President Jimmy Carter glances at his audience during a speech given while visiting Tacoma briefly on September 23, 1980. Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker (left in background) and an unidentified man shared the stage with the President. This photograph was probably taken at the Bicentennial Pavilion where about 125 Democratic faithful had gathered for a $1000-a-couple fundraiser.

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, Democratic candidate for president, addresses a large labor gathering in Tacoma while on the 1972 campaign trail. He spoke at the new Labor Center, 950 Fawcett Ave. Mr. McGovern, a senator from South Dakota, had chosen R. Sargent Shriver, brother-in-law of the late President John F. Kennedy, as his running mate. The McGovern-Shriver ticket would go down in a landslide defeat on November 7th to incumbent Richard Nixon and his vice-president, Spiro Agnew. (TNT 9-25-72, p. 1-article)

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

Three young men exuberantly demonstrate their support for the 1972 Democratic candidate for president, George S. McGovern, while they wait for his arrival in Washington. Senator McGovern had arrived on a delayed flight at Sea-Tac Airport on September 25, 1972, for a short visit to Tacoma. The patient crowd of 700, which included some Nixon supporters, did not seem dismayed at the wait. It is not known whether the above photograph was taken at the airport or in Tacoma where the senator would speak at the new Labor Center. Although Senator McGovern was enthusiastically greeted during his brief stop over, he did not carry the state in the November 7th election. (TNT 9-25-72, p. 1-article)

Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Signs (Notices);

President Jimmy Carter is pictured accepting the Key to the City of Tacoma from Mayor Mike Parker on September 23, 1980. The plaque containing the key also may have had the city's seal. Others, including the mayor's wife, 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;

Closer look at the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, on the tarmac at McChord Air Force Base. Tacoma was about to receive a rare treat: the appearance of a current president. Jimmy Carter was only the ninth president to visit Tacoma while holding the country's top office. He arrived on Tuesday, September 23, 1980, for a three-hour whirlwind tour. Newsmen and cameramen are ready to record the President; other cameras are apparently pointed toward the several hundreds of people amassed to greet him. Scheduled to meet the President were Lt. Gov. John Cherberg (in place of Gov. Dixy Lee Ray), Democratic candidate for Governor and current State Senator Jim McDermott, Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker and wife Judith, and several state senators including Lorraine Wojahn. (TNT 9-21-80, A-12-article; TNT 9-23-80, A-1-article)

Presidential aircraft; Press--Washington; Journalists--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990;

President Jimmy Carter is surrounded by newsmen and photographers during his brief stay in Tacoma. He arrived on September 23, 1980, at McChord AFB and packed in appearances at the Beacon Senior Citizen Center, Continental Grain's grain terminal, his own local campaign center on Pacific Ave. and a Democratic fundraiser at the Bicentennial Pavilion. Crowds were reported to be thick and enthusiastic and the President did a fair amount of handshaking. (TNT 9-24-80, A-1, A-17-articles)

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

Air Force One has arrived at McChord AFB on September 23, 1980, and military and civilian leaders are awaiting the appearance of President Jimmy Carter. Near the head of the informal reception line are Tacoma Mayor Mike Parker and wife Judith who are in conversation with two unidentified women. The President would only be in Tacoma for a brief three hours as he made several campaign visits.

Presidential aircraft; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Mayors--Tacoma--1980-1990; Parker, Michael; Parker, Judith;

President Jimmy Carter, much to the consternation of his Secret Service agents, has unexpectedly climbed onto the rooftop of his armored limousine as it stopped in downtown Tacoma. He turned and waved to the crowds lining Pacific Avenue for about 30 seconds before descending. Those stuck in the back of the 15-deep crowds were thus able to get a clear view of the President. President Carter then shook as many hands as possible outside the Carter-Mondale campaign office at 9th & Pacific. (TNT 9-24-08, p. A-3-article) TPL-1609

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

President Jimmy Carter in profile. President Carter was in Tacoma for a brief three-hour campaign tour on September 23, 1980. He was in the midst of a rugged re-election campaign with the elections looming in November. This photograph of the President may have been taken at the Democratic fundraiser held at the Bicentennial Pavilion at the conclusion of his stay.

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

President Jimmy Carter was only the ninth president to visit Tacoma while holding down the nation's top office. He paid a brief three-hour visit on September 23, 1980, while on a whirlwind tour of four West Coast states. The President was running for re-election in November and Washington was one of the states that he failed to carry in 1976. He would lose the 1980 election to Republican Ronald Reagan by a wide margin, and carry only five states. Washington was not one of them.

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

A smiling President Jimmy Carter on September 23, 1980, the date of his brief stopover in Tacoma. President Carter was on a whirlwind four-state tour as he campaigned not only for his own re-election but also for other Democratic incumbents and candidates. He was greeted heartily by his supporters upon his arrival on Air Force One at McChord AFB and also during his stops at Beacon Senior Citizen Center, Continental Grain terminal, the Carter-Mondale campaign office on Pacific Ave. and finally at the Bicentennial Pavilion for a Democratic Party fundraiser. The President squeezed in all these visits during a mere three hours in Tacoma.

