View source for USS Potomac (AG-25)

{{Short description|United States presidential yacht}}
{{Other ships|USS Potomac}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
|+USS ''Potomac'' (AG-25)
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= Uss-potomac-at-oakland.jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''Potomac'' at [[Oakland, California]]
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|coast guard}}
|Ship name=USCGC ''Electra''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company]], [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]]
|Ship laid down=5 March 1934
|Ship launched=30 June 1934
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed= 
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=25 October 1934
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship identification=*{{MMSI Number|367166810}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: WBF7534
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate=Transferred to the Navy, 8 November 1935
|Ship status=
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1945}}
|Ship name=USS ''Potomac''
|Ship namesake=[[Potomac River]]
|Ship acquired=8 November 1935
|Ship commissioned=1936
|Ship decommissioned=15 November 1945
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=''Potomac'', 30 January 1936
|Ship reclassified=AG-25, 11 November 1935
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=25 February 1946
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors=
|Ship fate=Returned to the Coast Guard, 23 November 1945
|Ship status=[[Museum ship]]
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship type= {{sclass|Thetis|patrol boat|1}}<ref>{{Cite web|first=Les |last= Dropkin |title=  The Thetis Class Coast Guard Patrol Boats |website=Potomac Association|date= January 2002|url= http://www.usspotomac.org/education/documents/sister_ships_coast_guard_patrol_boats.pdf }}</ref>
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|370|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} light
*{{convert|416|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} full
|Ship length={{convert|165|ft|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|23|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|8|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship hold depth=
|Ship propulsion=*2 × [[Winton Motor Carriage Company|Winton]] Model 6-158 [[diesel engine]]s, {{convert|1340|shp|0|abbr=on}}
*2 × three-blade propellers
|Ship speed={{convert|13|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship boats=
|Ship complement=45
|Ship armament=1 × [[3"/23 caliber gun]]
|Ship armor=
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| embed                    = yes
| name                     = USS ''Potomac''
| nrhp_type                = nhl
| image                    =
| caption                  =
| designated_other2        = ODL
| designated_other2_number = 95
| designated_other2_date   = 1985
| location                 = [[Jack London Square]], [[Oakland, California]]
| coordinates              = {{coord|37|47|43|N|122|16|48.4|W|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin                 = United States Oakland#California#USA
| map_width                = 300
| area                     =
| built                    = 1934
| added                    = 20 February 1987
| designated_nrhp_type     = 14 December 1990<ref name="nhlsum">
 {{cite web
 |url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceID=1970&resourceType=Structure
 |title=NHL Summary document
 |access-date=2012-11-11
 |publisher=[[National Park Service]]
 }}</ref>
| refnum                   = 87000068<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2006a}}</ref>
}}
|}

'''USS ''Potomac'' (AG-25)''', formerly '''USCGC ''Electra''''',<ref name="nhlwriteup">
{{cite web
|url={{NHLS url|id=87000068}}
|title=Maritime Heritage of the United States NHL Theme Study—Large Vessels / Potomac (Presidential Yacht)
|format=pdf
|author-link=James P. Delgado
|last=Delgado
|first=James P.
|publisher=[[National Park Service]]
|orig-year=1987
|date=1 June 1990
|access-date=2012-09-08
}}<br />{{cite web
|url={{NHLS url|id=87000068|photos=y}}
|title=Accompanying Photos
|format=pdf
|publisher=[[National Park Service]]
|access-date=2012-09-08
}}
</ref> was [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s [[presidential yacht]] from 1936 until his death in 1945. On August 3, 1941, she played a decoy role while Roosevelt held a secret conference to develop the [[Atlantic Charter]].

USS ''Potomac'' and {{USS|Sequoia|presidential yacht|6}} are the last two existing U.S. presidential yachts, after {{USS|Williamsburg|AGC-369|6}} was scrapped in January 2016.<ref name="nhlsum"/> ''Potomac'' is now preserved in [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], [[California]], as a [[National Historic Landmark]] and the only presidential yacht open to the public.<ref name=":52"/>

==Service history==

===1934–1945===
[[File:FDR-George-VI-Potomac-June-9-1939-2-detail-crop.jpg|right|thumb|305px|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Franklin]] and [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] with [[George VI]] and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]], sailing from Washington, D.C., to [[Mount Vernon]] on USS ''Potomac'' (June 9, 1939)]]

