Telephone Support for President Reagan (1985) by Ken Barbi

 

Telephone Support for President Reagan
President Reagan in the Oval Office
Type Of Activity	Presidential Travel Support
Location
Location	Travel communications support
Date of Activity	1985
Coordinates

Telephone Support for President Reagan                                                                                                                by Kenneth W. Barbi KC3OYM kenbarbi@verizon.net                                                                                                                   (WHCA Trip Officer 1983 - 1986)

SECURE VOICE

The White House Communications Agency (WHCA) provided secure voice telephone support on the 18 Acre White House Grounds, and at all Trip Sites for President Reagan.  Our secure switchboard was called Cartwheel - - a water tower (Figure 1) - - located in Ft. Reno Park, Washington, DC.  When we visited the site, we could not wear uniforms nor could we have a military-base sticker on our car.  The STU-I (Figures 2 and 3) we used in 1984 was cumbersome.  A STU-I used data transfer speeds of 2400 to 4800 BPS over standard dial-up telephone lines, cost $35,000 per set, and had a weight of 250 pounds.

Washington secure phones and trip site secure phones would connect directly through standard analog telephone lines to Cartwheel for calls.  We did not have multiple trip site STU-I phones because there was only one unit deployed on each trip.

                                        Cartwheel Water Tower- The WHCA Secure Switchboard Facility                                                 Photo from John Cross' whcacannonball.blogspot.com

Figure 2. STU - I Instrument   

Photo from the Crypto Museum

Figure 3. STU - I Hardware with Instrument On Top of Cabinet

Photo from the Crypto Museum

By 1986, we were using the new STU-III phones (Figures 4 and 5). They came in two colors - white and black. WHCA personnel had them in their homes with a White House security key for their work.  Both styles encoded voice into analog signals for transmission over copper wire on standard dial-up telephone lines. The STU-III was very easy to install anywhere where there was a standard telephone line.

                                                                                           Figure 4. STU - III Phone                                                                                       Photo from the Crypto Museum

                                                                   Figure 5. President Reagan on a STU - III                                                            Phone Official White House Photo

CELLULAR PHONES

The only cellular phones at WHCA in the 1980's were the Motorola "Get Smart shoe size" DynaTAC 8000X phones (Figure 6) used as part of the original cellular feasibility study.  There was only service in Washington, and WHCA participated in that feasibility study  They never had a Presidential support role.  At the time, it was believed cellular phones were not reliable (having a 30 minute talk time and 10 hour recharge time), and not secure.  Cellular phones remained that way for some time, but thankfully are now secure and reliable. 

Figure 6. Original Motorola DynaTAC 8000X Cell Phone 

PAGING SYSTEM

In town and on the road, WHCA had a Motorola Paging System located at the Old Executive Office Building (EOB) Switchboard and at the Trip Site Hotel Command Post.  Both White House and WHCA Staff members were assigned a Motorola Pageboy II Pager (Figure 7).  The system worked very well although women had difficulty wearing the devices, as their clothing styles generally had no belts to clip them on, and they often fell from where they were clipped.

Figure 7. Motorola Pageboy II Pager

NON-SECURE VOICE

In the 1980's, our primary voice communications was non-secure analog voice over the same copper wire standard dial-up telephone lines we used for secure voice.

At the White House, there were two switchboards.  One was run by White House civilian staff operators for the public to call.  The other was the WHCA "Signal Board" for official use and for foreign governments to use to get in touch with the principals.  This latter facility (referred to as CROWN) was also the White House VHF, UHF, Nationwide, and the Motorola Paging System main control.  Nationwide was a UHF CONUS full duplex Air/Ground radio connection to Air Force One operated by WHCA, and supported by AT&T ground radios throughout the United States.  It operated on 415.7/407.85 MHz and was code named "Echo Foxtrot".  The Chesapeake & Potomac (C&P) Telephone company had a Number 5 Crossbar Switch (Figure 8) in the basement of the Old EOB next to the WHCA switchboard operator's room which provided phone service to all offices on the 18 Acre White House Complex - - our personal Centrex.  The Signal Board was a bank of "cord boards" where our operators knew at all times where the President was (and what phone to forward calls to) after they VETTED the caller.

