reducing the fire hazard; a ship with Consider sharing your skills as a gas engine had been replaced by one with a diesel a Potomac Volunteer...... 4 engine – a much more efficient and safer propul- sion system; and a ship in which he had to be car- ried from one deck to another had been replaced Notes from the Archives by one with an elevator – giving him a much de- FDR Photos sired freedom from dependence on others. Now, By HANK LANEY, Curator instead of being a guest aboard Vincent Astor’s Our comprehensive photo ocean going yacht for the fishing vacations that collection documenting the life he loved, President Roosevelt had a ship where he and times of the President. . . . . 5 could truly rest, relax, enjoy the fishing and think MARCH 2, 1938 10 CENTS through matters of presidential policy. FDR’s Cars By BRAD BUNNIN Read about FDR’s relationship with automobiles both personal and on the campaign trail. . . . 6 In California, as elsewhere in the Wind. Billboard Magazine published nation, the depression lingered on with the first pop music chart. 2011 Cruise Schedule unemployment at 16.9%. Thousands of History Cruises, Angel Island, Americans traveled to California hop- Dockside Tours and Blue Grass ing to get work in orchards and fields. & Bach await you...... 8 They were often met with guards, Potomac Profiles dogs, and signs turning away the “un- Chronicler of all things desirables”. In October of 1936, John Roosevelt – Longtime Potomac Steinbeck wrote The Harvest Gypsies, volunteer Les Dropkin ...... 10 which was published in seven install- ments for the San Francisco News. Friends of the Potomac The most important page in this This work would later become part of issue...... 11 the classic, The Grapes of Wrath. POTOMAC LINKS: Olympic Star Jesse Owens our most popular movies Nationally, Visit the Potomac on FaceBook! were: The Alamo, The Great Ziegfeld, Cruises and Special Events The Charge of the Light Brigade, and The 1936 Olympic Games were held in Student Tours Follow the Fleet, starring Fred Astaire Berlin, Germany with our great Jesse Private Charters and Events and Ginger Rogers. Topping the charts Owens humiliating Hitler’s Aryan Su- Become a Friend of the Potomac for new books was Gone With The permen by winning four gold medals. Continued on page 2

Continued from page 1 Boulder Dam, later renamed Hoover Dam, was completed and began creating hydroelectric power. Killer tornadoes struck Tupelo, Mississippi and Gainesville, Georgia.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democrat) was re-elected for a second term defeating Alf Landon (Republican) and William Lemke (Union).

The average cost of a new house was $3,925, a gallon of gas 10 cents, a loaf of bread 8 cents, a Studebaker car $665, and rent aver- aged at $24 per month. This was all covered by the average annual wages of $1,713.

Born this year were: Jim Henson, Winnie Mandela, David Carradine, Ursula Andress, Alan Alda, Glen Campbell, Charlie Daniels, Engelbert Humperdinck, Glenda Jackson, F. W. deKlerk, Kris Kristofferson, Michael Landon, John McCain, Mary Tyler Moore, Roy Orbison, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, and Yves Saint Laurent. Now there’s an interesting mix. On the Campaign Trail

Around the world: Following the depression dictatorships were established in Mexico, Bulgaria and Peru. Mussolini an- nounced the official foundation of the New Roman Empire following the capture of Addis Ababa. The Spanish Civil War began. King Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson. Japanese Marines took control of the Shanghai district of Chi- na. Chiang Kai-Shek declared war on Japan The Queen Mary left Southampton on her maiden voyage over the Atlantic. The BBC started the first public television broadcasts in London.

