Last updated: July 10, 2024
Place
The USS Sequoia
US Navy, 2009.
Quick Facts
Location:
Privately Owned
Significance:
Entertainment, Government, Transportation
Designation:
National Historic Landmark
OPEN TO PUBLIC:
No
MANAGED BY:
Privately Owned
The USS Sequoia is a former presidential yacht used by nine U.S. Presidents between 1931 and 1977—Herbert C. Hoover, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, and Jimmy Carter. It was the setting for the social, recreational, and official activities of these Presidents and remains a floating symbol of the office of the President of the United States. The USS Sequoia was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 because of the role it played as the setting for important political, diplomatic, and social activities of numerous presidents.
A Presidential Career
During its 46 years of service, Sequoia was the setting for not only presidential recreation, but also for domestic and foreign policy meetings and crucial international decisions.
Sequoia was first designated as the Presidential yacht by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933 and was actively used during his first term in office. In 1935, President Roosevelt replaced the USS Sequoia with the USS Potomac because of Sequoia’s smaller size and because its wooden construction was a potential fire hazard. The Sequoia still remained in regular use both politically and recreationally, however.
President Harry S. Truman hosted a post-World War II conference with the leaders of Great Britain and Canada on the Sequoia where they discussed the exchange of nuclear weapons technology. President John F. Kennedy used the vessel frequently, including for his last birthday celebration before he was assassinated in 1963. President Lyndon B. Johnson lobbied congressmen aboard the yacht, gaining support for efforts including his “Great Society” programs.
It was toward the end of President Johnson’s term in office that Sequoia was once again made the official presidential yacht. President Richard M. Nixon used Sequoia more frequently than any of his predecessors, often conducting extensive foreign policy meetings onboard. Notably, the Sequoia was where Nixon made his decision to withdraw from the War in Vietnam. He also used the vessel as a retreat from the Watergate crisis. Nixon’s successor, President Gerald R. Ford, used the vessel for numerous social occasions, including a reception in honor of the Apollo/Soyuz astronauts.
The Voyage to an NHL Designation
Ultimately, it was President Jimmy Carter who decided to dispose of USS Sequoia and sell the yacht as a part of his efforts to have a less “extravagant” presidency. On May 18, 1977, the USS Sequoia was sold at public auction to a private owner. The vessel had a series of private owners and underwent a 1977-1978 rehabilitation.
Sequoia was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, as a space used by the presidential office for politics, diplomacy, and social events for almost five decades. It was also witness to some of the most important decisions and actions of United State’s leaders in the last 100 years.
Since 1987, the Sequoia has passed through the hands of several private owners and has served various purposes. Today (2024), the USS Sequoia is privately owned and is undergoing restoration with the goal of reopening the vessel for public access.
Sources:
USS Sequoia National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) are historic places that possess exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States. The National Park Service’s National Historic Landmarks Program oversees the designation of such sites. There are just over 2,500 National Historic Landmarks. All NHLs are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.