"The White House Communications Agency: A Look into Its Past, and Present ": The Presidents Christmas Visit to Key Biscayne (1972)

Sunday, May 7, 2023

The Presidents Christmas Visit to Key Biscayne (1972)

The Presidents Christmas Visit (1972)
The Blue Room at the White House Christmas Party (1972)
Type Of Activity	Christmas Visit
Location
Location	Key Biscayne FL
Date of Activity	December 24-26, 1972
Coordinates

December 24,1972:The Florida White House Key Biscayne

In 1970, I was transferred to the San Clemente CCT and then to the Key Biscayne Communications Detachment in April, 1972, so I missed the chance to attend any of President Nixon's Staff Christmas Parties at the White House.

The 1972 holiday season was relatively subdued for the Nixon family, who had just concluded an intense re-election campaign. It would mark the only Christmas Day of the Nixon presidency that Richard and Pat Nixon celebrated outside the White House, as they spent the holiday in Key Biscayne, Florida, and the President and First Lady celebrated together, without any of their family members; the two First Daughters and their husbands shared the holiday together in Athens, Greece, where David Eisenhower was stationed on duty in the U.S. Naval Reserves.

Staff Christmas Party (1972)

The Nixon’s held the 1972 Staff Christmas Party as usual in Washington at the White House and then prepared to spend a quiet Christmas Day in Key Biscayne. As usual the Detachment checked all radio systems and surveyed the telephones, stereo equipment, TV’s, and dictation equipment in the compound and placed equipment in the Villas at the Key Biscayne Hotel where the Senior Staff stayed. In preparation for the visit I went to the Ocean Reef Club to Mr, Rebozo's house to make sure that the heater for the pool and all the phones were working. This ended up a very normal trip for us, although we would be working on Christmas eve and Christmas Day.

The arrival at Homestead AFB

The President arrived at Homestead AFB on December 20 and was choppered to the Key Biscayne Compound, where he was met by his friend, Mr. Bebe Rebozo. They went to the 500 house for dinner and a movie.

The next day, the President and the First Lady went swimming in the pool and took a walk along the beach. Later the President and Mr Rebozo motored to the Ocean Reef Club and spent a few hours at the house Mr. Rebozo owned. They then motored back to the Key Biscayne Compound.

Later that evening accompanied by Mr. Rebozo the President and the First Lady motored to the Key Biscayne Hotel where they had dinner. After dinner and before they returned to the compound the President and the First Lady motored through Key Biscayne to view Christmas decorations.

The next couple of days the President remained in the compound relaxing, swimming in the pool, and in Biscayne Bay, The President also relaxed watching several football games including the Washington Redskins.

Preparing to depart for a cruise on the Coco Lobo III

On Christmas day after calling many people wishing them a Merry Christmas, the President and Mr. Rebozo went boating on Mr. Rebozo’s houseboat the Coco Lobo III on Biscayne Bay. Whenever the President went boating on either the Coco Lobo or his hydroplane (codename Wolfhound) the Coast Guard would always accompany the Presidential party. The USCG had three chase boats (codename Shark tail) they were highly maneuverable, and they were the fastest boats on the Bay they were primarily used to keep sightseers, and other watercraft a safe distance away from the Coco Lobo while it was cruising the Bay.

The day after Christmas, the President and first Lady choppered to Homestead AFB and returned to Washington. The Detachment swept all of the villas where the Senior Staff stayed, collecting the equipment placed in service for the duration of the trip and looking for any classified documents or personal items that may have accidentally been left behind by the senior staff.

Once we had wheels up we returned to our normal routine and looked forward to New Years eve.