FDR goes to South America in November 1936 for his “Good Neighbor” cruise. BBC News Monitoring Room

The world’s major political leaders were: Australia, Prime Minister Joseph Lyons; Brazil, President Getulio Var- gas; Canada, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King; Germany, Chancellor Adolf Hitler; Italy, Prime Minister Benito Mussolini; Japan, Prime Minister Keisuke Okada (till March 9) and Prime Minister Koki Hirota; Mexico, President Lazaro Cardenas; Russia/Soviet Union, General Secretary of the Central Committee Joseph Stalin. The history of the USS Potomac is on our website www.usspotomac.org. but better yet, come to Oakland’s Jack London Square for a tour of the “Floating White House” and help us celebrate her 75th Birthday. Happy Birthday to the USS Potomac! -2- dictating, changing his wording and his inflection, he orally rehearsed his remarks. In this speech Churchill quipped that FDR and CHURCHILL if his father had been American and his mother British, rath- By Edward I. Bloom er than the other way round, then he might have gotten there on his own. The celebrated and momentous personal relationship be- tween FDR and Churchill can be said to have begun when A year later, FDR, as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, was overseas on shortly after the an inspection trip in 1918. The two were introduced to each Allied invasion other during a dinner honoring the Lord Mayor of London. of North Africa, While FDR remembered this occasion Churchill did not. they met at Casa- blanca. At a joint Their true relationship began on September 11, 1939 when press conference FDR wrote to Churchill to both congratulate him on be- FDR made an coming First Lord of the Admiralty and to open a private, unplanned an- personal communication channel. This initiated a series nouncement that of letters and messages between them that continued until the Allies would FDR’s death in April 1945. FDR came to address his cor- accept nothing short of “unconditional surrender” from respondence to “Former Naval Person”; Churchill in turn the Axis powers. Churchill at once seconded this position, addressed his messages to POTUS [President of the United though it had not been previously discussed. After the end States] – a designation that has since come into general use. of the conference Churchill insisted that FDR accompany The breadth of their correspondence ranged from details of him on a drive to see the Marrakech Mountains at sunset. their personal lives, Lend-Lease issues, wartime strategy After viewing the scene from a tower, Churchill had his art and dealing with the personalities of various world and Al- supplies brought up to him and painted a water-color that lied leaders. he then gave to FDR as a present and memento of that time together. In August 1941 FDR and Churchill, both now leaders of their respec- tive countries, met secretly in New- foundland for the Atlantic Confer- ence. The “Atlantic Charter”, a commu- nique of the results of the meeting, set out a vision of a post-war world. After the Pearl Harbor at- tack Churchill came to Washington in late December and stayed at the White House for more than two weeks. He brought with him several military maps, had them pinned to the walls of his White House sitting room and had them Painting by Winston Churchill given to FDR in 1943. updated every morning. FDR thought this a good idea, al- though some thought it was out of jealousy, and ordered The personal bonds between FDR and Churchill smoothed that a small room on the first floor of the White House be the way for the most successful wartime alliance between converted to a war map room, with daily updates and a 24- nations, which sometimes had conflicting interests and hour guard stationed outside the door. It was during this stay goals. Despite differences as to the allocation of Lend-Lease that Churchill may have suffered a minor heart attack while material, whether to pursue a Mediterranean or a Western straining to raise a second-floor window. This was kept a European strategy, when to open the “second front”, and closely guarded secret. numerous other diverse issues, the example of the obvious friendship and good will between the two top leaders en- At this time FDR studied Churchill preparing for a major abled their respective staffs and advisors to work things out speech to a joint session of Congress. Pacing up and down, and cooperate as never before seen in world history.

-3- MARTI’S MUSINGS…Return of a Sailor By Marti Burchell

“Welcome aboard sailor”, to returning crewmember Paul Harliss. Paul sailed 1 on the Potomac from May 1940 to November 1942 during 2 /2 years of Presi- dent Roosevelt’s term in office. He had the opportunity to observe the com- ings and goings of congressional leaders, heads of state and royalty while serving on the ship.

We are very fortunate that we were able to host Paul on his re- cent visit to the West Coast, and to the Potomac. It was fascinat- ing to hear Paul’s reminiscences of his time aboard. Paul is an excellent storyteller, so his tales were a delight to hear.

