Governor Albert D. Rosellini at podium. The governor, along with federal, county, city and university officials, was on hand to welcome President John F. Kennedy to Tacoma on September 27, 1963. The President had applauded vigorously upon Governor Rosellini's introduction by Dr. Robert Mortvedt (in mortarboard) of Pacific Lutheran University. Governor Rosellini indicated that he was proud to issue a heartful welcome from the people of Washington State and he looked forward to working with the President on conservation issues and the development of outdoor recreation facilities in this state. Visible behind Governor Rosellini are: (left to right) Congressman Thor Tollefson, US Senator Warren G. Magnuson, Dr. R. Franklin Thompson, President Kennedy, Dr. Robert Mortvedt, US Senator Henry M. Jackson, unidentified man, and Mayor Harold Tollefson. (TNT 9-27-63, A-1,2-articles)

Rosellini, Albert D.; Governors; Public speaking--Tacoma--1960-1970; Kennedy, John Fitzgerald, 1917-1963; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1960-1970; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Jackson, Henry M., 1912-1983; Mortvedt, Robert;

Prince Bertil of Sweden admires the extensive selection of Swedish dishes at the Viking Smorgasbord, 9702 South Tacoma Way in Lakewood, on May 14, 1958. The menu included silsalat (herring salad), koldomar (meat wrapped in cabbage leaf), lax (smoke & salted salmon flakes), inlagt sil (herring) and Swedish meatballs. With the Prince is believed to be the restaurant's owner, Majalisa Benson, originally from Sweden. He devoured the food in a flat seven minutes, remarking "My only regret is that the plates are not large enough." The Prince had arrived days before in the U.S. with his primary purpose to participate in ceremonies honoring the 100th anniversary of Minnesota's admission to the Union and the infusion of Scandinavian settlers. (TNT 5-15-58, A-1-article)

Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland; Foreign visitors--Sweden; Viking Smorgasbord (Lakewood); Buffets (Cookery)--Lakewood;

Dinner held at the Tacoma Hotel on September 7, 1907, in honor of William H. Taft during his visit to Tacoma while he was Secretary of War. 300 prominent members of the Chamber of Commerce and local businessmen accorded Secretary Taft a rousing welcome. Those included Everett G. Griggs, S.A. Perkins, Francis W. Cushman, T.J. Handforth, George F. Wright, Alexander Baillie, Thomas Carstens and Dave Gross among hundreds. This was the second address of the day for Secretary Taft who had arrived in Tacoma after inspection of the maneuver grounds at American Lake. He had praised the site as ideal for a military post with the only drawback being the cost of some of the privately held property. Secretary Taft spoke to a teeming crowd of some 12,000 Tacoma citizens at Wright Park at 5 p.m. that evening prior to the banquet. They had gathered to hear the potential successor to Teddy Roosevelt. Showing that he was held in high esteem by not only the well-to-do but the average working man, an impromptu escort of about 500 men just finished with their daily endeavors marched along the automobile carrying William Taft and his party to Wright Park. 2/3rds of them bore lunch pails and working garb. (TDL 9-7-1907, p. 1-article; Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 9-8-1907, p. 1, 23-article)

Banquets--Tacoma--1900-1910; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Taft, William H.; Government officials--United States;

A large crowd of about 700, representing voters of all ages, await the arrival of presidential candidate George McGovern at Sea-Tac Airport in September of 1972. Placards showing support from Retail Clerks, Thurston (County) and approval of Senator McGovern's North Vietnam bombing oppositional stance, are held high. The News Tribune reported that the majority of the crowd was in the 20-year age bracket. Mixed among the pro-McGovern greeters were some Nixon supporters of the same age range; they also carried signs like the "Nixon Now" shown above. The candidate's plane was delayed due to weather conditions in Billings, Montana, his take-off point. (TNT 9-25-72, p. 1-article)

Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Signs (Notices);

Under a sea of umbrellas, hundreds of Tacomans await the arrival of President Benjamin Harrison on May 6, 1891, his second visit to Tacoma. A few intrepid souls have climbed and are clinging to tall poles in order to get a better view of the celebratory parade. Military and civic organizations would march up C St. and through residential Tacoma, Yakima and Division Avenues before marching back to 9th & C where a public reception was held for the President. The Gross Bros. Store, a major retail firm located at 9th & Broadway, is pictured above decorated in yards of cheerful bunting. It was just one of the many businesses spruced up for the short presidential visit.