Figure 8. C&P Number 5 Crossbar Switch

President Reagan never dialed a single number.  If he picked up the phone to call someone, our operators always answered by saying "yes please" because he might have been on a different phone or it might have been someone else, so they always wanted to be polite.  He might ask to speak to an old college buddy - John Smith - who he had never called before.  Through some sort of magic, our operators would figure out who John Smith was, where he was, his phone number, and get him on the line! 

When wife, Nancy, called, it went right through.  If any foreign leader or head of state called, it went right through, albeit, a bit slower, because those kind of calls got allot of senior staff attention.  An interesting event occurred once when I was out of town. My wife called the Signal Board and asked to talk to me because our cat was stuck atop a tree in Annapolis, Maryland, where I lived.  The Signal Board operator immediately found me in Santa Barbara, California, and routed the call to me to help her - - WHCA is a family!

At Trip Sites, before the AT&T divestiture, things were easy because our AT&T representative would deal with all the individual companies.  We had an AT&T Washington Headquarters representative travel with us on trips.  Our central command post hub was a portable leased Dimension PBX (Figure 9) that was set up in a bedroom at the hotel where the White House Staff, Secret Service, WHCA, and the President stayed.

Figure 9. AT&T Dimension PBX

Setting up voice communications became trickier after the divestiture or if we were overseas.   US Telephone Company (Telco) contacts were identified to us in Washington before we left. The regional Telcos were used to our needs, but foreign telephone providers (often official government entities) were amazed at what we required.

In our hotel bedroom Command Post next to our Secure Communications Center, we had the trip city VHF radio command console, connected by Telco dry-pair copper to all the repeaters our radio teams had set up.  Dry-pairs are just wires with no battery and ground applied from the Telco central office. By 1985, everybody carried a Motorola Digital Encryption Standard (DES) secure VHF radio connected to their appropriate functional network. Prior to that, our radio nets were not secure which the press loved.  The press was really upset when we added the DES.

The Dimension Trip Site Switchboard would have one local published number with multiple central office trunk lines, one non-published number for emergency use (which Trip Officers could connect remotely from any phone such as a public coin-operated or private phone by dialing our access code to get full telephone connectivity for the President), trunk tie lines to other Trip Sites if it was a regional swing, and numerous trunk tie lines back to Washington.  To call a Trip Site Extension, you would dial the three digit number.  To call a Washington Extension you would dial 45 - wait for a dial tone - then dial your number.  To call the White House Signal Switchboard, you would dial 8. To call a local number, you would dial 9 - wait for a dial tone - then dial.  For long distance or the Trip Site Switchboard, you would dial 0.

Beyond that, Telephone Companies had their hands full.  We ordered dedicated analog dry-pair circuits from the Dimension Trip Site Switchboard to every phone we wanted in town.  Most trips had over 100 lines.  The Dimension provided the battery and ground to operate these instruments.  There were many phone lines to the airport for Air Force One's arrival, emergency medical facilities where the President might have to be taken, event sites, holding rooms, under bleacher seats at sports venues, Marine One landing locations, White House Staff/Secret Service Agent/WHCA Personnel hotel rooms, event halls, and McDonald's Restaurants (if the President planned to eat a Big Mac).

Western Electric 500 Series phones (Figure 10) were installed.  It was a large grid of copper connected spoke and hub, which usually took a week or more to set up. Every line had to tested, and have a phone plugged into it.  After the trip, we had to go out and reclaim every one of the phones.  Woe to someone who absconded with a WHCA phone.

 Figure 10. Western Electric 500 Series WHCA Telephone with Appropriate 

Labels shown in Figure 12 at a Parsippany, NJ, Trip Site

Occasionally, we would have to commandeer a public coin-operated or private phone to establish a connection to the Dimension Trip Site Switchboard for the President should he stop somewhere unexpectedly.  We placed this label (Figure 11) on the phone to protect it from getting hung up, and left it off-hook lying there ready for use.

Figure 11. DO NOT HANG UP LABEL from a Trip Officer Trip Book

We carried roles of labels (Figure 12) to affix to phones.

Figure 12. Roles of Labels for Any Occasion

We had what many called a Bluff Label (shown in a role at the bottom right of the above stack) (Figure 13) to discourage theft which did reduce our losses!