He joined us for a cruise dur- ing his visit and spent time on the helm as a guest of our own Captain Skip. In Skip’s words, he was a “squared away sailor”.

During the past several years, we have been lucky to welcome back to the Po- tomac several of her former presidential crew. Their stories and memories give life to the time of FDR, and his trips aboard the Floating White House.

MOORING LINES . . . By Virginia Rapp, Editor

Have you ever thought about becoming a Potomac Volunteer? From ship maintenance, to staffing cruises, and all those who work behind the scenes in operations and administration, volunteers are the heart of the Potomac Association. Consider this a personal invitation to join us.

There is a wide range of opportunities – something for every skill and interest, particularly in Marketing, Public Relations, IT specialties, Student Educational Programs, special events and working on Potomac Currents. Whatever your background, all you need is a desire to be part of the Potomac’s exceptional staff. And, oh yes, there is the desire to have fun – and I guarantee you will!

I joined this group three years ago as a History Docent, and have never looked back. If you are wondering why, think about becoming a Potomac Volunteer. To get started, go to www. usspotomac.org and click on “Volunteer”. You’ll be glad you did, and I look forward to wel- coming you to the team.

-4- because they could only cover a FDR PHOTOS IN OUR ARCHIVES..... fraction of the nation’s news. The wire services, however, could By Hank Laney, Curator cover most of the country - and later the world. Stories were sent Our archives contain hundred’s of photos from the early on to their subscribers who paid a 1930’s to the end of FDR’s life. Where these photos came fee for this service. Soon a news- from is a mystery to me, but it’s quite likely they were donat- paper in San Francisco could receive a story or photo within ed to us some time ago from the files of a local newspaper. hours of its being covered by a wire service. Newspaper of- fices in widely remote cities were connected to the wire ser- The photos themselves are not originals but copies sent by vice offices in New York, and when all was ready, simultane- wirephoto, a process essentially the same as sending by fax. ously received the story and photos. Although the process traces back to 1895, the first wirephoto systems were slow and did not reproduce well. The technol- The photos in our archives came from this process. A wire- ogy was more or less perfected in 1921 when Western Union photo was usually accompanied by a separate hard-copy transmitted the first halftone photograph, but it was not until teletype that provided a caption and brief explanation of the 1924 that the methods used - and the results produced - event and/or people in the photo. Each teletype had an ad- became comparable to those used today. monition from the wire service that proper credit be given to the wire service! That still holds true today.

A 1930’s Wirephoto Machine

The underlying process is amazingly simple. A photo trans- parency is mounted on a spinning drum and scanned line by line. This produces electrical signals which vary correspond- ing to the variation in the shades and tones of the original image and which can then be sent out over telephone lines. A device at the other end immediately inverts the process to form a duplicate pictorial image, unlike a Morse telegraph transmission of dots and dashes that requires an intermediate translation step. The first “fax” images took seven minutes each to transmit. Technological improvements have reduced the time considerably.

In the early 1930’s this technology merged with what was known as the “wire services”, such as the Associated Press FDR was a photogenic and charismatic president. Every- or United Press International. At that time most of America where he went he was covered by the wire services. Stories got its news from newspapers, not from radio, TV or the were written, photos taken, and in the hands of the network internet. Although newspapers of the era had their own jour- of local newspapers within hours of the event. Whoever do- nalists and photographers they mostly covered local events nated these historic photos to us is deserving of many thanks.

-5- FDR’s Cars Brad Bunnin

Although President Roosevelt loved the Potomac, he spent much more time in automobiles than aboard his presidential yacht. Fortunately, many photos of FDR in cars exist, and we can reconstruct his relationship with cars from them and other sources.

