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USS Potomac (AG-25)
Encyclopedia
USS Potomac (AG-25), formerly the USCGC Electra, was Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidential yacht from 1936 until his death in 1945. It is one of only three still existing presidential yachts. On August 3, 1941, she played a decoy role while Roosevelt held a secret conference to develop the Atlantic Charter
. She is now preserved in Oakland
, California
, as a National Historic Landmark
.
, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
as the United States Coast Guard Cutter
Electra. She was converted to serve as a presidential yacht and commissioned into the United States Navy
in 1936. In the following years, the Potomac was heavily used by President Roosevelt, for fishing trips and informal political meetings. The second funnel is fake, and concealed the elevator used for raising Roosevelt in his wheelchair in the unlikely event of having to enter lifeboats on the roof. In 1939 the United Kingdom
's King George VI
and Queen Elizabeth
travelled with the Roosevelts aboard the Potomac to George Washington
's home at Mt. Vernon
.
On August 3, 1941, President Roosevelt left Washington
to board the USS Potomac at the submarine base at New London
. The Potomac then sailed for Appogansett Bay where the President did some fishing and entertained guests including Crown Princess Märtha of Norway
. Eventually the Potomac anchored in Menemsha Bight in Vineyard Sound
, where the heavy cruiser already lay at anchor. In the early hours of August 5, the Potomac came alongside the Augusta and the President and his party transferred to the warship. The Augusta then proceeded at high speed to Newfoundland
for a clandestine meeting with Winston Churchill
. During this meeting, Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to the Atlantic Charter
, agreeing to the principles of the Allied partnership during World War II
and setting the scene for the United Nations
to plan the post-war peace.
In the meantime and for security purposes, the President's flag continued to be flown from the Potomac while she transited the Cape Cod Canal
to New England
waters. A Secret Serviceman
, approximating the President in size and affecting his mannerisms when visible from a distance, played a starring role in the deception. Press releases issued daily from the Potomac led all who read them to believe that the President was really embarked in his yacht on a pleasure cruise. After the meetings, the Augusta returned the President to the Potomac on August 14.
After President Roosevelt's death, the Potomac was decommissioned by the Navy, and returned to US Coast Guard custody in November 1945.
and the Virgin Islands
.
In January 1964 she was purchased by singer and actor Elvis Presley
for US$55,000. Presley offered it to the March of Dimes
who could not use it. He then gave it to St. Jude Children's Hospital
, in Memphis, to sell as a fund raiser. The hospital was able to sell it that same year for US$ 75,000. By 1980, she was involved in drug smuggling and was seized by the United States Customs Service
in San Francisco, then towed to Treasure Island
, where she sank.
for $15,000 and underwent a major restoration. She is now preserved by the Potomac Association, and berthed at Jack London Square
in Oakland
. She is open to dockside tours and regular cruises on San Francisco Bay
.
Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter was a pivotal policy statement first issued in August 1941 that early in World War II defined the Allied goals for the post-war world. It was drafted by Britain and the United States, and later agreed to by all the Allies...
. She is now preserved in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, as a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
1934–1945
The Potomac was originally built in 1934 by the Manitowoc Ship Building CompanyThe Manitowoc Company
Manitowoc Company Inc is a global company specializing in products for the food service and construction industries. Manitowoc recently completed the divestiture of their marine division in January 2009.-History:...
, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc, Wisconsin
Manitowoc is a city in and the county seat of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The city is located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. According to the 2000 census, Manitowoc had a population of 34,053, with over 50,000 residents in the surrounding communities...
as the United States Coast Guard Cutter
United States Coast Guard Cutter
Cutter is the term used by the United States Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. A Cutter is or greater in length, has a permanently assigned crew, and has accommodations for the crew to live aboard...
Electra. She was converted to serve as a presidential yacht and commissioned into the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1936. In the following years, the Potomac was heavily used by President Roosevelt, for fishing trips and informal political meetings. The second funnel is fake, and concealed the elevator used for raising Roosevelt in his wheelchair in the unlikely event of having to enter lifeboats on the roof. In 1939 the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's King George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
travelled with the Roosevelts aboard the Potomac to George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's home at Mt. Vernon
Mount Vernon (plantation)
Mount Vernon, located near Alexandria, Virginia, was the plantation home of the first President of the United States, George Washington. The mansion is built of wood in neoclassical Georgian architectural style, and the estate is located on the banks of the Potomac River.Mount Vernon was designated...