Figure 13. Bluff Label

AIR FORCE ONE TELEPHONE SERVICE

Air Force One is operated by the 89th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force at Joint Base Andrews.  Whenever Air Force One landed, the plane - then a VC-137C Boeing 707-353B tail number 27000 - was met by a WHCA Trip Officer.  The Trip Officer would plug two land lines (always Extension 201 and 202 connected to the Dimension Trip Site Switchboard) into a small compartment under the cockpit in front of the wheel well of the plane.  This was a job I did many times as depicted in Figure 14.  The President's pilot, USAF Col Robert Ruddick, never wanted a "follow me" truck to meet him at airports.  He was pre-briefed and knew exactly where to taxi to his precise parking spot.  That's where a Trip Officer would stand (the target perhaps) with the plane coming straight at them ready to plug it into the Dimension Trip Site Switchboard.  No one ever got run over!

                      Figure 14. Major Barbi Plugging AF One Immediately After Landing in Cincinnati, Ohio,                                     in Oct 1985 Official White House Photo

The Telco responsible for the lines had to use a then standard Four-Prong Connector (Figure 15) that fit the planes.  The Trip Officer had to make sure it was wired correctly (with no tip/ring reversal) and the lines were in the correct order on the pins.  We always carried spare Four-Prong Connectors just in case the Telco didn't have the correct plug.  It was especially important on overseas trips where they didn't exist.

Figure 15. Four-Prong Two Circuit Phone Plug

The two phone lines would be connected to the on-board communications center (Figure 16) operated by Air Force personnel and made available to everyone on the plane. CMSgt Jimmy Bull and SMSgt Jerry Rankin were President Reagan's operators. Those local "land lines" were a real savior on many occasions for Air Force One according to crew members.

                                     Figure 16. President Reagan Visiting the AF One Communications Center                                                                                with Operators CMSgt Jimmy Bull (left) and SMSgt Jerry Rankin (right)                                               Official White House Photo

CONCLUSION

The telephone element of a Trip Site puzzle was a small piece of the action.  Our gear load filled a C-141 aircraft and took 50 or more WHCA troops to implement.  It still does today and is a marvel to see.  I hope more WHCA personnel will write about their experiences in future postings.

Ken Barbi is an Electrical Engineer and radio amateur KC3OYM who graduated from the City College of New York in 1968.  He received his commission in the Air Force in 1968 and came to WHCA in 1983 as an Air Force Major.  He served as a Plans Officer while in town, and as a Trip Officer on the road.  In the Plans Office, he acquired new Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) Satellite Terminals and was the first to establish commercial Ku-Band satellite support for the President.  He retired after 26 years in the Air Force as a Colonel from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), and now (as when assigned to WHCA) lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Reagan Presidential Library visit (2012)-Revised

The Reagan Presidential Library
Main Entrance to the Reagan Library
Type Of Activity	Visiting the Reagan Presidential Library
Location
Location	Simi Valley CA
Date of Activity	May 6 2012
Coordinates

 In May of 2023 my son (Robert) and I flew to Los Angeles to tour the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, even though I was no longer a member of WHCA, much of the communications used in 1980 had not changed since I left the Agency in 1973. There was a working teleprompter that I checked out, a Camp David exhibit, and Reagan Ranch (Rancho del Cielo) exhibit. It was a real pleasure to tour the museum and the Air Force 1 Pavilion, Where I could once again, see the oval Office, Air Force One (27000), Marine One, and the Presidential Limo.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, is a prominent and well-regarded institution dedicated to the life and legacy of the 40th President of the United States. The Reagan Presidential Library is a must-visit for anyone interested in American politics and history. It offers a comprehensive look at Ronald Reagan's life, presidency, and the significant events that occurred during his time in office.

THE REAGAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Main Entrance

Entering the Library with the statue of President Reagan at the entrance

The Ronald Reagan Museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, documents, and interactive exhibits that provide insights into Ronald Reagan's personal and political life. from his early years to his Hollywood career, his time as Governor of California, and his two terms as President We were able to explore various aspects of his presidency, from his economic policies to his stance on foreign affairs. There are 18 galleries that pay tribute to America’s 40th president and his accomplishments by capturing his patriotic spirit, his respect for individual liberty, his belief in global democracy and his support of economic opportunity.

Views of the surrounding area from the Reagan Library

The Museum is situated on a stunning hilltop location with picturesque views of the surrounding area. The setting alone is worth the visit, as it provides a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The Reagan Library rests on a majestic hill overlooking the breath-taking topography of Southern California.  The 100-acre campus, with picturesque views reaching out to the Pacific Ocean, lush gardens, and a serene setting, pays tribute to one of the nation’s most liked leaders.