''Potomac'' was built in 1934 by the [[Manitowoc Shipbuilding Company]] in [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin]], as the [[United States Coast Guard Cutter]] ''Electra''.  [[Ship commissioning|Commissioned]] on October 25, 1934, ''Electra'' was a [[submarine chaser]]<ref>Scheina, R. (1982). ''U.S. Coast Guard cutters & craft of World War II''. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press.</ref> that served in anti-[[Rum-running|bootlegging]] operations.<ref name=":22">Williams, G. (2013). ''World War II U.S. Navy vessels in private hands: The boats and ships sold and registered for commercial and recreational purposes under the American flag''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company.</ref> She was chosen to be the new [[presidential yacht]] after the Secret Service deemed {{USS|Sequoia|presidential yacht|6}} a fire hazard.<ref name=":03">{{cite journal |last1=Belcher |first1=N. |date=July 1997 |title=FDR's presidential yacht: The USS Potomac |journal=Historic Traveler |volume=3 |issue=6 |pages=16–19 }}</ref> The thought of having a wooden boat that could easily catch fire was not appealing to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who as a child witnessed his aunt burn to death in an oil lamp accident.<ref name=":52">Jaffee, W. (1998). ''The Presidential Yacht Potomac''. Palo Alto: The Glencannon Press.{{pn|date=August 2021}}</ref> He also wanted a vessel in which he could move independently and take fishing trips.<ref name=":52"/> ''Electra'' was officially renamed USS ''Potomac'' on January 30, 1936, converted to serve as a presidential yacht and commissioned into the [[United States Navy]] on March 2, 1936.<ref name=":52"/>

There were approximately $60,000 in upgrades made while converting the ship into a presidential yacht, to make the vessel wheelchair-accessible and more accommodating.<ref name=":03"/> These upgrades included the conversion of the aft smokestack to a false one, a new salon, installation of brass fixtures, the presidential stateroom and bath, three guest cabins and teak decks. Additions to the fantail included a vast leather settee, patio furniture and bulletproof glass.<ref name=":03" /> In the false smokestack, there was an elevator with a pulley system designed so that President Roosevelt could transport himself to the boat deck.<ref name=":03" /> The fantail couch is designed so that each sitting party has their legs completely stretched out when sitting back and the president could sit equally as his guests with his legs supported.<ref name=":122">{{cite journal |last1=Scott |first1=M. |date=May 2015 |title=USS Potomac The 'Floating White House' A look at the restoration of FDR's presidential yacht |journal=Smart Business Northern California |volume=8 |issue=6 |pages=5–6 & 10–11 }}</ref> An antiaircraft machine gun was installed and mounted when the president was on board.<ref name=":52"/> Ship ballast was added to the vessel to account for these upgrades.<ref name=":52"/> However, the ship still rolled as far as 48 degrees in rough waters, causing many a guest to [[sea sickness|turn to the rail]]. The president, being the sailor he was, was affected little.

In the following years, USS ''Potomac'' was heavily used by President Roosevelt for fishing trips and informal political meetings. ''Potomac'' served as a place where relationships were built and deals were made.<ref name=":122"/> In 1939 the [[United Kingdom]]'s [[George VI of the United Kingdom|King George VI]] and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Elizabeth]] travelled with the Roosevelts aboard ''Potomac'' to [[George Washington]]'s home at [[Mount Vernon (plantation)|Mount Vernon]]. This was the first visit by British royalty to an American president.<ref name=":3">{{cite journal |last1=Kumar |first1=Martha Joynt |title=News Notes |journal=Presidential Studies Quarterly |date=1984 |volume=14 |issue=2 |pages=310–315 |jstor=27550088 }}</ref> The ship now commissioned USS ''Potomac'' was categorized as AG-25, indicating the Navy ship designation of Auxiliary Miscellaneous and number 25th in this designation,<ref name=":52"/> and was known informally as the “Floating White House”.<ref name=":122"/>

