The Daily Beast: An oral history of the last plane rides of presidents leaving town
From Reagan’s tears to Jimmy Carter’s hostage power plays, the final flight Bush will take tomorrow is an occasion that inspires tall tales, Champagne toasts, and, occasionally, looting. An oral history of the last five final flights.
When George W. Bush steps aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, beginning the journey back to Texas, his presidency will officially be in the past tense. But during those few hours in the sky—the last ride of the leader of the free world—strange things tend to happen. Reagan cried on his plane. Carter made one last stab at getting in on the hostage crisis. George H.W. Bush, dealt a humiliating loss in the 1992 election, regaled his friends with country music.
THE DAILY BEAST talked to more than a dozen intimates of five presidents who rode on the farewell voyage. Their recollections suggest that while the presidency may be over, the triumphs and hurt feelings are still working themselves out.
By tradition, the outgoing president greets his successor at the White House. They ride together in the presidential limousine to the Capitol, leaving behind a small core of White House aides and, of course, the movers.
Gerald Rafshoon, communications director for Jimmy Carter: "It was the last day of our administration and also the last day of the hostage crisis in Iran. Hamilton Jordan and I were the last people to leave the Situation Room, because we were monitoring the hostage situation. We were hoping that Carter could announce it at the inauguration. Finally, at 12:20 p.m., someone said, "You'd better get out of here because the Reagan people are coming into the White House.” As we left the Situation Room, Reagan pictures were already up.
James Hooley, assistant to the president and director of presidential advance for Ronald Reagan: On our last day, there were only three or four of us still in the West Wing: chief of staff Ken Duberstein, a couple others, and myself. The phone was ringing off the hook. Some radio station was broadcasting the number.
Jake Siewert, press secretary to Bill Clinton: When you leave the White House and go to the Capitol, the presidents ride together. The crowd on the parade route tends to be more protestors, and that year a lot of people came specifically in the wake of the Gore thing to protest the results. President Clinton said Bush realized it wasn't going to be all fun and games, but when he saw people dressed as bananas to demonstrate that it's a "banana republic," [Bush] said something like, "I guess some people don't want me here."
Rafshoon: Carter said it was weird riding up to the Hill with Reagan because [Carter] was thinking about hostage situation while Reagan told jokes to him and Tip O'Neill. Later, I heard Reagan had said, "What's wrong with Carter? He was very quiet, seemed preoccupied."
Susan Porter Rose, chief of staff for Barbara Bush: The president and first lady were at the inauguration. At the conclusion, they’re escorted by the new president and first lady. You go right to the plane. Why would you spend another day in Washington?...
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When George W. Bush steps aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, beginning the journey back to Texas, his presidency will officially be in the past tense. But during those few hours in the sky—the last ride of the leader of the free world—strange things tend to happen. Reagan cried on his plane. Carter made one last stab at getting in on the hostage crisis. George H.W. Bush, dealt a humiliating loss in the 1992 election, regaled his friends with country music.
THE DAILY BEAST talked to more than a dozen intimates of five presidents who rode on the farewell voyage. Their recollections suggest that while the presidency may be over, the triumphs and hurt feelings are still working themselves out.
By tradition, the outgoing president greets his successor at the White House. They ride together in the presidential limousine to the Capitol, leaving behind a small core of White House aides and, of course, the movers.
Gerald Rafshoon, communications director for Jimmy Carter: "It was the last day of our administration and also the last day of the hostage crisis in Iran. Hamilton Jordan and I were the last people to leave the Situation Room, because we were monitoring the hostage situation. We were hoping that Carter could announce it at the inauguration. Finally, at 12:20 p.m., someone said, "You'd better get out of here because the Reagan people are coming into the White House.” As we left the Situation Room, Reagan pictures were already up.
James Hooley, assistant to the president and director of presidential advance for Ronald Reagan: On our last day, there were only three or four of us still in the West Wing: chief of staff Ken Duberstein, a couple others, and myself. The phone was ringing off the hook. Some radio station was broadcasting the number.
Jake Siewert, press secretary to Bill Clinton: When you leave the White House and go to the Capitol, the presidents ride together. The crowd on the parade route tends to be more protestors, and that year a lot of people came specifically in the wake of the Gore thing to protest the results. President Clinton said Bush realized it wasn't going to be all fun and games, but when he saw people dressed as bananas to demonstrate that it's a "banana republic," [Bush] said something like, "I guess some people don't want me here."
Rafshoon: Carter said it was weird riding up to the Hill with Reagan because [Carter] was thinking about hostage situation while Reagan told jokes to him and Tip O'Neill. Later, I heard Reagan had said, "What's wrong with Carter? He was very quiet, seemed preoccupied."
Susan Porter Rose, chief of staff for Barbara Bush: The president and first lady were at the inauguration. At the conclusion, they’re escorted by the new president and first lady. You go right to the plane. Why would you spend another day in Washington?...