Margie was built by the Fisher Boat Works Inc, Detroit, Michigan in 1940 for L.P. Fisher, Vice President of Fisher and Company. Acquired by the War Shipping Administration in 1942 for the Coast Guard, she was transferred to the Navy in 1945.
Length 64 feet, beam 14 feet 6 inches, she has a main lounge, dining area and after deck which can be used as a sundeck. She has 3 bunk rooms with eight bunks. Six to eight guests may be accommodated comfortably.
First named Margie in honor of President Truman's daughter, Mrs Truman often used her for trips on the Potomac and to the Chesapeake Bay.
Ike renamed her The Susie E. in honor of one of his granddaughters. She was made available to the Vice President and the cabinet.
President Kennedy renamed the yacht Patrick J. in honor of his parental grandfather. In April 1963 the Patrick J. went to Hyannisport with the Guardian for the President to use while there.
President Nixon renamed her The Julie in honor of his daughter and moved the yacht to Key Biscayne where President Nixion retained his winter vacation retreat. President Nixon sold the Julie at auction.
The Guardian was built by the Electric Boat Works, Groton, Conn. The Guardian was started 27 June 1946 and launched 7 Sept 1950 as PT 809.
The boat has an overall length of 105 feet, beam of 22 feet and a draft of 6 feet.
After serving as an experimental craft she was assigned to the Potomac River Naval Command in Nov 1959 as a civil defense boat and an escort for the Presidential Yacht. The name Guardian was assigned in February 1960.
The Guardian carried 2 16 ft fiberglass water jet boats. These boats were used to transport secrect service agents and was used for water skiing by Mrs Kennedy and other guests.
After the Presidential yachts were deposed, the Guardian was released from Presidential service and transferred to a naval aviation squadron in Norfolk, VA area. She was modified at Cambridge, MD for use in retrieving target practice drones in various ranges along the Virginia/Maryland/North Carolina coast. The Soviets were quite adept at recovering the drones and all of their electronic technology. It was felt that something fast like a PT boat might aid in the recovery of the drones. The Guardian was based at Little Creek NAB and renamed DR-1 aka Retriever. Later she was assigned to the special boat unit in support of the Navy SEALs. At present we do not have the final chapter of the Guardian. However, she was the longest serving PT-boat. Two of the Guardian's sister ships the PT 810 and PT 811 were sent to Vietnam and later expended as targets off the Hawaiian Islands.
After being replaced as the Presidential yacht, the Sequoia was assigned to the Secretary of the Navy and was docked at the Anacostia Naval Station. She remained across the river from the Washington Navy Yard until 1964 at which time President Johnson again had her designated as a Presidential yacht and she joined the HoneyFitz at the Washington Navy Yard.
Kennedy celebrated his last birthday on board the Sequoia. (The Honey Fitz was at Hyannis Port, MA at the time)
Johnson used the Sequoia several times. He was tall and had problems with the low ceilings. He had the floor of the shower of the Presidential Stateroom lowered 6 inches so he could stand straight while taking a shower. He also had a bar installed in the space where Franklin Roosevelt's wheelchair elevator had been.
President Nixion spent his last hours as President aboard the Sequoia. President Carter said he would have no need of the Sequoia and it was sold at auction for $286,000.
Was the Sequoia the last Presidential Yacht ever?? As an old retired navy person, I hope not. There is something to be said for those who go down to the sea in ships. JFK loved the sea and the Honey Fitz with its 4 diesel engines and narrow beam was one of his favorite places. Perhaps some day we will again have a President who has a love for the sea.
Two mahogany Jet Boats were acquired in 1958. These boats were used by the Eisenhowers at Newport, Rhode Island and by the Kennedys at Hyannis Port, Mass.