Teleprompter, Camp David & Rancho del Cielo Exhibits

I had to try using the Teleprompter 

Bob chose to take a horse ride at Rancho del Cielo

Ronald Reagan always loved the outdoors and made sure to make time for nature during his presidency. Camp David and Rancho del Cielo, his two retreats while in office, allowed for the president to relax and ride his beloved horses. Rancho del Cielo, also known as the Western White House, was the private residence of President and Mrs. Reagan located in the Santa Ynez Mountains of California.

My home for five years

The Camp David Exhibit

Camp David is a presidential retreat, its facilities maintained today by the US Navy Seabee’s. Camp David was built during the Roosevelt administration and allowed for seclusion while still having quick access to the White House in Washington. The President could also host heads of state and other guests in a secluded and peaceful environment.

I was assigned to WHCA at Camp David for five years as a microwave radio technician installing and maintaining the M/W, FM radio and telephone systems necessary for daily operations at the facility, as well as supporting the President and USSS when visiting the site.

The Oval Office

The Reagan Library offers a full-scale replica of the Oval Office during the Reagan presidency. Featuring Ronald Reagan's Oval Office desk, this exhibit allowed us to step into the Oval Office and get a sense of what it was like for the President during the time he occupied the office. 

Ronald Reagan's Oval Office desk

Replica of Ronald Reagans Oval Office

Air Force One Pavilion:  

One of the most popular exhibits at the Reagan Library is the Air Force One Pavilion. Opening in 2005, the Air Force One Pavilion features multiple historic Presidential transportation exhibits and the Annenberg Discovery Learning Center, and it is the highlight of the Library. The Air Force One Pavilion at the Reagan Library is one of Southern California’s “must-see” destinations!

The upper floor of this three-floor exhibit starts with the Mezzanine Gallery. The Museum highlights President Reagan’s face-to-face diplomacy with world leaders on economic relations, strategic relations, and arms control as he travels on Air Force One. The Secret Service and their role in protecting the President while he travels displays on a gallery wall on this level.

Air Force One Pavilion

SAM (Special Air Mission) 27000, better known as Air Force One, flew 444 missions and carried seven presidents from 1972 to 2001.

President Richard Nixon first used the plane in 1972, and famously traveled to his San Clemente, California home following his resignation in 1974. 

President Ronald Reagan sent predecessor President Jimmy Carter to West Germany to greet the 52 American hostages freed from Iran in 1981. 

Reagan used Air Force One more than any other president, registering over 660,000 miles aboard the plane. President George H.W. Bush was the last to use the SAM 27000 model as a primary means of transportation, and President George W. Bush was the last to use it as Air Force one when he and First 

Lady Laura Bush flew to TSTC Waco Airport in 2001.

SAM 27000 was retired to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in 2001. See it through the years in today’s gallery.

Telephone Access Panel in the Nose of AF1

There is a small access door in the nose of 27000 where we would plug in the two telephone lines for the aircraft and the ramp phone, a four prong plug, upon all arrivals and unplug at departures.

The second floor of the Pavilion focuses on the history of Air Force One, Explore a 120’ mural which represents all 22 aircraft that has ever flown a U.S. president.  It also showcases the Stan Stokes’ mural, History of the Flying White House, featuring aircraft from FDR’s Dixie Clipper to the current Boeing 747.  

Air Force One Pavilion

We are about to start our tour of AF-1

The Air Force One Pavilion, allowed us to step aboard the actual Air Force One aircraft a Boeing 707 that was used by President Reagan during his time in office. 

 AF-1’s Cockpit

 27000’s (Angel) Radio Room

    The tour gave me a chance to see the Radio Room again, where I had spent so many hours on the ground communicating with 26000 and 27000 from various trip sites around the world, while I was with WHCA It's a unique and immersive experience that gives you a sense of what it was like to travel as the President of the United States and see the many places where he spent time working, meeting with advisors, and relaxing with his family.

The President’s office aboard Air Force One

This Flying White House, tail number 27000, served seven U.S Presidents from 1973 to 2001, including Presidents Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush. For Ronald Reagan, this was the plane in which he hand-wrote many of his speeches, signed important legislation and even officially started the Daytona Beach, Florida NASCAR race via phone.

