USS Potomac (AG-25) facts for kids
USS Potomac at Oakland, California
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
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| Name | USCGC Electra |
| Builder | Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company, Manitowoc, Wisconsin |
| Laid down | 5 March 1934 |
| Launched | 30 June 1934 |
| Commissioned | 25 October 1934 |
| Identification |
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| Fate | Transferred to the Navy, 8 November 1935 |
 United States |
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| Name | USS Potomac |
| Namesake | Potomac River |
| Acquired | 8 November 1935 |
| Commissioned | 1936 |
| Decommissioned | 15 November 1945 |
| Renamed | Potomac, 30 January 1936 |
| Reclassified | AG-25, 11 November 1935 |
| Stricken | 25 February 1946 |
| Fate | Returned to the Coast Guard, 23 November 1945 |
| Status | Museum ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Thetis-class patrol boat |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 165 ft (50 m) |
| Beam | 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) |
| Draft | 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m) |
| Propulsion |
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| Speed | 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) |
| Complement | 45 |
| Armament | 1 × 3"/23 caliber gun |
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USS Potomac
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 Location in Oakland, California
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jack London Square, Oakland, California |
| Built | 1934 |
| NRHP reference No. | 87000068 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 20 February 1987 |
| Designated NHL | 14 December 1990 |
The USS Potomac (AG-25) was once the special yacht for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who was the President of the United States from 1933 to 1945. Before becoming a presidential yacht, it was a United States Coast Guard Cutter named Electra.
The Potomac served as President Roosevelt's "Floating White House" from 1936 until his death in 1945. It was used for important meetings and even played a trick on the public during World War II. Today, the Potomac is a National Historic Landmark in Oakland, California. It is the only presidential yacht that you can visit and explore.
Contents
Ship's Early Life and Presidential Role
Building the Potomac
The ship was built in 1934 by the Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It was first called the USCGC Electra and was part of the United States Coast Guard. The Electra was a special boat designed to chase down ships that were illegally bringing alcohol into the country during a time called Prohibition.
Becoming the President's Yacht
President Roosevelt chose Electra to be his new presidential yacht. His previous yacht was made of wood and the Secret Service worried it could catch fire. Roosevelt, who had seen a fire accident as a child, wanted a safer boat. He also wanted a ship where he could move around easily, especially since he used a wheelchair.
The Electra was officially renamed USS Potomac on January 30, 1936. It was then changed to become a presidential yacht and joined the United States Navy on March 2, 1936.
Special Upgrades for the President
About $60,000 was spent to make the Potomac perfect for the president. These changes made the ship easy to use for someone in a wheelchair. For example, one of the smokestacks was made fake, and inside it, an elevator was added. This elevator used a pulley system to help President Roosevelt go from the main deck to the upper boat deck.
The ship also got a new living room, fancy brass decorations, and special rooms for the president and his guests. The back of the ship, called the fantail, got a large leather couch and bulletproof glass for safety. When the president was on board, an anti-aircraft machine gun was also installed. Even with all these upgrades, the ship could still rock quite a bit in rough waters!
A "Floating White House"
The USS Potomac was used a lot by President Roosevelt. He took many fishing trips and held informal political meetings on board. It was a place where important relationships were built and deals were made. In 1939, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth from the United Kingdom visited the Roosevelts. They all traveled together on the Potomac to George Washington's home at Mount Vernon. This was the first time British royalty had visited an American president.
The Potomac was officially known as AG-25 in the Navy. This meant it was an "Auxiliary Miscellaneous" ship, and the 25th of its kind. People often called it the "Floating White House."
On March 28, 1941, President Roosevelt even gave one of his famous "Fireside chats" to the nation from the ship's radio room. He told the country, "the time calls for courage and more courage." After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the yacht was used more carefully because it could be a target.
The Secret Mission of 1941
One of the most famous stories of the Potomac happened on August 3, 1941. President Roosevelt left Washington and boarded the Potomac in New London, Connecticut. The Potomac then sailed to a bay in Massachusetts, where the president fished and met with guests.
But this was all a trick! The Potomac then secretly met with a large warship called the USS Augusta. President Roosevelt and his group quietly moved from the Potomac to the Augusta. The Augusta then sped off to Newfoundland for a secret meeting between Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
During this secret meeting, Roosevelt and Churchill created the Atlantic Charter. This was a very important agreement that set out the goals for the Allied powers during World War II and helped plan for peace after the war.
While the real meeting was happening, the Potomac continued to sail around, flying the President's flag. A Secret Service agent who looked like the president even pretended to be him on board. Daily news releases from the Potomac made everyone believe the president was still on a relaxing cruise. This trick kept the secret meeting hidden from the public and the enemy. After the meetings, the Augusta brought the president back to the Potomac on August 14.
After President Roosevelt passed away, the Potomac was taken out of Navy service and given back to the US Coast Guard in November 1945.
Later Years and Preservation
After Roosevelt
After President Roosevelt's death, the Potomac was no longer used as a presidential yacht. The next president, Harry S. Truman, chose a larger yacht called the USS Williamsburg. Truman preferred a bigger ship that didn't rock as much and could fit his grand piano. The Coast Guard officially stopped using the Potomac on May 23, 1946.
The Potomac then served with the Maryland Tidewater Fisheries Commission until 1960. It was one of many boats used to help manage fishing for clams, crabs, and oysters. The special elevator shaft from the fake smokestack was removed. Today, it stands as a monument in Cambridge, Maryland.
New Owners and Challenges
In April 1960, the Potomac was sold to a private owner and used as a ferry boat between Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. In 1964, the famous singer Elvis Presley bought the yacht for $55,000. He wanted to give it to the March of Dimes charity so they could sell it to raise money. When they politely declined, he offered it to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which was able to sell it for $65,000 that same year.
For a while, there were rumors that the yacht might be turned into a floating disco! But in 1980, the Potomac was seized by the United States Customs Service and towed to Treasure Island. Sadly, it sank there because its hull (the bottom of the boat) had become too thin and was taking on water.
Bringing the Potomac Back to Life
Just two weeks after it sank, the U.S. Navy managed to refloat the Potomac. It was then sold to the Port of Oakland for $15,000.
In 1983, a non-profit group called the Association for the Preservation of the Presidential Yacht Potomac was formed. Their goal was to fix up the yacht and make it available to the public. With a $2.5 million government grant, and with help from James Roosevelt, FDR's oldest son, the group began restoring the Potomac.
In April 1993, the Potomac sailed its first cruise as a fully restored ship. In the summer of 1995, it opened to the public at Jack London Square in Oakland.
Today, volunteers, crew members, and donors continue to care for this historic presidential yacht. The Potomac is still docked at Jack London Square and is preserved by the Potomac Association. You can take tours of the ship while it's docked or even go on regular cruises around San Francisco Bay.
Awards
- American Defense Service Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
See also
- USS Sequoia (presidential yacht)
- List of official vehicles of the president of the United States, which includes other presidential yachts
