White House Ornament 2019 - IKE

On July 12, 1957, Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first president in office to employ a helicopter in his transportation service. This event marked a significant development for both the White House and the helicopter industry. In the short term, the helicopter became a key feature of presidential safety in the event of nuclear war. At the same time, Eisenhower’s occasionally contentious decision to utilize helicopters for personal transport signaled an evolving conception of the role of travel in the presidency. His administration embraced a new model for jet-setting diplomacy that relied upon fast and flexible transport in the face of Cold War realities. For the nascent helicopter industry, this development showed to the world that rotary wing technology had become safe and reliable.


Your purchase supports the education and exhibit programs of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum.