Presidential Perks Gone Royal Read online

  It is hard to overestimate the power of Air Force One for political use in campaigning. In 1975, I visited with former President Nixon in an attempt to persuade him to back Governor Reagan’s bid for the presidency. The former president informed me that his preference for our next commander in chief was not incumbent Gerald Ford but rather John Connally, the former Texas governor who had been Nixon’s Secretary of the Treasury. When I reminded him that Governor Connally was a Democrat, Nixon replied, “We could work something out. And I like Ron. He has been a good governor. But in any case, there is no way your Ronald Reagan or my John Connally is going to take the nomination away from Gerald Ford. When you can land at your destination on Air Force One, be piped off to ‘hail to the Chief’ and speak from a podium that bears the Presidential Seal, it is nearly impossible for anyone to take the nomination away from you.” Certainly travel by Air Force One makes a very, very powerful political statement. Little wonder it is used constantly as a campaign tool.

  Marine One, a Fleet of Presidential Helicopters

  As listed in the 2008 Marine Corps budget, estimates have jumped from $6 billion to more than $11 billion to purchase the onorder addition of the 28 new helicopters we mentioned earlier for Squadron HmX-One, the Presidential helicopter Fleet, which currently numbers 35 of these whirlybirds.

  These are the most well maintained helicopters in the world, requiring perfect performance, big crews, high-level security, and big expense! When a particular helicopter carries the president, it is, for the duration of that trip, designated as Marine One. The most commonly used helicopter for the president is an updated, luxurious version of the SikorskyVh-60N. In all, there are four different models in the Presidential Fleet. Two are cargo helicopters. The others are personnel carriers for support troops, staff or press. The Air Force and the Marine Corps do everything they can to make the presidential trips seamless and smooth.

  With a crew of four and very comfortable seating for fourteen passengers, Marine One has some great features. These new 64-foot behemoths, which stand nearly 17 feet tall, are capable of landing far more softly than the average helicopter, thanks to their special energy-absorbing landing gear, meant to help passengers survive a possible crash. These helicopters also have protective armor that can withstand attacks by 23 mm shells, and self-sealing, puncture-resistant fuel tanks to minimize danger of explosions or fires. The newly budgeted presidential helicopters will also have video conferencing and encrypted communications gear to allow the president and his crew to reach advisers, military commanders, foreign leaders, or a campaign’s political advisors, instantly and secretly.

  For a presidential trip, in addition to the president’s helicopter and its Marine One wannabe, there are troop carrier helicopters used for staff and press. At the point of destination, the support chopper lands first, then a personnel carrier, followed by the backup presidential helicopter, and then Marine One.

  Marine One, the presidential helicopter, depar ts the South Lawn in 1998.

  (Photo with permission from AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

  Our Marine Corps advisor estimates the cost of operating Marine One alone at $8,450 an hour. Three to five additional helicopters invariably accompany Marine One. Even if only three were used, rather than all five, the cost to taxpayers would be $25,350 per hour. It probably doesn’t need to be pointed out that a president racks up a lot of hours on his whirlybird. One might be tempted to point out that trips made on the executive helicopter are much more economic than Air Force One. What you need to take into consideration here is that for all but the shortest of trips, the President generally limits his use of Marine One to its primary use: getting him to and from the air force base so that he can take the roomier, more comfortable and better-outfitted Air Force One wherever he wants to go.

  A case in point: when President Obama went to Williamsburg, Virginia, during his first year in office, he took Air Force One. That meant flying via Marine One to Andrews Air Force Base (a trip of about fourteen minutes) and then boarding Air Force One for the flight to Williamsburg. From Andrews to Williamsburg is a distance by highway of 114 miles, hardly enough distance for one to reach altitude. And, of course, all the support aircraft, personnel, etc. also had to make the trip. The cost of all aircraft and military personnel involved was an estimated $284,000.

  Billionair indeed!

  “If Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Herman Cain or any of the other presidential challengers were to embark on a three-day bus trip like the one now underway by President Obama, it would cost their campaigns tens of thousands of dollars. Perhaps more...But not the Obama campaign. The White House declared that Mr. Obama's three-day trip through North Carolina and Virginia are official events and not campaign appearances, even though the two states are known to be political objectives of his re-election bid.”

  —Mark Knoller, CBSNews.com, October 18, 2011

  Chapter Nine

  Presidential Limo and Royal Tour Bus to Rival a Rock Star’s

  For more than the first century of our nation’s existence, the speed at which presidents traveled was literally determined by horsepower. This kept things relatively egalitarian, since there was little difference between the speeds of carriage horses, no matter how much they cost. Back then the White House stable was a modest frame building on 17th Street West, in Washington, a block and a half from the White House.

  All that changed with the advent of the internal combustion engine. Teddy Roosevelt, our rigorous and adventurous “Rough Rider” President, was the first Chief executive to suggest the acquisition of an automobile for the White House. By the Taft administration, the former horse stables on 17th street were phased out and replaced by a garage, which is one of the largest non-commercial spaces in downtown Washington today. In fact, President Taft was the first U.S. President to use motorcars exclusively, with no reliance whatsoever on horse-drawn transport. Taft set a precedent, but unfortunately failed to establish a lasting tradition in terms of taxpayer expenditures, since he paid for the first presidential limousine from his own funds!

