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Descriptive Finding Guide for Caroline JFK Campaign Aircraft
SDASM.SC.10023
SDASM.SC.10023
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Title: Caroline JFK Campaign Aircraft
Identifier/Call Number: SDASM.SC.10023
Contributing Institution:
San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
0.69 Cubic feet
Two 12”x5”x10” boxes
Date (inclusive): 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.
Conditions Governing Access note
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
[Item], [Filing Unit], [Series Title], [Subgroups], [Record Group Title and Number], [Repository “San Diego Air & Space Museum
Library & Archives”]
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
The collection had been separated into multiple parts, but has now been combined into one collection.
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.
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.
Related Archival Materials note
A more detailed finding guide is available at http://www.sandiegoairandspace.org/collections/collection_item.php?id=137
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Kenaire Corporation.
Kennedy, American politics
Kennedy, John F., (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963
Kennedy, Joseph P., (Joseph Patrick), 1888-1969
Aeronautics, Commercial
Convair 240 Convair-Liner
Convair 240 Convair-Liner "Caroline"
Flight logs
Political campaigns
Private planes