REPORTEDLY DETERIORATING IN A VIRGINIA BOATYARD

U.S.S. SEQUOIA COMMISSIONED 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 25, 1933, the United States Navy commissioned the U.S.S. Sequoia* which would serve for the pleasure of eight Presidents of the United States.   For two years previous to commissioning, the Sequoia was used by Herbert Hoover as a fishing boat.

Because of his confinement to a wheelchair, FDR had an elevator installed between the upper and lower decks of the yacht.   JFK added a king-size bed while LBJ had FDR's elevator removed and in its place installed a liquor bar.  LBJ also enjoyed sitting on the deck at night having movies projected on the Sequoia's white smokestack.

www.sequoiayacht.com says that John F. Kennedy..."was perhaps the crew's favorite President"  because of his youth, service in the Navy, and love of the sea.  Town and Country magazine says that today the yacht is "reportedly deteriorating in a Virginia boatyard..."

*USS Sequoia is a 91 ton yacht, 104 feet in length with a beam of 18 feet 2 inches.  It has a speed of 12 knots (14 mph).  USSS was built in 1925 & designed by Johan Trumpy.  It was in the service of the U.S. from 1933 to 1977.

SOURCES

"What Ever Happened to the Presidential Yacht?"  by Oliver Sharpe, July 17, 2017, Town and Country Magazine, www.townandcountrymag.com/

www.sequoiayacht.com/

JFK and Harold Macmillan

 on the USS Sequoia

April 6, 1961

Photo by Abbie Rowe

U.S.S. SEQUOIA

U.S.S. SEQUOIA COMMISSIONED 81 YEARS AGO

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 81 years ago today, March 25, 1933, the United States Navy commissioned the U.S.S. Sequoia which would be in the service of the President of the United States.

For two years previous to commissioning, the Sequoia was used by President Herbert Hoover as a fishing boat.

Because of his confinement to a wheelchair, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had an elevator installed between the upper and lower decks of the yacht.

President Lyndon B. Johnson, who saw little need for the elevator, had it removed during his term and in its place was built a liquor bar.

LBJ also enjoyed sitting on the deck at night having movies projected on the Sequoia's white smokestack.

www.sequoiayacht.com says that John F. Kennedy...

"was perhaps the crew's favorite President"

because of his youth, service in the Navy, and love of the sea.

Mr. Kennedy had some meetings associated with the Cuban Missile Crisis aboard the vessel and also celebrated his 46th birthday on the Sequoia.

President Jimmy Carter was the last President to use the yacht. It was sold to a private firm in 1977.

USS Sequoia

MLK LED ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION 47 YEARS AGO

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) Civil Rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was in Chicago 47 years ago today, March 25, 1967, to lead a demonstration of 5000 anti-Vietnam War protesters.

In his speech at the demonstration, Dr. King said...

"(The Vietnam War is a)....blasphemy against all that America stands for."

Dr. King first spoke out against the war in the summer of 1965.

He opposed the war not only on moral grounds, but also because he believed it diverted money and attention from domestic programs to help America's poor.

Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.

TRIANGLE SHIRTWAIST FIRE WAS 103 YEARS AGO TODAY

New York City (JFK+50) A century and 3 years ago today, March 25, 1911, a tragedy of epic proportions struck the heart of Manhattan when a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.

The factory, located on the top 3 floors of the 10 story Asch Building, was crammed with poor immigrant workers who were trapped by the fire.

Only 1 of 4 elevators in the building were functional and 1 of the 2 stairwells leading to street level was locked.  

The fire escape was in disrepair. 

Many of the 600 workers, mostly women, panicked and some jumped to their deaths out of windows or down the elevator shaft.  

The tragedy led to passage of laws and regulations for workers' safety.

Firefighters work the Triangle Fire