Search This Blog

President Nixon Addresses the National Steel Workers (1972)


            President Nixon Addresses the National Steel Workers
National Steel and Shipbuilding Co
Type of Event
Political Speech      
Location
Location
San Diego Ca
Date of Event
04 Jan 1972
Coordinates

President Nixon was coming to California for an extended stay and planned to meet with Japan’s Prime Minister Sato in a few days. He planned to fly to San Diego to address the National Steel Workers to try and boost the American Shipbuilders moral who were facing stiff competition from the Japanese and European yards. The President wanted to reassure them that the upcoming meetings with Prime Minister Sato would help their ability to compete with Japan.

On very short notice the President decided to visit the National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. SSC). There was no advance notice given or a specific reason for his visit and informal address. The CCT was notified the day of the President’s arrival in California to set up communications at the shipyard in San Diego to support the Presidents short visit and remarks.

Jan 4 1972 President Nixon Addresses the National Steelworkers (1972)

The President greets steel workers at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.

As usual we had to scramble and departed El Toro with a complete complement of radio equipment, Mini-Switchboard and Commcenter. The Local telephone company was notified and all circuits were ordered with tentative locations. We connected Baker and Charlie to the USSS CP at the Western White House While Sierra was installed on the Mini-Switchboard on site.

The President arrived at the Western White House the night before his proposed trip to NSSC and made the 60 mile helicopter flight to the San Diego Naval Air Station on Jan. 4th where the Presidential Limo waited. The motorcade then proceeded to the shipbuilding yard.

Note: The Exxon Valdez was built at this shipyard in 1986 and launched on 14 October 1986

Construction is underway of a super-tanker at the NSSC shipyard in San Diego.

The President spoke at 10:36 a.m. at the shipyard of the company. He spoke without referring to notes. Once his remarks were finished the President spent several minutes with the crowd of steelworkers that had gathered to see the President and hear his remarks. Approximately 30 min. after the President arrived at the shipyard, he departed by motorcade to the San Diego Naval Air Station to return to the Western White House where final preparations were underway for Prime Minister Sato visit.

These short in and out side trips were fairly simple and we were becoming use to them that’s why the CCT was established and why all of our equipment was stored on pallets. We packed up all of our equipment and returned to our shop at the El Toro MCAS.

Once we returned from San Diego all of the CCT went to San Clemente and Prepare for the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sato who would arrive in two days on Jan 6th 1972.

No comments:

Post a Comment