Reading Corner | Chief steward from Brunswick County gives insight into working aboard Air Force One

Face-to-face with the President of the United States can be intimidating, but Howie Franklin of Oak Island, N.C. understood the protocol. He literally served five presidents──Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Clinton──as a steward aboard Air Force One from 1976-1994.

Now the director of Cape Fear Regional Jetport at Howie Franklin Field in Brunswick County, N.C., Franklin with writer Mark Grady recounts some of his experiences in Yes Sir! Mr. President.

He begins with his background growing up on Long Island, N.Y. and tells how he worked at Talisman Yacht Club at Fire Island on Long Island where celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, Carol Channing and the “camping” Coleman family vacationed. He served meals to the rich and famous and worked under world-class chefs.

“I learned some important people lessons by being around the famous movie stars and politicians that invaded our island in the summer,” he writes. “I discovered they were real people.” This lesson was pivotal in his ability to serve some of the most important people in the world.

The military draft still existed in 1965, and Franklin got his notice. He jump started the process by joining the Air Force “because you don’t carry guns or get shot at,” he writes. He requested food services since he understood that profession, and was given what he wanted, almost. He landed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City, S.D., feeding 2,000 people and doing K.P. duty. He accepted the opportunity to go to Guam but once there, was disappointed. Feeding flight crews on B-52 bombers that went to Vietnam, made him more aware of the war, but he tried to be positive and be jovial with the rest of the crew.

His personality attracted the attention of a flight crew who said they wanted to train him to be a flight attendant. On his introductory mission he learned the advantages and decided that was the job for him, even though he would have to add eight months to his stint in the Air Force.

This book is not an exposé about the people Franklin served. He relates his duties buying food, preparing meals and adjusting to the hectic schedule of Air Force One. He relates people’s habits and some poignant scenarios he witnessed, interactions he experienced and impressions he formed. He tells of the Fords being “homespun Michigan folks who were a pleasure to work for,” and the Carter administration as matter of fact.

He saw how much the Reagan’s loved each other, how the Bush family enjoyed each other’s company, and how the Clintons had a mutual love and respect for each other.

He does reveal a few situations that caused discomfort, such as communicating with Carter’s press secretary, Jody Powell, who didn’t hide his dislike of the Air Force One crew. Members of the press could be arrogant and overbearing, but Franklin praises Tom Brokaw, Ed Bradley and Ted Koppel.

The book includes some anecdotes about the presidents, such as Clinton’s sadness when his mother died, Bush’s dislike of broccoli, Reagan’s storytelling, Clinton’s interest in listening to rock and roll music, but too often Franklin leaves out details. He says he worked with award-winning chefs at Talisman Yacht Club but doesn’t give any names. He mentions a general with an impressive family history being on one flight, but he doesn’t give the general’s name. He labels several people as class acts, but doesn’t explain how.

This could be considered Franklin’s memoirs because he tells of his dreams as a young man, his reason for joining the Air Force and his various assignments and duties, which led to his being assigned to Air Force One. The book is worth reading because it gives insight into what most Americans never experience.

Jo Ann Mathews, jamathews124@gmail.com.

This story was originally published January 17, 2016 at 12:03 AM with the headline "Reading Corner | Chief steward from Brunswick County gives insight into working aboard Air Force One."