Celebrations--Tacoma--1890-1900; Visits of state--Tacoma--1890-1900; Gross Bros. Store (Tacoma);

President Jimmy Carter greets a crowd of several hundred persons on September 23, 1980, as he prepares to exit Air Force One at McChord Air Force Base. The President was on a two-day, four-state campaign swing which included a brief, activity-packed three-hour stay in Tacoma. President Carter was the ninth president to visit Tacoma while holding the nation's top office. The last president to visit was John F. Kennedy almost seventeen years before. (TNT 9-21-80, A-12-article; TNT 9-23-80, A-1-article)

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Presidential aircraft;

Judith Parker, wife of Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker, extends a cordial welcome to President Jimmy Carter upon his arrival at McChord AFB on September 23, 1980. Mayor Parker smilingly observes. Man with arms behind his back is believed to be Lt. Gov. John Cherberg. The President had arrived from Portland on Air Force One for a very short campaign stop of three hours. He would squeeze in brief stops at the Continental Grain Co.'s exporting facility, his local campaign headquarters, the Beacon Senior Citizen Center, and a $1000-a-couple Democratic National Committee fundraiser. (TNT 9-23-80, A-1-article)

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Parker, Judith;

Jimmy Carter arrived in Tacoma on September 23, 1980, on a brief hours-long visit. President Carter was running for re-election and Washington was a state that he did not carry during his successful '76 campaign. He made appearances before senior citizens, blue-collar employees, campaign workers, and Democratic well-wishers. President Carter is pictured above speaking to an unidentified man; this may have been at the Bicentennial Pavilion where a reception was held in his honor.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

President Jimmy Carter had just arrived in Tacoma at 4:05 p.m. on September 23, 1980, for a brief three-hour campaign visit. He was met at McChord AFB by some 50 Democratic candidates as well as a multitude of press. President Carter is pictured above (under arrow) with Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker looking on. Marvin Williams of the Washington State Labor Council is at far left of photograph.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Williams, Marvin;

A smiling President Jimmy Carter descends from the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, on September 23, 1980. He was making a brief stop in Tacoma as part of his re-election campaign and also to stump for other Democratic candidates including Senator Warren Magnuson and State Senator Jim McDermott who had defeated incumbent Dixy Lee Ray in the primaries. Military officers flank the plane's stairs while the man on the extreme right, a Secret Service agent, keeps his eye on the gathering crowd.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Presidential aircraft; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

President Jimmy Carter is pictured at the microphone on September 23, 1980, with Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker in the background. The President was in town for a few hours to rally the Democratic faithful in his re-election bid. He had made stops at a senior citizen center, met the blue-collar workers at a grain terminal, shook many hands at his local campaign center and worked the crowd at a fundraiser held at the Bicentennial Pavilion.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Public speaking--Tacoma--1980-1990; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael;

George McGovern supporters extended their hands in hopes of a personal handshake from the Democratic presidential candidate in September of 1972. The surging crowd of supporters and general onlookers represented a wide range of humanity, both young and old. All were eager to get as close as possible to the South Dakota senator who reached through a protective wall of Secret Servicemen and police to shake as many hands as possible. Senator McGovern had traveled from Billings, Montana, via plane to make a quick stop in Tacoma to solicit labor's help in his presidential campaign. He addressed a large gathering at the new Labor Center at 950 Fawcett Ave. Tacoma Police Department SWAT team members, armed with rifles, provided additional security for the presidential candidate. (TNT 9-26-72, p. 1-articles)

McGovern, George S.; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Crowds--Tacoma--1970-1980;

George McGovern speaks before a gathering of the Pierce County Labor Council during his 1972 presidential campaign. Although the new Labor Center had only a 400-person capacity, arrangements were made to broadcast his speech to those waiting outside the facility. TPL-5451 (TNT 9-25-72, p. 1-article)

McGovern, George S.; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Signs (Notices); Public speaking--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Close-up of arch built on the occasion of President Benjamin Harrison's visit to Tacoma in May of 1891. For extended view, see TPL-2263. This particular arch, near South 13th Street looking north, was one of four spanning Pacific Avenue. The arch was built of coal mined from Roslyn; signs placed nearby indicated that there were 150 coke ovens with more coming and annual output of coal was nearly 2 million tons. TPL-5447

Arches--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900; Visits of state--Tacoma--1890-1900;

Tacoma was celebrating the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad's Cascade Division on July 6, 1887, with city buildings decorated in yards of bunting. The massive structure in the foreground is the newly built Chamber of Commerce Building at South 12th & Pacific Ave. Construction would begin shortly on the new N.P. headquarters brick building to be located at 621 Pacific Ave.