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

View of President Carter, atop his armored limousine, waving to the throngs gathered at 9th & Pacific Avenue on September 23, 1980. He is facing north toward the (Old) City Hall. With Secret Service agents anxiously watching the crowds, the President unexpectedly decided to give his supporters a good view as many of them could not see beyond the 15-person-deep crowds. President Carter was in town for a mere three hours on a whirlwind campaign tour.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

The clock on the bell tower of Old City Hall said it was 5:20 when President Jimmy Carter waved to the crowds thronging 9th & Pacific Avenue on September 23, 1980. He stood on top of his armored limo, surrounded by Secret Service agents, to greet his many supporters. The President spent three hours in town making appearances at a senior citizens center, the Continental Grain terminal, his own local campaign office and finally at a fundraiser at the Bicentennial Pavilion.

Carter, Jimmy; Presidents--United States; Visits of state--Tacoma--1980-1990; Political campaigns; Presidential elections; Old City Hall (Tacoma);

An eager crowd awaits the arrival of Norway's King Olav in mid-October of 1975. Many are dressed in thick Norwegian sweaters and wave Norway's flag. Representative(s) of the Sons of Norway Olympia group hold aloft a welcoming sign. King Olav V was touring the United States that year to acknowledge the arrival of Norwegians in America. He had previously visited Washington State back in 1939.

Visits of state; Crowds; Signs (Notices); Women--Clothing & dress; Flags--Norway;

Jack Dempsey. Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jack Dempsey (center) in conversation with friends on July 25, 1930. Man to the right is believed to be Jack Calvert, manager of the Tacoma Hotel. Mr. Dempsey was in town to referee a match at the Greenwich Coliseum.

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports);

William Jennings Bryan visited Tacoma in Sept of 1924. This photograph was taken outside the Tacoma Hotel, 913 A St., where an invitation-only breakfast was held in his honor. The famed orator had been a Presidential candidate and Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State. Mr. Bryan was on a farewell lecture tour of the West and stopped in Tacoma to give an address at the First Methodist Church and a brief talk on local radio station KGB. He would pass away the following year on July 26th, at the age of 65. (TDL 9-16-24; TNT 9-15-24, p.1-article)

Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925;

Football star Harold "Red" Grange grins for the camera during a very brief visit to Tacoma in late January of 1926. Grange, a charter member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame, acquired the nickname of "The Galloping Ghost" for his running prowess while playing at the University of Illinois. While a productive member of the Chicago Bears, Grange would also appear in motion pictures, including 1926's "One Minute to Play" and the 12-part serial series "The Galloping Ghost" in 1931. (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Grange)

Grange, Harold; Football players;

Harold "Red" Grange shakes hands with an unidentified man in late January of 1926 while on the rooftop of the Winthrop Hotel. Mr. Grange is on the right. By 1926, he had graduated from the University of Illinois where he was an outstanding football player and was playing pro ball. He was in Tacoma very briefly on Friday, January 29th, to help publicize his Chicago Bears Sunday game against the Washington All-Stars in Seattle. A smallish crowd of about 5000 would see the Bears demolish the All-Stars 34-0. Later that year would come the release of a silent film, "One Minute to Play," starring Mr. Grange. (TDL 1-29-26, p. 1-article; TNT 1-29-26, p. 18-article) (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Grange)

Grange, Harold; Football players; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

Jack Dempsey, former world heavyweight boxing champion, visited Tacoma in July of 1930 to referee the Morgan-Coffman bout at the downtown Greenwich Colliseum. He is pictured above with Jack Calvert, manager of the Tacoma Hotel; Mr. Calvert is on the left.

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Calvert, Jack;

ca. 1927. Lt. Cmdr. (later Rear Admiral) Richard E. Byrd with five other men circa winter of 1927. There are remnants of snow on the ground close to the Franklin automobile and Commander Byrd. He had visited Tacoma in early February of 1927 for a speaking engagement at the First Baptist Church. (photograph has small tear at top)

Byrd, Richard E., 1888-1957; Explorers; Guests--Tacoma--1920-1930; Franklin automobile;

Crown Princess Martha of Norway on the campus of Pacific Lutheran College in May of 1939. She and her husband, the future Olav V, made a brief visit to the Tacoma area to the delight of the large Scandinavian population. Her escort in the above photograph was not identified. The Tacoma Times noted that public school children lined the streets of Parkland with flowers in their hands and sang the first stanza of the Norwegian national anthem. (T.Times, 5-24-39, p. 1, 24-article)

Martha, Crown Princess of Norway; Foreign visitors--Norway; Visits of state--Tacoma--1930-1940;

Former heavyweight champion of the world, Jack Dempsey (second from right) shakes hands with Tacoma mayor Melvin G. Tennent in July of 1930. On the extreme right of photograph is believed to be Jack Calvert, manager of the Tacoma Hotel; man on extreme left is unidentified. Mr. Dempsey was in Tacoma to referee a boxing match held downtown at the Greenwich Coliseum.

Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983; Boxers (Sports); Mayors--Tacoma--1930-1940; Tennent, Melvin Green; Shaking hands--Tacoma;

ca. 1964. Informal portrait of unidentified Asian man with prayer beads (Buddhist rosary) circa 1964.

Prayer; Beads;