  That first presidential motorcar was a 1909 7-passenger White Motor Company Model M, a 40-horsepower, steam-driven behemoth. During Taft’s administration, the burgeoning “Presidential Stable” also included a 1908 Baker Motor Company electric, and a Pierce Arrow Vandellette.

  Taft and Mrs.Taft in the 1909 White Steamer they personally purchased. General Motors LLC .

  (Photo with permission, GM Media Archives)

  Until the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, most presidents rode in convertibles, all the better to wave to an adoring public. Although three presidents had been assassinated before Kennedy, none were shot while traveling in an open car. Even that first automobile of President Taft’s had an open seat for the President and his wife. The Kennedy assassination put an end to presidential convertibles.

  It is interesting to note that the first two White House automobiles, the 1908 Baker electric and the 1909 steam-driven White Motorcar, were comparatively friendly to the environment. Not so today with the monstrous multi-ton, fuel-guzzling presidential limousines!

  Few places provide a safer haven for the president than the present presidential “Beast,” or, alternately, President Obama’s new train-car-sized touring bus. With more steel and durable metals in their armor-plating than some of the tanks our brave servicemen take into battle, these mighty machines are small fortresses. They are built to survive any sort of attack the Secret Service can foresee, and to provide oxygen and life support, if needed, when sealed against attackers.

  Franklin D. Roosevelt greeting well-wishers in 1937 General Motors LLC.

  (Photo with permission, GM Media Archive)

  President Truman’s limousine, circa 1947 General Motors LLC .

  (Photo with permission, GM Media Archives)

  Dwight D. (“Ike”) Eisenhower, 1953 General Motors LLC.

  (Photo with permission, GM Media Archives)

  Ike’s topless Cadillac, 1956
General Motors LLC.

  (Photo with permission, GM Media Archives)

  A 1983 limo used by President Ronald Reagan General Motors LLC.

  (Photo with permission, GM Media Archive)

  As his car, the “beast,” awaits, President Obama thanks well-wishers, supporters and contributors in san Diego, Ca Sept. 26, 2011.

  (Photo with permission from the Department of Defense)

  The last attack on a president was on March 30, 1981, when John Hinckley wounded recently elected President Ronald Reagan with a handgun. Fortunately, Hinckley was an erratic marksman. His wild shots hit several other individuals before the sixth and final round he fired finally struck President Reagan in his left underarm, grazed a rib and lodged in his lung, stopping only an inch from his heart. Ironically, the heavy armor plating of the presidential limousine was what caused Reagan to be wounded. Hinckley’s last shot had ricocheted off the bullet-resistant car, entered the narrow space between the hinges of the open car door, and hit Reagan in the chest as Secret Service agent Jerry Carr valiantly shoved him into the safety of the limousine.

  President Obama’s limousine has a body of military-grade armor made of steel, aluminum, titanium and ceramics. Each door, with its 5-inch-thick armor plating, weighs as much as the cabin door of a Boeing 757. The car weighs nearly ten tons, and in terms of comfortable luxury, communications technology, and security features, is easily comparable to Air Force One as the airplane’s road-going equivalent. After all, the “Beast” has its own oxygen supply, night vision cameras, fire control system and tear gas ejection capabilities. It also carries plasma of the President’s blood type. Totally impervious to chemical attacks, the interior of the executive compartment is also eerily sealed off from all outside noises.

  The cost of this “beast”? Well, that takes guesswork since there are some 25 vehicles in the Presidential Fleet, and the “Beast” has twelve brothers used as both spares and decoys. None of the twelve “Beasts” will have any residual value. Ever since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Secret Service has determined that presidential limos must be totally destroyed upon retirement in order to preserve their secrets from well-to-do collectors. Maybe if such a rule had been adopted during Jimmy Carter’s administration, that president would not have so casually disposed of the presidential yacht.

  Whatever the cost, one or more of the Beasts always travels with the president or is airlifted ahead of him—no matter if his destination is Topeka or Tokyo.

  As for the big buses, they are always accompanied by an ever-present backup decoy and substitute twin. Each of these megabeasts is built like an enormous tank on 18 wheels. Their sides are made of five inches of armor plated metal. Their sleek, black, reflective windows are bulletproof, and only transparent from the inside looking out. The tires cannot be punctured with a bullet. Each bus has its own oxygen supply. It is just the latest addition to the already impressive fleet, bringing even more grandeur and envy to the two-mile long royal procession that makes up today’s campaign-impressive presidential motorcade.

  From the street, each of these buses is overwhelming to behold. Inside, it’s even more eye-popping; there are dozens of plush seats, a private sleeping room and an office for the president, a dining room, a complete galley and enough communications equipment to reach any person or have any information delivered that the campaigning president should want or need.

