George, Tom, Abe, Teddy, Bill, and Herbie--the "
Racing Presidents" for the hometown Washington Nationals baseball team feature large-headed versions of past Commanders-in-Chief. Can you imagine what these presidents could accomplish as the "Flying Presidents"?
The National Air and Space Museum Archives' collections feature documents and images of the United States presidents, as they relate to aviation and space flight, going back to the first man to hold the office.
1 -
George Washington![Mounted ephemera includes a ticket to a lecture on pneumatics presented by Doctor John Foulke on May 17, 1784 accompanied by a letter to Foulke from George Washington stating that he regrets he cannot attend. Also includes an explanatory note and brief description of the lecture.]() |
| NASM 9A11729 |
In 1784, Dr. John Foulke thought it must be nice to have Washington on his side, so he invited the General to a lecture on ballooning in Philadelphia. In a
letter held by the Archives, Washington sent his regrets. Washington’s response reads: “Genl. Washington presents his compliments to Doctr. Foulke — thanks him for his polite card and ticket — and would with great pleasure attend his Lecture on Pneumatics, but the business which brought him to the city does not leave him at Liberty, as the Members of the Cincinnati are anxious to bring it to a close Monday Morning.”
Later, as President, Washington not only viewed but also assisted with the first American ascent of the famous French balloonist Jean-Pierre Blanchard on January 9, 1793 in Philadelphia.
16 -
Abraham Lincoln
![Letter written July 25, 1861 by President Abraham Lincoln regarding a proposal to use Thaddeus S. C. Lowe's balloons for observation of enemy positions during the Civil War. Text reads: "Will Lieut Gen. Scott please see Professor Lowe once more about his balloon? [signed] A. Lincoln. Jul. 25, 1861."]() |
| NASM 99-40777 |
The Archives holds a letter written by President Abraham Lincoln to Lt. General Winfield Scott, commander of Union forces, regarding a proposal to use
Thaddeus S. C.Lowe's balloons for observation of enemy positions during the Civil War. Lincoln writes: "Will Lieut. Gen. Scott please see Professor Lowe once more about his balloon? [signed] A. Lincoln. July 25, 1861."
26 -
Theodore Roosevelt
![President Theodore Roosevelt (left) and pilot Arch Hoxsey (right) seated in Hoxsey's Wright (Co) Type AB (head on view, close-up) prior to making a flight at Kinloch Field, St. Louis, Missouri, October 11, 1910; this was the first flight of an American president.]() |
| NASM 93-9672 |
Theodore Roosevelt (left) was the first American president to fly in an airplane. On October 11, 1910, the former president was at Kinloch Field, St. Louis, Missouri, campaigning for the state’s Republican party. Pilot
Arch Hoxsey (right) asked him to fly in his Wright (Co) Type AB. At first Roosevelt refused, but eventually accepted the flight, during which Hoxsey put the aircraft into
three steep dives.
27 -
William Howard Taft![View of President William Taft, Senator Bourne and Archie Butt in a car.]() |
| NASM 95-8465 |
William Howard Taft (center) attended the July 1909 trials of what would be known as the
Wright Military Flyer at Ft. Myer, Virginia. He was accompanied in his car by Senator Jonathan Bourne Jr. (R-OR) and military aide Archie Butt (right), who would later die on the Titanic.
![Wilbur (left of center) and Orville Wright (right of center) posed on either side of U. S. President William Howard Taft (center), with Katharine Wright is to the right of Wilbur; others in group are unidentified. Portico of the White House, Washington, D. C.]() |
| NASM 2003-12098 |
President Taft (center) also met with the Wright brothers--Wilbur (left of center) and Orville Wright (right of center)--at the White House. Sister Katharine Wright was to the right of Wilbur.
28 -
Woodrow Wilson
![President Woodrow Wilson (left), speaks with Major Reuben H. Fleet, pilot of the first regular air mail flight, at Potomac Park, Washington, D.C.; May 15, 1918.]() |
| NASM 2004-51807 |
![World Flight crewmembers are welcomed by the President upon their arrival in Washington, D.C. (left to right): Lt. Leslie Arnold; Lt. Lowell Smith; President Calvin Coolidge; Secretary of War John Wingate Weeks; Lt. John Harding; Lt. Odgen and Lt. Leigh Wade posed standing in front of the Douglas World Cruiser DWC-2 "Chicago" (s/n 23-1230) at Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., 9 September 1924.]() |
| NASM A-17047 |
President Calvin Coolidge welcomed the crew members of the
Douglas World Cruiser first flight around the world upon their arrival in Washington on September 9, 1924. The crew successfully circumnavigated the globe in 175 days. (left to right): Lt. Leslie Arnold; Lt. Lowell Smith; President Calvin Coolidge; Secretary of War John Wingate Weeks; Lt. John Harding; Lt. Odgen and Lt. Leigh Wade posed standing in front of the Douglas World Cruiser DWC-2 Chicago.
The Chicago is now on display at the National Air and Space Museum and Arnold’s diary and scrapbook are in the Archives collections.
31 -
Herbert Hoover
![One-half left front view from slightly below of Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro (r/n NC 10761; c/n B-7) taking off from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C.]() |
| NASM 92-13609 |
On April 22, 1931, President Herbert Hoover presented the 1930
Collier Trophy to
HaroldPitcairn and associates for the development and application of the autogiro while standing on the lawn of the White House. Though not visible in the photograph, President Herbert Hoover, his wife, and grandchildren then witnessed the Pitcairn PCA-2 Autogiro taking off from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC.
![President Dwight D. Eisenhower shown with scale model of Jupiter C Missile nose cone during speech given from the White House, November 7, 1957.]() |
| NASM 82-11962 |
![President Lyndon B. Johnson in a discussion with Air Force Colonel Daniel "Chappie” James. In 1975, James became the first African-American to achieve the rank of four-star general.]() |
| NASM USAF-178134AC |
President Lyndon B. Johnson in a discussion with Air Force Colonel
Daniel "Chappie”James. In 1975, James became the first African-American to achieve the rank of four-star general.
37 -
Richard M. Nixon
![Apollo 11 flight crew members Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr., inside the Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF), being greeted through the window by President Richard M. Nixon; July 24, 1969.]() |
| NASM 2004-29402 |
![President Gerald R. Ford and NASM Director Michael Collins attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of National Air and Space Museum (NASM) building in Washington DC, on July 1, 1976.]() |
| NASM 76-13966-12A |
![In 1941, George H.W. Bush became the youngest aviator in the US Navy at the time. He is pictured in the cockpit of his General Motors (Eastern) TBM Avenger during World War II.]() |
| NASM 7B01223 |
In 1941, George H.W. Bush became the youngest aviator in the US Navy at the time. He is pictured in the cockpit of his General Motors (Eastern)
TBM Avenger during World War II.
Elizabeth C. Borja - Reference and Outreach Coordinator
National Air and Space Museum Archives
![Letter written July 25, 1861 by President Abraham Lincoln regarding a proposal to use Thaddeus S. C. Lowe's balloons for observation of enemy positions during the Civil War. Text reads: "Will Lieut Gen. Scott please see Professor Lowe once more about his balloon? [signed] A. Lincoln. Jul. 25, 1861."](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WhJ9fItMZ7I/V_ewJh_9MbI/AAAAAAAAAmg/fjit7Dw0B8I3chnq0blQSIi7FPvjcd6lgCLcB/s400/SI-99-40777.JPG)