FDR’s Personal Cars

In 1910 FDR made his first try for political office – the New York Sen- ate seat from Dutchess County. A Republican stronghold, his campaign would need something to attract attention to a young, untried Democrat. As part of a vigorous campaign that would take him crisscrossing the county, he rented a red 1910 Maxwell touring car. Like the “Red Devil” – his name for it – its open top would be the pattern for most of the cars he bought in later years. Sitting or standing, the car would also serve as a mobile platform for a quick speech.

Red Devil

When he reentered politics after contract- ing Polio there was an additional reason for selecting open top cars. While the fact that he was disabled was not a secret, us- ing such a car meant that he did not have to face the problem of getting in and out of a car and allowed his style of a close public approach to continue.

Ford Phaeton The President kept a sporty four-door con- vertible, a Plymouth PA Phaeton at Warm Springs, Georgia. It was modified with hand controls that allowed the President to drive at a high speed without the need for him to use his legs to shift, accelerate, or brake. The Stone Controls Company of Summit, New Jersey, built and installed the controls. One other noteworthy feature was the President’s automatic cigarette dispenser. This ingenious device not only stored his cigarettes, but also delivered them into his hand already lit and ready to smoke!

Continued on page 7 -6- Continued from page 6

Sadly, the car’s whereabouts are unknown. But another Phaeton, a Ford, now resides at the Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, at Hyde Park, NY. The car pictured to the right is the last car he drove and is kept in Warm Springs, where it can still be seen.

FDR’s Official Cars 1938 Ford at Warm Springs, GA. The President’s official limousines were various Packards, Lincolns, and Cadillacs, noted for their size, elegance—and only partial protection against assassination attempts, because the President preferred to ride in the open. The President’s 1939 Lincoln V-12, for example, was purpose-built and fully armored, yet almost always driven with the top down even in the rain —thus its ironic nickname, the “Sunshine Special”.

Here are the impressions of a passenger who rode with FDR: In 1933, I rode in the open limousine with President and Mrs. Roosevelt to the Me- morial Day ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On our way home, it began to rain lightly. The chauffeur stopped the car to raise the top so the oc- cupants wouldn’t get wet. The president said: “It won’t be necessary -- we’re not made of sugar and won’t melt”. So we rode home in a light drizzle. Fannie R. Lenkin, Silver Spring, Md.

Sunshine Special Another noteworthy vehicle, Al Capone’s 1928 Cadillac 341A Town Sedan, (pictured below), brought the President to Con- gress for the Date of Infamy speech immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor. See the last issue of Potomac Currents for more about the car.

A personal note: My grandfather was a Max- well dealer first and then Chrysler-Plymouth from the mid 1920’s through 1947. He might have sold the President the 1932 or 1933 Plymouth shown above. He might have, but he didn’t. Although he didn’t sell a car to the President, he did sell Chrysler touring cars to Mr. Capone.

Al Capone’s Town Sedan -7- CRUISES & EVENTS 2011 History Cruises Special History Cruises

1st and 3rd Thursday Immigration Station Cruise (Angel Island) 2nd and 4th Saturday Oct. 26 9:45AM to 3:00PM May thru October Fleet Week Practice* October 7 10:30AM ~ 12:30PM Fleet Week* October 8 & 9 $45.00 Adults, $40.00 Seniors Characters on the Bay November 3 $25.00 Under 12 Veteran’s Day* November 11 Groups of 20 or more: $35.00 each * These dates are sold out. October 20 - 3 hour Cruise w/lunch Three Bridges Dockside Tours Blue Grass and Bach is Back Wednesday, Friday & Sunday Year Round ~ 11:00AM to 3:00PM The Famous Dr. Elmo and Wild Blue $10.00 Adults, $8.00 Seniors on October 21. Kathy Kallick Band on November 10. Potomac discount offer... Watch our website Event Page for more Check it out. information. Or find us on Facebook For information or reservations go to www.usspotomac.org or call 510-627-1215

