Presidential Yacht Sailors Reunite with Historic Ship
Story Number: NNS030420-04
Release Date: 4/19/2003 7:28:00 PM
By Jack A. Green, Naval Historical Center Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy Museum at the historic Washington Navy Yard played host to the first crew reunion for former Presidential Yacht USS Sequoia (AG 23).
In service at the Washington Navy Yard for 45 years until sold by President Jimmy Carter in 1977, Sequoia served presidents, heads of state and dignitaries from around the world.
“The officers and Sailors who crewed the yacht from post World War II to its decommissioning assembled at the museum to swap sea stories, show multitudes of photographs, display memorabilia and generally get re-acquainted after 25 years or more,” said Kim Nielsen, director of the Navy Museum.
The highlight of the reunion was an afternoon cruise aboard the still-proud Sequoia on the waters of the Potomac, provided by current owner Gary Silversmith. Former captains and crew took their places at the helm and on deck, while their families enjoyed the ships presidential quarters.
The shipmates also restated their encouragement to the USS Sequoia Foundation in its efforts to help preserve the vessel for posterity.
The Mathis Yacht Building Co., of Camden, N.J., built Sequoia to a John Trumpy design in 1925-1926 for $200,000. Trumpy was a famous yacht designer who by 1917 had designed more than 47 such vessels that set an industry standard in the United States. His clients included the DuPonts, the Guggenheims, along with the Dodge and Chrysler families to name a few.
Acquired by the U.S. government in 1931, it was commissioned March 25, 1933, as Sequoia in the U.S. Navy, to serve as the Presidential Yacht. Then President Herbert Hoover liked to fish, and the house boat like Sequoia was considered a more thrifty craft for this than its large, “blue water” Presidential Yacht predecessors.
It remained the official Presidential Yacht until replaced by USS Potomac (AG 25) in March 1936. As was somewhat customary at the time, as the former Presidential Yacht, it then became the Secretary of the Navy’s yacht.
