Another in a regular series of fascinating, intriguing, or thoughtful tales about people and places in Nado history — presented by your Coronado Historical Association
Coronado was a favorite of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt beginning with visits in 1914 and 1915 when he was the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Then, he was evaluating potential sites for naval bases but, as his presidency progressed, visits soon assumed a combination of inspections, influence-building, and vacation.
Roosevelt’s trips were always dazzling, interesting and popular. City officials of both San Diego and Coronado constantly regaled the president while FDR enjoyed colorful interactions with the public.
During the war, the family of FDR’s son John (a Navy Supply Corps lieutenant aboard aircraft carrier Hornet) lived in a home on A Avenue. This drew FDR to the island for family reasons and, on at least one occasion, allowed the Roosevelt party to stay in a Coronado home, probably at 631 A Ave.
The visit remembered best in Coronado occurred during October 1935. FDR and his wife reserved a two-room suite on the northern corner of the Hotel del Coronado facing the beach and his 4-star presidential flag flew from the Del’s highest turret.
FDR drove to North Island to inspect rows of wingtip-to-wingtip Army and Navy aircraft and then continued down the entire length of Orange Avenue to the ferry landing. Thousands of well-wishers lined the president’s Coronado route as Secret Service officers jogged alongside his car. By all accounts it was a fine early-Fall day.
School children, free from their classrooms, waved small American flags and a smiling FDR waved back from his open car. Roosevelt then crossed the bay, crowded with anchored destroyers, while small boats and dinghies of the “Rainbow Fleet” escorted his ferry.
After several other events in San Diego, Roosevelt boarded his favorite flagship, cruiser Houston, at Broadway Pier and sailed offshore for an impressive naval review of 129 ships and over 400 aircraft. Finishing his high-powered day, it was said that FDR relaxed with a spot of fishing from Houston’s fantail, martini at the ready. (BL)