.
On August 3, 1941, President Roosevelt left Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to board the USS Potomac at the submarine base at New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
. The Potomac then sailed for Appogansett Bay where the President did some fishing and entertained guests including Crown Princess Märtha of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. Eventually the Potomac anchored in Menemsha Bight in Vineyard Sound
Vineyard Sound
Vineyard Sound is the stretch of the Atlantic Ocean which separates the Elizabeth Islands and the southwestern part of Cape Cod from the island of Martha's Vineyard, offshore from the state of Massachusetts in the USA...
, where the heavy cruiser already lay at anchor. In the early hours of August 5, the Potomac came alongside the Augusta and the President and his party transferred to the warship. The Augusta then proceeded at high speed to Newfoundland
Dominion of Newfoundland
The Dominion of Newfoundland was a British Dominion from 1907 to 1949 . The Dominion of Newfoundland was situated in northeastern North America along the Atlantic coast and comprised the island of Newfoundland and Labrador on the continental mainland...
for a clandestine meeting with Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. During this meeting, Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to the Atlantic Charter
Atlantic Charter
The Atlantic Charter was a pivotal policy statement first issued in August 1941 that early in World War II defined the Allied goals for the post-war world. It was drafted by Britain and the United States, and later agreed to by all the Allies...
, agreeing to the principles of the Allied partnership during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and setting the scene for the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
to plan the post-war peace.
In the meantime and for security purposes, the President's flag continued to be flown from the Potomac while she transited the Cape Cod Canal
Cape Cod Canal
The Cape Cod Canal is an artificial waterway traversing the narrow neck of land that joins Cape Cod to mainland Massachusetts.Part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the canal is roughly 17.4 miles long and connects Cape Cod Bay in the north to Buzzards Bay in the south...
to New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
waters. A Secret Serviceman
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
, approximating the President in size and affecting his mannerisms when visible from a distance, played a starring role in the deception. Press releases issued daily from the Potomac led all who read them to believe that the President was really embarked in his yacht on a pleasure cruise. After the meetings, the Augusta returned the President to the Potomac on August 14.
After President Roosevelt's death, the Potomac was decommissioned by the Navy, and returned to US Coast Guard custody in November 1945.
1945–1980
From 1946 she served with the Maryland Tidewater Fisheries Commission, and was sold to Warren G. Toone in April 1960 and used as a private ferry boat between Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
and the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
.
In January 1964 she was purchased by singer and actor Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
for US$55,000. Presley offered it to the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
who could not use it. He then gave it to St. Jude Children's Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a nonprofit medical corporation chartered as a 501 tax-exempt organization under IRS regulations.In...
, in Memphis, to sell as a fund raiser. The hospital was able to sell it that same year for US$ 75,000. By 1980, she was involved in drug smuggling and was seized by the United States Customs Service
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
in San Francisco, then towed to Treasure Island
Treasure Island, California
Treasure Island is an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay between San Francisco and Oakland, and an emerging neighborhood of San Francisco....
, where she sank.
1980–present
After being refloated by the U.S. Navy just two weeks later, the Potomac was sold to the Port of OaklandPort of Oakland
The Port of Oakland was the first major port on the Pacific Coast of the United States to build terminals for container ships. It is now the fifth busiest container port in the United States, behind Long Beach, Los Angeles, Newark, and Savannah...
for $15,000 and underwent a major restoration. She is now preserved by the Potomac Association, and berthed at Jack London Square
Jack London Square
Jack London Square is a popular tourist attraction on the waterfront of Oakland, California. Named after the author Jack London and owned by the Port of Oakland, it is the home of stores, restaurants, hotels, an Amtrak station, a ferry dock, the historic Saloon, the cabin Jack London lived in the...
in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. She is open to dockside tours and regular cruises on San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
.