But the Air Force One Pavilion is about more than just his plane. The lower floor of the Pavilion also has the Marine One Gallery, which showcases President Lyndon Johnson’s Marine One helicopter.

The Cockpit  of Marine One

The interior of Marine One

We were  able to tour the actual Marine One helicopter that flew President Johnson.

Marine One

I am standing near the phone jack on Marine One

 I have a lot of history with this chopper. When I was with WHCA during LBJ’s and Richard Nixon’s presidency, I would plug in the telephone lines at many arrivals and departures including President Nixon’s at the Western White House in San Clemente.

On the Lower Floor It has a presidential motorcade featuring President Reagan’s 1984 parade limousine, and a secret service suburban as part of an exhibit on presidential motorcades, which rounds out the Presidential transportation exhibits. The presidential limousine is always preceded by the lead car, LAPD used a normal police vehicle,  a standard equipped 1982 Chevrolet Impala converted for this purpose. LAPD has also been using two lead Kawasaki  motorcycles to provide additional protection for presidential motorcades since 1976. 

LAPD lead car and lead motorcycles

The USSS’s follow-up Vehicle

The Secret Service motorcade follow-up vehicle, also known as the "Halfback", is a specially outfitted Chevrolet Suburban that follows the President's limousine in the motorcade. It is staffed by Secret Service agents who are responsible for providing additional security to the President and their family.

President Reagan’s parade limousine also known as Stagecoach, was a modified 1984 Cadillac Brougham d'Elegance that is heavily armored, and has a 76 millimeter higher roof, a telephone system, rear bumper platforms and grab bars for security agents as well two special headlights, which were only intended to illuminate the flags waving on the front fender standard holders.

President Reagan’s  parade limousine

We were able to walk around the Limo and could see the vehicle up close, but not close enough to see if the FM radios were installed. The USSS used these radios for the security measures in place for the President's transportation. The limousine did have the phones installed in the rear seat.

President Reagan’s personalized license plate

The Ronald Reagan  Ballyporeen, Irish Pub

The Ronald Reagan Pub is located at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, California. It is a popular spot for visitors to the library, and is known for its casual atmosphere and pub fare. Experience the actual Irish pub from Ballyporeen, Ireland when he visited on a diplomatic trip in 1984 which now sits within the Pavilion and serves as the Library’s snack shop. The entire interior was dismantled (bar and all!) and shipped to California to become the Ronald Reagan Pub which sits under the wings of Reagan's retired Air Force One.

Visitors can also enjoy refreshments in the “Ronald Reagan Pub” - an actual Irish pub which was donated to the Library from Reagan’s ancestral Irish village of Ballyporeen, Ireland.

Entrance to the Ronald Reagan Irish Pub

The Ronald Reagan Pub is a great place to relax and have a drink or a meal after visiting the library. The food is good, the drinks are cold, and the service is friendly.

Taking a break at the Ronald Reagan Irish Pub

Time to rest and enjoy a brew

BERLIN WALL

This exhibit showcases a section of the Berlin Wall, a powerful symbol of the Cold War era. Visitors can learn about Reagan's role in bringing about the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

A section of the Berlin Wall 

The Iron Curtain took shape following World War II as a fortified border between the nations of Eastern and Western Europe. But as an idea, the Iron Curtain stood for the profound division between communism and democracy, oppression, and freedom. The Soviet Union dominated life on the eastern side of the border and enforced its brand of communism in its satellite states. Ronald Reagan took on the enormous challenge of bringing down the Iron Curtain.

Since receiving the Wall, President Reagan’s wish has come true many have visited the Wall at the Reagan Library and learned its lesson of freedom and democracy for all.

Reagan's Memorial:

Located on the library's grounds, the memorial site is the final resting place of President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. It offers a peaceful and reflective space for visitors to pay their respects.

The Ronald Reagan Memorial at the Reagan Library

Ronald Wilson Reagan passed away on June 5, 2004, at the age of 93. His death induced an outpouring of respect, grief, and honor. Mourners around the world left flowers and trinkets at makeshift memorial sites. The former President laid in repose here at his Presidential Library on June 7-8, 2004. His casket then laid in state in the U.S. Capitol from June 9-11, 2004. Over 200,000 mourners made the journey to say their final goodbye to the former president. Dignitaries from 165 nations attended the public funeral held at the Washington National Cathedral. President Reagan was laid to rest during a private funeral service at sunset on June 11, 2004, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

 The Memorial Site is on the western portion of the Library Campus and is adjacent to the Library’s piece of the Berlin Wall and the replica of the White House South Lawn.  The Memorial Site looks out toward the Pacific Ocean. Since I visited the grave site in 2012, Nancy Reagan was laid to rest beside President Reagan.