Are you looking for a meaningful The Potomac Association Board of Governors and Staff 540 Water Street way to celebrate…… P.O. Box 2064 Oakland, CA 94604 Michael Roosevelt, Chairman Telephone: 510-627-1215 • The Potomac’s 75th Birthday? Carla Betts, President www.usspotomac.org • Your 75th Birthday? Tom Morehouse, 1st Vice President The Potomac Currents is published • Your 75th Anniversary? Art Haskell, CFO by the Association for the Preservation • A friend’s 75th Anniversary or Birthday? Jean Gaskill, Secretary of the Presidential Yacht, Potomac, Inc. • A relative’s 75th Anniversary or Birthday? Editor: Virginia Rapp Walter Abernathy, Rick Anderson, Layout and Design: David McGraw Mary Bergan, Joe Brennan, Editorial Board: Marti Burchell, Ed Bloom, May we suggest a solution…… David Connolly, Virginia Furth, Rich Knowles, Les Marks, Judy Goff-Roveda, Al Groh, Les Dropkin, Hank Laney, Donate $75 to the Potomac Association and it will Tom Howard, Dale Hansen, Brad Bunnin and David McGraw not only be acknowledged with a card to the hon- Denny McLeod, Ron Paredes, Electronic Distribution: Karen Lyberger oree, and be tax deductible, but will help preserve Richard Zampa Webmaster: Tom Howard an important piece of history and provide valuable No part of this publication may be educational opportunities for students throughout Marti Burchell, Executive Director reproduced without the written permission the school year. Craig Newton, Ship Keeper of the publisher. For more information please call 510 627-1667.

-8- Charter Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Presidential Yacht USS Potomac Weddings • Special Events • Celebrations

Potomac Association Call 510-627-1215 ~ www.usspotomac.org

-9- POTOMAC PROFILES

LES DROPKIN

HOME: Oakland

AGE: 85

PROFESSION: Actuary, retired

HOBBIES: Foreign Languages, KenKen

MOST MEMORABLE BOOK: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

LATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: The USS Potomac Docent Training Program

QUOTE: “If you want something done, bring it to a busy person”.

PROFILE: “Ask Les” is the common refrain at the Potomac Associa- tion when someone has a question about FDR or his Era. Les is our Want to sail in Presidential style? historian and chronicler of the life and times of President Roosevelt. He For cruises, events, and charters, go to: is a faithful docent each Friday and one of our regular Docent Trainers. www.usspotomac.org Over the years Les was ably supported by his wife Elaine. Her dry wit and commentary made our Friday Dockside days lively and fun.

YACHT: The Presidential Yacht USS Potomac -10- Friends of the Potomac

The USS Potomac Association acknowledges the following individuals and organizations for their generous donations.

