PRESIDENT DWIGHT EISENHOWER’S VISIT TO DETROIT OCT. 17, 1960

Year Published: 1960

Format: 16mm

Description: This film takes a look at the 34th president Dwight D. Eisenhower’s visit to Detroit in October of 1960. It focuses on his landing at the American Airlines terminal in Air Force One. The former president had visited Detroit on the 17th of October to be the keynote speaker at the 43rd Auto Industry Dinner. The ceremony was aired live on WXYZ-TV. The film opens with a long line of motorcycle cops on the runway at the airport awaiting the president’s arrival (:12). An American Airlines passenger plane touches down and releases it’s passengers, consisting of the press and presidential entourage (:49). Officers group and discuss prior to Eisenhower’s arrival (:47). The front grill of a 1960’s Cadillac is zoomed in on (:58). Civilians are seen lining the runway awaiting the president’s plane to touch down (1:07) as a few hold up signs to welcome him into the city (1:18). Eisenhower’s Military Transport plane then touches down (2:10) and he is seen stepping down shortly afterwards (2:19). Eisenhower steps into a car and waves to the crowds greeting him (3:19). Cargo from his plane is unloaded by the ground crew (3:51). The American Airline’s terminal is viewed in the background (4:29). The ground crew then refuels the plane from a small fuel truck (5:56). Close shots are provided of one of the workers fueling the plane with a hose from underneath the craft (6:37). Enlisted men and officers mill around the air strip (7:48). Eisenhower is filmed a final time (8:36) prior to Air Force One taking off to the skies again (10:00). It was during President Dwight Eisenhower's administration that Air Force One entered the jet age, when in August 1959 Eisenhower first flew aboard VC-137A, a Boeing 707 Stratoliner nicknamed "Queenie". The aircraft had previously been part of the administration’s air fleet. Queenie contained a special telecommunications section, forward and aft passenger compartments (a total of 40 passengers could be accommodated), a conference area, and a stateroom. In December 1959 the 707 made a ground breaking trip, with Eisenhower visiting 11 countries in Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The airplane is now located in the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.

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