Celebrations--Tacoma--1880-1890; Chamber of Commerce Building (Tacoma);

President Jimmy Carter proceeds down an informal reception line upon his arrival at McChord Air Force Base on September 23, 1980. He has just finished shaking the hand of Mayor Mike Parker and is about to shake the extended hand of the mayor's wife, Judith. Man to the extreme left of photograph is believed to be Democratic candidate for governor, Jim McDermott of Seattle. Man next to Mayor Parker is possibly Lt. Gov. John Cherberg who stood in for Gov. Dixy Lee Ray on this occasion.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Parker, Judith; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

President Jimmy Carter in conversation with an unidentified man during his brief visit to Tacoma in late September of 1980. President Carter spent three hours in Tacoma as part of a West Coast campaign swing. He was campaigning in Washington since it was a state that he did not carry during the 1976 presidential elections. He would make stops at his local campaign headquarters, a senior citizen center, Continental Grain to meet the blue-collar workers, and a $1000-a-couple Democratic fundraiser. (TNT 9-23-80, A-1-article)

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

President Jimmy Carter can be spotted amidst a swarm of photographers and journalists upon his arrival at McChord AFB on September 23, 1980. The President, center in photograph, was in Tacoma on a brief three-hour campaign stopover. He would squeeze in visits to the Continental Grain terminal, Beacon Senior Citizen Center, his own local campaign headquarters and finally, an appearance at a $1000-a-couple Democratic fundraiser at the Bicentennial Pavilion.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Press--Washington; Journalists--Tacoma--1980-1990;

Mayor Mike Parker (left) smilingly applauds President Jimmy Carter (center) as the President made a brief campaign stopover in Tacoma on September 23, 1980. The man to the right was not identified. President Carter, running for re-election, also campaigned for Senator Warren Magnuson and Democratic candidate for governor, State Senator Jim McDermott.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Hand clapping;

Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker listens as President Jimmy Carter speaks during his brief stay in Tacoma on September 23, 1980. The President was probably addressing the Democratic faithful at a $1000-a-couple fundraiser held at the Bicentennial Pavilion. He was in a tight battle with Republican candidate Ronald Reagan for the 1980 presidential elections and had made short visits to Los Angeles, San Jose and Portland before reaching Tacoma.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Public speaking--Tacoma--1980-1990; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael;

Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker (left in background) shares an appreciative grin with an unidentified man during President Jimmy Carter's remarks on September 23, 1980. The President was in town for a brief stopover as he campaigned for re-election.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Public speaking--Tacoma--1980-1990; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael;

Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker (left) shakes the hand of President Jimmy Carter after Mr. Carter's speech on September 23, 1980. The President had arrived at McChord AFB at 4:05 pm and was whisked away by limousine to various stops in Tacoma. Mayor Parker rode with President Carter and was able to brief him on what would occur at each stop. The above photograph was probably taken at the Bicentennial Pavilion during the President's last stop of the day, a Democratic fundraiser where 125 people enjoyed chicken legs, raw vegetables, and deviled eggs for a $500-a-person contribution. (TNT 9-24-80, p. A-6 article)

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Public speaking--Tacoma--1980-1990; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Presidential candidate George McGovern greets a smiling, enthusiastic crowd of supporters during his September, 1972, visit to Tacoma. The Democratic senator from South Dakota is pictured above shaking the hands of some elderly well-wishers.

McGovern, George S.; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Crowds--Tacoma--1970-1980;

President Jimmy Carter in handshake with Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker (left) upon his arrival on September 23, 1980, at McChord Air Force Base. Next to Mayor Parker is his wife, Judith. Others in photograph are not identified.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Parker, Judith; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Mayor Mike Parker responds with a large smile at a comment from President Jimmy Carter as the President accepts the Key to the City of Tacoma on September 23, 1980. The President had just landed at McChord Field on Air Force One. The mayor's wife, Judith, and others look on.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Parker, Judith; Plaques;

Mayor Mike Parker, wife Judith, and an unidentified woman after meeting and greeting President Jimmy Carter on September 23, 1980. The President had arrived on Air Force One about 4:00 pm and would remain in Tacoma until about 7:00 pm. Mayor Parker had gifted the President with a Key to the City of Tacoma and was selected to ride in the armored limousine motorcade with him as it headed towards the waterfront. He was able to brief the President about what to expect at each stop. (TNT 9-24-80, A-6-article)

Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Parker, Judith; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

A crowd of newsmen, politicians and general well-wishers await the appearance of President Jimmy Carter as the Air Force One arrives at McChord Air Force Base on September 23, 1980. President Carter was making a brief three-hour stop in Tacoma as part of a two-day, four-state campaign swing. It had been nearly seventeen years since a sitting president visited Tacoma - that was President John F. Kennedy on September 27, 1963, just two months before his assassination. (TNT 9-21-80, A-12-article; TNT 9-23-80, A-1-article)

Presidential aircraft; Crowds--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;

President Jimmy Carter (back to camera) is pictured on September 23, 1980, shaking hands with Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker while his wife Judith and an unidentified woman look on. The President had just arrived at McChord AFB on Air Force One and would be spending three hours in Tacoma on a brief campaign swing of the area.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Parker, Judith; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Another view of President Jimmy Carter in profile. This photograph was probably taken at the conclusion of the President's September 23, 1980, stay in Tacoma while at the Democratic fundraiser at the Bicentennial Pavilion. Running on a tight schedule, President Carter had arrived at 4:05 pm at McChord AFB and was to leave at about 7 pm the same day. He was on a whirlwind two-day, four-state campaign swing.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections;