The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-11-18
Washington
Merry-Go-
Round
By DREW PEARSON and
ROBERT :. ALLEN.


VXTASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-Now
W that the President is to
abandon the Sequoia, one feature Of
the yacht which was kept an abso-
lutte secret by the Secret Service.
can be told. 1t is the location of
the presidential suite aboard the
vessel.
The public doesn't generally real
ize that the Secret Service MAIN
tainS Just as rigid vigilance while
the President is on cruise down
the Potomac as when he is on one
OF his trips across country.
The theory is that while the Presi-
dental yacht is lying at anchor dur
ing the night. as it usually does on
weekend cruises, any one could
come alongside
In order to guard against fire. or
any other accident. the Coast
Guard vessel Cuyahoga always
trailed the Sequoia at a distance of
800 yards, maintaining constant
communication by radio telephone.
On the Sequoia, the Presidents
cabin was located on the main deck.
port side, a little aft OF amidShip.
1t was cut out of the main saloon,
where he was served his meals. On
the Electra. new presidential yacht.
built Of steel. special suite is being
fitted out for him.
T IF'E aboard the new yacht will
- be essentially the same as
aboard the old.
Sunday morning, the President
sleeps late. No sounds are allowed
on board until the buzzer from the
Presidents cabin announces that he
is awake and ready for breakfast.
Gin the White House he is called
every morning9
A Filipino cabin boy brings his
tray and the Sunday papers. The
ship rides at anchor 80 miles down
Chesapeake Bay from Annapolis,
but the Presidents plane has come
alongside at $50 with the papers.
The anchor is weighed, and the
cruise is resumed. The President
goes out on the after deck and takes
a seat in wicker chair. The cabin
boy brings him magazines and a
folio of correspondence.
He reads two or three magazine
articles that have been marked for
his attention. Then a bulky report
from a Cabinet officer. Then, with
more pleasure, he examines the lat
est issue of the American Philatel-
ist to see what rare stamps are be-
in2 offered on the market.
Miss Marguerite LELAND joins
him and he turns to recent CORE
spondence. There is no dictatlon.
He hands her one letter at time,
with brief instruction. She makes
a note, and is ready for the next.
The writing will be done next day
in Washington.
THE President calls to guests on
Il the lower stern deck: How
about a little fishing?"
The anchor is dropped, tackle
taken from the bunker, and the
cans of fish lure are opened. The
lure" is thrown into the water to
bring fish alongside.
The catch may be hardheads,
trout, or bluefish. All are edible and
provide food for the next meal on
board. Fishing was poor during the
summer cruise.
Before noon the President must
heaC north again, with 100 miles to
go N the bay and the Potomac
River to Washington. The Sequoia's
cruising speed is only 10 knots an
| hour.
Dinner is served in the dining
salon on the main deck, with its
teakwood panels. blue rug, and gold
Grapes at the windows. There is a
ships clock that strikes three bells
as the meal begins, and radio that
plays softly during the meal.
The rest of the day is spent on
the after deck, where tea and sup
per are served The whole party Of
! ten or twelve are together there.
| There is practically no private talk,
no high powered huddle between the
President and a guest. Time is
spent in chatting, reading, watching
the passing shoreline.
THE Sequoia was not very sea-
Il worthy, this being one reason
for its abandonment. On a cruise
to Cape Henry two years ago, when
she encountered heavy weather, she
rolled alarmingly.
There is little chance of mishap.
however. Special precautions are
taken with life jackets, life boats,
life RATS, fire eXtinguishers and
sprinkling systems, in addition to
the trailing Cuyahoga.
The President usually goes aboard
at Annapolis rather than at Wash
ington, since the voyage down the
Potomac is 100 miles.
Copyright 1885 by United Feature
Syndicate. IncD