  President Obama boards his campaign bus directly from Air Force One—reflected in mirrored image on the bus. General Motors LLC.

  (Photo with permission, GM Media Archives)

  The original cost of each of these buses was staggering—definitely well into the millions—and they are all, like each of the limousines, known by the nickname “the Beast,” disassembled down to the last screw by the Secret Service and then reassembled by them to be sure they carry no listening devices or potential threats to the president’s safety. Like the presidential limousines, the presidential buses will also be thoroughly disassembled and then destroyed after their time in presidential service in order to assure that their construction details and communications secrets do not fall into the wrong hands. Since the government, unfortunately, doesn’t do anything efficiently, the cost of decommissioning the mega-beasts will likely exceed the cost of the original construction of these buses by the automotive engineers who first put them together, utilizing the full assembly lines they had at their disposal.

  The buses’ size and power have necessitated new training courses for the Secret Service members who drive them. Included in this is training to enable the drivers to go backward at full speed, guided by nothing but the rear-view mirrors. If you think Hollywood stuntmen get paid a lot, imagine what it must cost to prepare a Secret Service agent for something as blockbuster as gunning a multiton, two-story armor-plated bus backwards at full speed!

  Although President Obama frequently uses the new buses for campaign purposes, his re-election committee is not required to contribute to the costs of their purchase or of their operation. Thus, even when they are used for a president’s re-election, the costs are covered by taxpayers. To justify the addition of these new buses to the presidential toy chest, a White House spokesman said that “the President needs the buses to get out in the country and meet with real folks in real places.”

  The White House spokesman could just as well have stated simply that “the President needs them for campaigning.” But first, he might need to make excuses for the fact that these buses created jobs where they were made—in Canada.

  “ABC News' Jake Tapper confronts White House press secretary Jay Carney over President Obama's schedule, which has included a lot of traveling. Citing a Wall Street Journal article about the number of times President Obama has traveled to swing-states, Tapper bluntly asks Carney if Obama is ‘campaigning on taxpayer dime.’ ‘President Obama seems to travel to battleground states more so than any other president before him…It looks like the president is campaigning on the taxpayer dime more than any other president has done,’ Tapper said at a White House briefing.”

  —FoxNews.com, November 28, 2011

  Chapter Ten

  The Ultimate Presidential Perk: A Taxpayer-Assisted Reelection

  The seated president has such a huge advantage over his opponents that it almost seems like an exercise in futility to hold the election. With the trappings of office described in this chapter as well as throughout the book, the taxpayer has unwittingly provided the incumbent with a virtually impossible lock on term two.

  The economy is in shambles; the United States stands in danger of becoming a third world country; and a change in administration from the top down seems needed. My goal in writing this book is to provide you with some astounding new information so that you are better equipped to help change our country’s future—if you so choose.

  If I have done my job competently, you should by now be concerned about the range of excessive perks that exist for a sitting president. In this chapter, we will show you the contrast between the incumbent’s challengers and the president’s experiences as he campaigns, making full use of the penultimate perk we described in Chapter 8 as “BillionAir!” We are going to show you why Air Force One is the “secret weapon” that can give (or may have already given) Barack Obama the election!

  Aside from the president campaigning for a second term, for all others in the race this campaign is probably the most physically draining, mentally wearisome experience to which any citizen of this nation can subject him or herself. For a non-president, campaigns are grueling, mind-and-body-exhausting experiences of numbing proportions and the polar opposite of how the experience shows up for the incumbent.

  Let’s take a look at how this plays out for aspirants.

  First, let me say again that we Americans do want our presidents to be comfortable and safe and impress the rest of the world when they land on foreign soil. We are proud that our commanders in chief can deplane from the world’s most advanced aircraft when he arrive
s at meetings with his foreign counterparts. The leader of the United States is the leader of the free world, and as such deserves the adulation and respect we accord him. We can be proud that our president lives as stress-free as humanly possible and that he has all the proper trappings of his exalted office.

  However, there is a sobering side to all the extravagant excesses we have detailed so far. These extravagances have the capacity to prove fatal to our most cherished democratic ideals, and we would be foolish to ignore indicators of an executive process sorely out of balance, as some perks help assure the re-election of the incumbent president to a second term. Today, a challenger pitted against a sitting president finds himself pitifully outmatched while we, as citizens, have failed to raise the hue and cry with our elected officials about the fact that the cards are now unfairly stacked in favor of the incumbent.

  When he wrote Democracy in America almost two centuries ago, Alexis de Tocqueville presciently warned that allowing presidents to run for a second term would enable them to use the vast machinery of the State to further their re-election agendas. De Tocqueville believed, and I wholeheartedly agree, that it would be better for the nation if we elected presidents to a limit of one term. We might then see commanders in chief whose every action in their first four years in office would not be weighed against—even devoted to—the imperative of being elected to a second term. Two centuries later, we are dangerously close to the point where we have empowered incumbent presidents with perks that virtually guarantee them a second term in office. Once presidents found they could use the new Air Force Ones without limit as campaign tools, none has been denied re-election.