It is rumored that the [[National Labor Relations Act of 1935]] was signed on board the ship.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|367066255}} |title=Potomac Offering Tours |work=Oakland Post |date=21 May 1997 |page=1B }}</ref> Ship logs have been recovered documenting voyages to the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and [[Dry Tortugas]], Florida.<ref name=":4">{{cite journal |last1=Adams |first1=Frederick B. |title=Mr. Roosevelt Continues, as President and Author |journal=The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America |date=1943 |volume=37 |issue=3 |pages=223–232 |doi=10.1086/pbsa.37.3.24293540 |jstor=24293540 |s2cid=155415007 }}</ref> On March 28, 1941, President Roosevelt delivered a [[Fireside chats|fireside chat]] to the nation from the radio room of USS ''Potomac'' in which he stated "the time calls for courage and more courage."<ref>International Business Machines Corporation Collection (1941). ''Series: Sound Recordings of Franklin D. Roosevelt Speeches, 1935 - 1945 Collection: International Business Machines Corporation Collection, 1935 - 1945: President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Address from the USS Potomac''. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/653182</ref> After the bombing of [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], the yacht was considered a potential target and used more cautiously by the president.<ref name=":4"/> [[File:PotomacPilotHouse.jpg|thumb|Inside the wheelhouse of USS ''Potomac'']]

On August 3, 1941, President Roosevelt left [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] to board ''Potomac'' at the submarine base at [[New London, Connecticut]]. ''Potomac'' then sailed for Apponagansett Bay, [[Massachusetts]], where the president did some fishing and entertained guests including [[Märtha of Sweden|Crown Princess Märtha]] of [[Norway]]. Eventually ''Potomac'' anchored in Menemsha Bight in [[Vineyard Sound]], where the heavy cruiser {{USS|Augusta|CA-31|6}} already lay at anchor. In the early hours of August 5 ''Potomac'' came alongside ''Augusta'' and the president and his party transferred to the warship. ''Augusta'' then proceeded at high speed to [[Dominion of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]] for a clandestine meeting between Roosevelt and [[Winston Churchill]]. During this meeting, Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to the [[Atlantic Charter]], laying out 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 [[Flag of the President of the United States|President's flag]] continued to be flown from ''Potomac'' while she transited the [[Cape Cod Canal]] in [[New England]] waters. A [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service man]], 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 ''Potomac'' led all who read them to believe that the president was really embarked on a pleasure cruise on his yacht. After the meetings, ''Augusta'' returned the president to ''Potomac'' on August 14.

After President Roosevelt's death, ''Potomac'' was decommissioned by the Navy, and returned to the US Coast Guard in November 1945.

===1945–1980===
USS ''Potomac'' was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] by [[President of the United States|President]] [[Harry S. Truman]], who chose the larger {{USS|Williamsburg}} as his presidential yacht.<ref name=":3" /> Unlike his predecessor, Truman was not a sailor and could not handle the extreme rolling on the ''Potomac''. Being an accomplished classical pianist, Truman also wanted a grand piano aboard his yacht, which the ''Potomac'' could not accommodate. The Coast Guard decommissioned ''Potomac'' on May 23, 1946.<ref name=":22"/>

After being decommissioned, ''Potomac'' remained docked in Cambridge, Maryland and served with the Maryland Tidewater Fisheries Commission as one of forty fishery enforcement boats for the clam, crab, fish and oyster fishermen of the area until 1960.<ref name=":22" /> To accommodate President Roosevelt's need for wheelchair accessibility, a concealed elevator had been installed inside what had been one of ''Potomac''{{'}}s smokestacks to carry the president from the main deck to the boat deck. This smokestack-elevator shaft was removed and now sits in Cambridge at Long Wharf park as a monument to the former president and his 1935 visit to Cambridge on the previous presidential yacht, {{USS|Sequoia|presidential yacht|6}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fdr-smokestack-memorial|title=FDR Smokestack Memorial}}</ref>

''Potomac'' was sold to Warren G. Toone in April 1960 and ostensibly used as a private ferry boat between [[Puerto Rico]] and the [[Virgin Islands]]. In reality she was used for offshore gambling.In 1962, there was a failed attempt to attend the [[Century 21 Exposition|World's Fair]] in Seattle due to engine trouble in Long Beach.<ref name=":122"/> She was registered in 1963 by Hydro-Capital in Newport Beach, California as a [[museum ship]] with call sign WA9710.<ref name=":22"/> Records show ''Potomac''{{'}}s home port was Los Angeles from 1963 to 1967.<ref name=":22" />
In January 1964 she was purchased by [[Elvis Presley]] for US$55,000 as a gift to the [[March of Dimes]], so they could auction it,   but they kindly declined and therefore it was  then offered   to [[St. Jude Children's Research Hospital]], in Memphis, to sell as a fund raiser. The hospital was able to sell the yacht that same year for US$65,000.<ref name=":22"/> ''Potomac'' was then registered in 1967 to Marie Augustina Pagliasso of [[Sanger, California]] with the call sign WA9710.<ref name=":22"/> In January 1970, the vessel was out of documentation. It was rumored that there were plans to turn the yacht into a floating disco.<ref name=":03"/>

