Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Caroline JFK Campaign Aircraft
- Dates:
- 1959-1967
- Abstract:
- This collection details the technical life of President John F. Kennedy’s campaign aircraft, the Caroline, which was the first private aircraft used exclusively for campaigning by an American presidential candidate. The collection includes correspondence and notes kept by the Caroline’s second chief pilot, Captain Robert Griscom.
- Extent:
- 0.69 Cubic feet Two 12”x5”x10” boxes
- Language:
- Preferred citation:
-
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]
Background
- Scope and content:
-
This collection of two 12”x5”x10” boxes consists of aircraft mileage logs for the Caroline dating from the aircraft’s purchase in 1959 until its donation to the Smithsonian in 1967. Parts of this collection were damaged in the SDASM fire in 1978. The aircraft logs were secured in two folders, 1959-1963, and 1964-1967.
Additionally, passenger lists and detailed mileage reports were kept in two Flight Safety, Inc. notebooks (see Figure 4 below), lists in one notebook, and reports in the other. There seems to be no official reason for the lists. These lists were damaged in the 1978 museum fire.
At some point, the collection was split. The aircraft logs and related documentation were filed separately from Griscom’s personal papers. Expense account summaries were inserted into the associated months for the 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967 logs.
Additionally, the 1966 logs include letters to Captain Baird and Captain Griscom containing guidelines for potential medical emergencies for Ambassador Kennedy, as well as other corporate correspondence.
Inserted into the 1967 logs were multiple corporate correspondences and a photo copy of a 1967 photo of Senator Robert Kennedy canoeing with Caroline Kennedy.
- Biographical / historical:
-
This collection details the technical life of President John F. Kennedy’s campaign aircraft, the Caroline, which was the first private aircraft used exclusively for campaigning by an American presidential candidate. During the 1960 campaign, the aircraft flew 225,000 miles with a small crew, frequently carrying the candidate, family members, staff and reporters. Kennedy was known for walking the aisle, giving reporters a chance for one-on-one interviews. In 1959 Joseph Kennedy purchased a Convair 240 from American Airlines, a move that would change American presidential campaigning forever. The senior Kennedy formed a separate corporation to manage the aircraft, Kenaire. The 1948 aircraft was retrofitted to meet physical and privacy needs of the candidate and his family.
After Kennedy won the election, the Secret Service deemed the Caroline not safe enough to be Air Force One, so the aircraft was used by the Kennedy family, including the First Lady. After the President’s assassination in 1963, the aircraft was used by the Kennedy family until it was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 1967. The Caroline is currently in storage in parts at the Smithsonian’s Paul E. Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland.
- Acquisition information:
- The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air Space Museum.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- June 12, 2014
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2015-11-09T14:13-0500
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Terms of access:
-
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum Library & Archives”]
- Location of this collection:
-
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa ParkSan Diego, CA 92101, US
- Contact:
- (619) 234-8291