Caroline JFK Campaign Aircraft
Scope and Contents
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.
Dates
- 1959 - 1967
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Conditions Governing Use
Some copyright may be reserved. Consult with the library director for more information.
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.
Extent
0.69 Cubic Feet (Two 12”x5”x10” boxes)
Language of Materials
English
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.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The materials in this collection were donated to the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
General
The collection had been separated into multiple parts, but has now been combined into one collection.
- Title
- Descriptive Finding Guide for Caroline JFK Campaign Aircraft
- Author
- Karen Garcia Raines
- Date
- June 12, 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the San Diego Air and Space Museum Library and Archives Repository
2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park
San Diego 92101 USA US
(619) 234-8291
(619) 233-4525 (Fax)