The Secret History of Air Force One NEW

Explore presidential history and technology in this visually rich, surprising, and deeply researched exploration of the world’s most protected and symbolically powerful airplane.  The Secret History of Air Force One traces the evolution of presidential flight from Teddy Roosevelt’s 1910 ride in a Wright Brothers-era biplane to the billion-dollar marvels currently being built.

Jeffrey Cooperman has spent hours aboard Air Force One and has interviewed its crew, pilots, and passengers. He will share his firsthand experiences and share rare insights and behind-the-scenes stories with a level of depth and authenticity few can offer. We explore:

• FDR and Truman’s need for airborne mobility to match America’s expanding role in the world.
• JFK’s rebranding of the presidential jet as a sleek symbol of American modernity.
• The CIA’s secret plan to embed spy cameras in Eisenhower’s aircraft, thwarted by the U-2 incident.
• The logistical high-wire act behind Nixon’s historic 1972 China trip, and the unexpected obstacle of missing exit stairs.
• The Cold War-era naval “rescue picket” system standing by during every overseas flight.
• The surprising link between Lucky Strike cigarettes, the Declaration of Independence, and the plane’s iconic livery. The events on 9/11 that brough Air Force One dangerously close to activating its onboard countermeasures.

The lecture will also reveal how each president has made Air Force One their own, reflecting their personalities in everything from layout to onboard policies:

• Lyndon Johnson redesigned the cabin for maximum visibility, holding court from a custom-built chair nicknamed “The Throne.”
• Richard Nixon, more private and secretive, had the interior rebuilt to isolate himself and his senior staff.
• Jimmy Carter imposed an era-appropriate austerity: no souvenirs, no frills, and he even carried his own bags.
• George H.W. Bush banned broccoli.
• Donald Trump installed oversized flat-screen TVs in both the bedroom and the office.

We’ll end with a mention of the next generation of Air Force One, now well overdue, over budget, and under scrutiny. At a cost of $2 billion per plane (and there are two of them), they represent a staggering investment. What does the future of presidential flight look like?