SUSTAINING PATRON

Dale Hansen* Port of Oakland Waterfront Plaza Hotel

CORPORATE/PATRON

Ken & Carla Betts Jean & Barbara Gaskill Matson Navigation Y. H. Soda Foundation Joe Brennan & Jan Tiura Stanley Jacobsen & Denny & Ruth McLeod Emmy Werner COMMANDER IN CHIEF Walter Abernathy Dr Jacob Deegan Tom Howard Kurt Lauridsen Rick Anderson Willis Deming Hugh James Michael Roosevelt Alan Braun William & Marsha Dillon Les Marks Judy Goff-Roveda CA Field Iron Workers Virginia Furth David & Myrna McGraw Dan Strohl Admin Trust Arthur Haskell Craig Newton – in memory of John Tuttle & Charlie Newton Doug Drummond ADMIRAL John & Clem Underhill Gilbert Williams & Anne Bonaparte Richard Zampa – District Council of Ironworkers ELEANOR Mary Bergan Tom & Carol Morehouse Charles Norman David Lee Woods & Don & Cathy DeCoss Phyllis D Chambers CAPTAIN Linda Brewer Les Dropkin John & Donna Kaehms Jim O’Connor Miriam Bloomberg Robert Eakin & Bill & Mollie Kinney Angie Papastefan Brad Bunnin Avis Hendley Rich Knowles & Stuart & Vallyn Proffitt Pat & Barbi Carson Nancy Elbeck Merlyn Uhlenberg Virginia Rapp Ronald Casassa Norman & Edna Eltringham Jack Lapidos Gordon Seligson Dave Connolly Pete Geffen Thomas Murray Deborah Tharp Art & Ardeth Dreshfeld Albert Groh Capt Joanna Newman John & Marilyn Welland Gene Zahas FIRST MATE ABC Security Service Windy & Jerry Butler Leroy & Marlene Hintzman Joseph & Bonnie Reid Gail & Bruce Adair Vern & Alice Carrier Capt Walter Jaffee Harold Rice Carol Anderson Fred Cunningham Marvin Jensen Mitch Salzman Ron & Judy Arrants Lee Ditlefsen Carol Johnston Jerry & Lovene Silsdorf John & Suzanne Barr Georgia Edlund Charley Kearns & Frank Ching Kathy Szumiloski Bruce Baur Olaf Elander Nancy Kickertz Ruby Tilley Gene Bell Arthur Fatum Neal & Nancy Lambly John & Nancy Turnier Richard Black Glenn Frizzell Jack Lapidos Lee Velde James Bolen Martine Habib Patricia MacLean Wanda Viviano Donald & Sharon Bonney Trevor Hall Robert Matz Beverly Voelker Roland Brandel Bonnie & Earl Hamlin John McCredie Cynthia Weiss Rachel Buckley Mavourneen Harshman Roberta & Tim Montgomery Mary Whitehead Marti Burchell Heinold’s First & Last Chance Art & Carrell Rankin Ruth Ann Yager Saloon Continued on page 12 -11- Continued from page 11 Friends of the Potomac

FALA

Ramon Aguilar Gus Dorough Lucy John Cathy O’Brien Glenn Aitkens James Elander Colleen Kelly-Prola William Peeters Marianne Burkhead Richard Hammer Paul Koehn Herbert Ploch Carol Campbell Elizabeth Hannon Lawrence & Emily Lohr Brenda Price Ted & Lynda Chenoweth Howard Herman Ronald Louis Maurice Robichaud Angelique & Yann Bill Hodges & Ken Horton Sandra Lundgren Elaine Stanley Cucaro-Renault Esther Jennings William Memmer John Tysell Al Dessayer Dawn Muller Robert Woodruff

STUDENT/TEACHER

Mike Gregory Harvey Smith

ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EDUCATIONAL FUND

Al Groh Ironworkers Local 229 Office & Professional Sheet Metal Workers Local Amalgamated Transit Union San Diego Employees Local 3 104 San Ramon Local 1555 Oakland Ironworkers Local 377 San Francisco Sheet Metal Workers Local Carpenters Local 2236 San Francisco Operating Engineers Local 3 162 Sacramento Oakland Ironworkers Local 378 Alameda SIEU Local 1021 Oakland Cement Masons Local 400 Benicia Pipe Trades Local 36 Teamsters Local 853 Sacramento International Brotherhood Plumbers, Pipe and Refrig- San Leandro CWA Local 9415 Oakland of Electrical Workers Local eration Fitters UALA 246 Union of American Physi- Dave Connolly 332 San Jose Fresno cians & Dentists Oakland District Council of Iron Laborers International Plumbers & Steamfitters Richard Zampa Workers Pinole Union Local 270 San Jose Local 403 San Luis Obispo Ironworkers Local 155 Northern California District San Francisco Maritime Fresno Council of Laborers Council Pleasanton

Since January 2010, union organizations throughout the San Fransisco Bay Area have contributed more than $8,000 specifically to support the Educational Cruises.

*Contributor to the Ships Share program Note: Questions or comments about the above listing may be referred to Gordon Seligson, email: [email protected] or write to the Friends of the Potomac, P.O. Box 2064, Oakland, CA 94604. ✮✮✮✮✮

-12-