Air Force One

Am I correct in thinking that the president of the US is also the
commander in chief of the armed forces? If so, maybe this adds some
further nuance to presidential visits to the troops?

You are correct. But don't forget also that *any* visit is hugely
appreciated by the troops. Much of the hoopla surrounding Bob Hope's
recent 100th birthday had to do with his willingness simply to show
up. He was especially loved by troops in Germany in July 1945, when
everyone else was focussed on the coming invasion of Japan, and in
Korea and Vietnam, when nobody was focussed on the troops at all. This
effect increased as he became more famous. The president of course is
instantly famous. That's probably as important as his c-in-c role.

These days, Republican presidents (think especially Reagan and Bush
II) are likely to be more popular among the troops than Democrats,
given the perception that they admire the military rather than despise
it. There was a lot of the latter among Clinton's staff, sometimes
expressed in so many words.


all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm
Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub

Nixon, on the other hand, an (according to the records)
absolutely superior naval officer, had little or no rapport with
the forces. I suspect that it was because he was a "Porkchop",

Poor Nixon had almost no rapport with anybody, even his most devoted
supporters. It took the combined efforts of Lyndon Johnson, Dick
Daley, and Hubert Humphrey to get him elected president.

What would have been the most tragic moment in the American president,
had it not been so comical, was the night during the Watergate hoo-hah
when Nixon walked down to the Lincoln? Memorial and talked to a bunch
of college-age protesters--about football!

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm
Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub

I've read that there was a US Naval Directive during WW2 which ensured
that the contribution of US submariners to the defeat of Japan was
suppressed. The suggestion was that in those bygone days all admirals

Sounds like urban legend to me.

were battleship admirals at heart. I didn't realise that submariners
were still considered suspect in the eyes of USN. Why do you think this
is?

Well, for openers, subs are called "boats".

Then too, the whole object of being a sailor is to keep your ship
afloat. That must lead to a certain suspicion of folks who
deliberately sink their "boats".

all the best -- Dan Ford
email: www.danford.net/letters.htm#9

see the Warbird's Forum at http://www.danford.net/index.htm
Vietnam | Flying Tigers | Pacific War | Brewster Buffalo | Piper Cub

("TMOliver" wrote)
It's time for a new contest, "Paint the Big Bird!"


As a political hobbyist, I would advise THIS president not to propose a
nation wide "coloring contest." g

--
Montblack