Remembering President Ronald  Reagan and the First Lady Nancy Reagan

Overall, the Reagan Presidential Library and Museum is a must-see for anyone interested in American history and politics. The museum's exhibits are informative, engaging, and well-presented. Visitors of all ages can learn something new about Reagan and his time in office.

Ronald Reagan's trip to ancestral home in Ballyporeen, Ireland in 1984

by Marty Williams

Ballyporeen 12

This didn’t happen on St Paddy’s Day, but it is my favorite Irish memory of my favorite Irish President. At the Economic Summit, in London, in June of 84, I was working the switchboard the morning after President Reagan arrived from Ireland. At just the time that the Trip Officer (TO) was bringing the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) Commander (CDR) through the Switchboard area, the Boss’s line rang in to my console. (For non-operators, when the Boss’s line went off you heard a loud, annoying, stress inducing, modulating tone), the pencil comes up and you start taking notes. With the Reagans two things could happen. One, Mrs. Reagan, could be calling. if she was, the conversation was going to be short, the information would be given quickly, and there would be no opportunity to have it repeated. The call might go something like this: “Crestview 5-4724” (click) and we’re done. You had better have gotten it all. (yes, that’s how folks did phone numbers in the old days).

Now if it were the Boss, it would most likely be a long conversation that could take a meandering route to what he wanted. Anything said along the way could be the call information and would need to be written on the Presidential Call Log for the archives. Obviously, I had the full attention of the CDR and T.O. The call went something like this: “Hello, Signal (the designator for the WHCA Switchboard). I have an unusual request for you, I probably shouldn’t bother you with it, I mean I asked my staff to take care of it yesterday, but I guess it didn’t happen. Well anyway, yesterday, when I was in Ballyporeen, Ireland, I was there because my grandfather came from there, so it was a kind of homecoming, well, there was this young woman I met there, she was a nurse who took care of war wounded in Baghdad. She was there for a homecoming too. I told my staff I wanted to talk some more to her, but I guess they didn’t come through. Her last name was (ok, here comes some help) Clancy.(some help) that would make her name (ok, here we go) Nurse Clancy. (Ahh) I shouldn’t bother you with this, its just too hard.” “Not a problem sir” “Well ok, give it a try”

So i went into action. The CDR and TO were giving me “the look”. I figured I needed information in another country. So I got on to the international operator. They got me to an Ireland information operator. And she got me to the Ballyporeen Switchboard operator. Yes, I said switchboard. The town still had an operator. I asked how many Clancy’s there were in town. She had about 30 listings for Clancy. But the most popular one was the Clancy Pub. I figured if anyone might know, a small-town pub might be a good place to start.

President Reagan enjoys a Brew at the Pub

I had her put me through. In a full brogue the proprietor answered. I explained that it was the White House calling and that President Reagan had met a Nurse Clancy the day before and wanted to talk to her again. I asked if he might know a Clancy who was a Nurse for war wounded in Baghdad who was home for a visit. “Sure and I do! It’s my daughter Margaret. MARGARET! Get your arse down here, the President of the United States wants to speak to you!” Margaret got on the phone, and I gave her a quick briefing. Then I called the president back. “Hello” “Mr. President, about your call to Nurse Clancy” “Oh, I know, that was too hard. Don’t worry about it. Thanks for trying” “Mr. President, do you still want to talk to her?” “Well yes” “Well sir, her name is Margaret and she’s on the line. Go ahead please”. Total time request to connect, less than six minutes. As he chatted with her, I realized I didn’t have a number for the log. So I retraced the call and got the Ballyporeen operator again. She gave me the number. Ballyporeen 12. The TO and CDR were duly impressed. A few minutes later the call came down and the boss called in again. “That was amazing, how did you do that?” “Magic Sir”. And though it may not qualify as “saving the day” it was an Oh Yeah! moment… Was privileged to have many of those over the years, but this is one of my favorites.