Franklin D. Roosevelt’s “Floating White House” Oakland, California 2011 Spring Edition INSIDE THIS ISSUE: OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FIRST LADY… Déjà vu? News from the Marketing Team By Paulette Langguth By STUART PROFFITT Putting ideas into action to promote The often quoted “this is like déjà vu all over again,” attributed to baseball’s Yogi the USS Potomac . 2 Berra, has appeared recently in numerous articles both in support, and in condem- nation, of President Obama and his policies. Regardless of your opinions about FDR and the Potomac Stewards our current administration, (no Letters to the Editor, please), I think you will find By EDWARD I. BLOOM the following article, from Eleanor Roosevelt’s My Day newspaper columns, of The versatile group who looked after interest. Many of the First Lady’s observations, made seventy years ago, sound the President’s needs. 3 all too familiar. Marti’s Musings By MARTI BURCHELL The Potomac Volunteers. .4 “Washington, January 7, 1941 – We have just come back from the Capitol, where we Mooring Lines listened to the President deliver his mes- By VIRGINIA RAPP sage to Congress. Of necessity, a message Charting Our Course. .4 to Congress is in fairly general terms. It cannot specify all the ways and means by Notes from the Archives… which certain objectives are to be accom- The Mystery Behind the Ship’s Bell plished. I felt, however, that in this message, By HANK LANEY, Curator our national objectives were fairly clearly The ship’s bell is back, but it seems stated, and some of the details which will to be used. 5 have to be later put into legislative form by 2011 Cruise Schedule Congress were at least plainly indicated. Offering a wide range of events and cruises for the coming “It did not seem to me that anything in this message was of more interest to the season. Take a look - it’s not too Democrats than to the Republicans. On the whole, while there might later be soon to to make reservations. some difference of opinion as to the methods of carrying out the objectives, there Take a look . 6 seemed to be nothing that members of Congress of all parties could not accept as representing their stand in relation to the interests of their country. Potomac Profiles A new feature makes its debut “Therefore, I was not only astonished but saddened to notice that the applause with this edition - do you have a favorite yacht? . .8 came almost entirely from the Democrats and only a few noticeable exceptions on the Republican side raised a hand in approval at any point. It looked to me as Friends of the Potomac though those members of Congress were saying to the country as a whole: ‘We The most important page in this are Republicans first. We represent you here in Congress, not as citizens of the issue of Potomac Currents . 9 United States in a period of great crisis, but as members of a political party which seeks primarily to promote its own partisan interests.’ MOST POPULAR LINKS: Visit the USS Potomac on Facebook “This is to me shocking and terrifying. There was running through my mind as I Events and Cruises watched them, in what would have been an act of childish spite if it has not been Student Tours such a serious moment in history, the lines of a song which was popular when I Private Charters Become a Friend of the Potomac was young, ‘I don’t want to play in your yard. I don’t love you any more.’ Continued page 2 Déjà vu from page 1 “Sometimes I wonder if it will take the suffering of the peoples in conquered countries and of those who still fight for their freedom today to make us realize that there are times when it matters little whether you are a Republican or a Demo- crat. The wings of the eagle cannot be clipped either because you have economic interests or political differences. “Our eagle has always soared high in the skies. He represents the spirit and heart of a people who care for nothing as much as liberty and justice, and I think he will represent such a people to the end. “Surely all of us can be united in a foreign policy which seeks to aid those people who fight for freedom and, thereby, gives us the hope of present peace for ourselves and a future peace for the world founded on the four great principles enunciated today. As to the determination to continue to make it possible for our people to feel that we are ever moving forward to a civiliza- tion which will make life more worth living for them, that also seems to me an objective which we can ill afford to have any partisan difference becloud, no matter how we may differ on the details of achievement.” To read more of Eleanor Roosevelt’s “My Day” columns, click here. NEWS FROM THE MARKETING TEAM By Stuart Proffitt, Chairman The Potomac’s Marketing Team (aka the Merry Marketeers) Ext. 110, or contact her by email to: [email protected]. has been a busy group. We meet twice a month to plan and implement ideas that introduce the USS Potomac to new Speaking of winning, not to mention a super Boat Show… friends and supporters. Come see the USS Potomac’s booth at the Oakland Boat Show, April 14-17, in Jack London Square. While you are In 2010 we held two Familiarization (FAM) Cruises, specifi- there, enter our drawing for four Fleet Week Cruise Tickets cally for Bay Area Destination and Event Planners. Based (a $500 value). Then visit the Potomac for a free Dockside on the attendance and great feed-back, both were a success, Tour. and there are signs they are paying off with our Charter sales up as compared to this time last year. A third FAM Cruise is Enjoy live Improv Comedy? A good portion of the proceeds scheduled for later this year. from the Danville Theater’s May 14 performance of Trapped in a Rumor will go to the USS Potomac. For tickets, contact A new charter brochure targeting the Wedding Planning in- the theater at 925-314-3466. It’s located at 233 Front Street dustry debuted at Scott’s Bridal Faire recently. Once again, in Danville. Have fun and help the ship… it’s another win. more interest by more people will generate more Charter business. The Potomac is featured in the March issue of Bay Cross- ings (available at all Bay Area Ferry Terminals). Their Have any unwanted antiques or curios? Take advantage full page story includes the kick-off announcement for the of the Potomac’s partnership with Alameda’s Michaan’s Potomac Photo Contest. Auctions. It is simple and easy: You donate it, Michaan’s auctions it, the Potomac receives 95% of the sale price, and We have lots of ideas in the planning stages, but we can al- you get the tax write-off! How is that for winning? To learn ways use more. You can pass along your ideas to us at more, simply call 510-740-0220. Ask for Jane Alexiadis at [email protected]. -2- FDR and The Potomac Stewards By Edward I. Bloom Whenever he was aboard the Potomac FDR greatly enjoyed the food, not only because it was a welcome change from the fare served at the White House, but because the Filipino stewards had acquired the knack of knowing exactly what dishes he preferred and how to cater to his tastes. As a concession to his expressed preferences, the Secret Service agreed to have the Potomac stewards accompany the President whenev- er he traveled away from Washington, D.C., with three exceptions: Hyde Park, Warm Springs, or as a house guest with one of his many friends. The Potomac stewards travelled with FDR on his frequent weekend visits to the Maryland Catoctin Mountains. The small encampment 60 miles from the White House was originally built as a C.C.C. camp, then was taken over by the Marines as a training camp, and later converted to a Presidential retreat after the start of World War II. FDR called this re- treat Shangri-La; it was later renamed Camp David by President Eisen- hower. FDR’s cottage had four bedrooms and two bathrooms, one for the President and the second to be shared by the occupants of the other three bedrooms. FDR delighted in telling his houseguests that the sec- ond bathroom’s door did not lock properly, so they should be careful. The President always oversaw what went into the hamper of cheeses, cocktail appetizers, and candies brought up from the White House. This would include careful instructions to Isaac, the head Potomac steward, Chief Steward on the Potomac on just when during the weekend each of the items should be served. The Potomac stewards accompanied FDR on his several oversees conferences. At the Tehran Conference, the American delegation numbered 70, including the stewards, also called mess men. During the second day of the conference, Joseph Stalin expressed fears that the long drive from the American Legation presented a security hazard and a possibility of assas- sination. He persuaded FDR to move to a villa within the Russian compound. However, it had no kitchen or cooking facili- ties. Undaunted, the Potomac stewards were able to meet this challenge. They prepared and served hot meals throughout the remainder of the conference, although none of the various accounts of the conference detail how this was accomplished.