===1980–present===
In 1980, ''Potomac'' was involved in a large-scale drug-running operation in Mexico, which led to a drug bust at [[San Francisco]]'s Pier 26.<ref name=":22"/> No drugs were found aboard the yacht, but drugs were found aboard the yacht it had been traveling with. ''Potomac'' was seized by the [[United States Customs Service]] and towed to nearby [[Treasure Island, California|Treasure Island]], where she sank.<ref name=":22"/>

The vessel is said to have sunk due to a hull that had not been properly maintained and experienced thinning.<ref name=":122"/> It had been taking in water for some time.<ref name=":122"/>

After being refloated by the U.S. Navy just two weeks later, ''Potomac'' was sold to the first and only bidder, the nearby [[Port of Oakland]], for $15,000.<ref name=":22"/>

=== The Association for the Preservation of the Presidential Yacht Potomac ===
The non-profit Association for the Preservation of the Presidential Yacht Potomac, also known as the Potomac Association, was formed in 1983 to restore and operate the yacht.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://greatnonprofits.org/org/association-for-the-preservation-of-the-presidential-yacht-potomac|title = Association for the Preservation of the Presidential Yacht Potomac Reviews and Ratings &#124; Oakland, CA &#124; Donate, Volunteer, Review &#124; GreatNonprofits}}</ref> With a $2.5 million government grant, [[James Roosevelt]], FDR's eldest son, and the Association began restoring ''Potomac''. In April 1993, she sailed her first cruise as a restored vessel.<ref name=":122"/> The yacht became a culturally significant attraction in Oakland when it was opened to the public at [[Jack London Square]] in the summer of 1995.<ref>Schwarzer, M. (2014). ''A Tale of Two Waterfronts: Oakland's Jack London Square Competes with San Francisco''. California History, 91(4), 6-30.</ref>

A team of volunteers, crew and donors work to uphold the legacy of the historic presidential yacht.<ref name=":52"/> She continues to be berthed at Jack London Square and preserved by the Potomac Association, chaired by Michael Roosevelt, a grandson of FDR.<ref name=":03"/> She is open to dockside tours and regular cruises on [[San Francisco Bay]].

==In popular culture==
''Potomac'' was used in June 2011 to film shipboard scenes of the [[Paul Thomas Anderson]] film [[The Master (2012 film)|''The Master'']]. Actors [[Joaquin Phoenix]], [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]], [[Amy Adams]] and others shot scenes aboard the yacht while docked and under way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slashfilm.com/literal-set-photos-paul-thomas-andersons-latest/ |title=Literal Set Photos From Paul Thomas Anderson's Latest |date=14 June 2011 |last=Lussier |first=Germain |work=Slashfilm |access-date=2012-11-10}}</ref>

==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 the other presidential yachts

==References==
;Notes
{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography
* History - USS Potomac http://www.usspotomac.org/history The Potomac Association
*{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/p10/potomac-iv.htm}}

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|USS Potomac (AG-25)}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.hnsa.org/ships/potomac.htm |title=USS ''Potomac'' (AG-25) |publisher=Historic Naval Ships Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014044030/http://hnsa.org/ships/potomac.htm |archive-date=2007-10-14 }}
*[http://www.usspotomac.org Official site]

{{The Manitowoc Company|state=autocollapse}}
{{Thetis class patrol boats}}
{{Oakland Attractions}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in California}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Potomac (Ag-25), Uss}}
[[Category:Museum ships in California]]
[[Category:Presidential yachts of the United States]]
[[Category:History of Alameda County, California]]
[[Category:National Historic Landmarks in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Oakland, California]]
[[Category:Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt]]
[[Category:Ships built in Manitowoc, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:1934 ships]]
[[Category:Museums in Oakland, California]]
[[Category:Ships on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Oakland, California]]
[[Category:World War II on the National Register of Historic Places in California]]
[[Category:Oakland Designated Landmarks]]