President Ford Medford, Oregon, May 22, 1976
Wow our 3rd grade class from Jacksonville Elementary class sung "America the Beautiful" to him as he arrived, he shook my hand, I was right up front and in the newspaper. Amazing memory. My son now goes to Gerald Ford Elementary here in Indian Wells, CA and I and tell him and others about this experience so long ago. Aimee De La Cruz
When I arrived with one of my photography students with me, Tom Yungen, the crowd was so large we had a hard time seeing the President. Luckily Tom was little, so I hoisted him up on my shoulders, handed him the camera and he took this series of the President speaking. Thanks Tom.
When I arrived with one of my photography students with me, Tom Yungen, the crowd was so large we had a hard time seeing the President. Luckily Tom was little, so I hoisted him up on my shoulders, handed him the camera and he took this series of the President speaking. Thanks Tom. Others were doing it also.
Preparing for the President's departure.
President Ford is somewhere in the crowd.
President Ford waving at the crowd as he is leaving Libary Park, Medford, Oregon, May 22, 1976
President Ford waving at the crowd as he is leaving Medford, Oregon, May 22, 1976
President Ford waving at the crowd as he is leaving Medford, Oregon, May 22, 1976. He is waving directly at me!
President Ford leaving Medford, Oregon, May 22, 1976
President Ford leaving Medford, Oregon, May 22, 1976. He is in the car.
Great communicator came, saw and conquered Medford during 1984 visit. President Reagan was greeted by Huggy Bear (played by Barbara Grey), the Greater Medford Chamber of Commerce mascot, during a campaign visit to Medford on Oct. 22, 1984. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell
This 1984 photo was taken by the Mail Tribune's photo editor, Bob Pennell — who says he's pretty sure that must be a mistake, since he couldn't possibly be that old. The 2004 story, written by Paul Fattig, led off with this exchange between the president and 2nd District Congressman Bob Smith: "As Air Force One was about to touch down on the Tarmac at the Medford airport on Oct. 22, 1984, President Ronald Reagan turned to then 2nd District Congressman Bob Smith. " 'The president asked me, 'Bob, how many people live in Medford?' Smith recalled Saturday after learning of Reagan's death at age 93. I said, 'About 30,000, Mr. President.' Then he asked me how many were here to greet him and I said, 'About 30,000, Mr. President.' " Twenty-eight years later, we're glad that at least we remembered the hug. *MT Feb 2, 2012
February 02, 2012 A Since You Asked column published on Jan. 23 focused on the former Medford mascot, Huggy Bear, and included a question about whether Huggy actually had hugged President Ronald Reagan on a visit here. A Visitors and Convention Bureau manager said she didn't know whether that had happened. Turns out it did, indeed, and we have proof of it, from a photo published in this very newspaper. Thanks to former county commissioner and talk show host (and videographer) Jeff Golden, who dropped us a line to tell us: "Actually, not only did Huggy Bear definitely hug Ronald Reagan, but you have a picture of it: (www.mailtribune.com/huggingreagan).
A protester is arrested by Mobile Response Team officers in Jacksonville after he refused to move back from the street. Mail Tribune / Andrew Marima
Protesters clash with cops By SANNE SPECHT and JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Police in riot gear fired pepper balls at protesters in Jacksonville Thursday after they refused to clear the street upon President Bush’s arrival to spend the night. October 15, 2004 Two people were arrested for disorderly conduct during the confrontation at 8 p.m. between protesters and police on California Street not far from where Bush and wife Laura were staying.
The skirmish followed peaceful protests earlier in the day both in Jacksonville and near the Jackson County Expo, where the Bushes held a rally at about 6 p.m. Rogue Valley residents David Qotsaisaw, 30, and Michael Steveros, 38, said they were each shot with some sort of irritant fired by police. Both said they were not protesting, but just trying to help a fallen member of the crowd. "Someone got pushed down and we tried to help him up," said Qotsaisaw. "He wasn’t able to get to his feet. We tried to help and the (police officer) from behind the line started shooting."
Candace Lucas of Jacksonville said she had come downtown to eat dinner and didn’t know the protests were taking place. "I think it’s cool," said Lucas. "This is democracy in action." But at around 8 p.m., police decided to move the crowd east of the Third and California Street intersection. Those standing on the west side of the intersection were not moved. As police moved forward, those who resisted or were unable to move quickly enough down the crowded sidewalks toward Fifth Street were shoved by officers in full riot gear. City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen said he does not have an official explanation as to why that section of the street was cleared. "I was told they arrested two people for failure to disperse," he said. "Up to that point, everyone had expressed good behavior." Thaddeus R. Hust was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Bail was set at $7,000. Quin Robert Barker was arrested for disorderly conduct. Bail was set at $3,000.
October 9, 2004 Bush will stay overnight in Jacksonville By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune President George Bush will stay overnight in Jacksonville Thursday after holding an afternoon rally at the Jackson County Expo to boost his chances of winning in this battleground state. "I’m blown away he’s going to stay here," said Bryan Platt, chairman of the Jackson County Republican Central Committee. The president’s visit comes a day after his final debate with Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry on Wednesday, and follows local rallies by Kerry in August and Vice President Dick Cheney in July.
Schmitt said the exact location where Bush will be staying for the night has not been revealed for security reasons.
Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe said the president’s visit taxed his department of four full-time officers, who helped in the security effort. The number of protesters, in particular, was difficult, he said. "It got a little crazy last night," Towe said Friday. He expressed relief that the president’s visit was over and life was returning to normal in Jacksonville. "We’re glad he got to come," he said. "But we’re glad we’re done."
After a two-hour wait in the chilly morning, Moeller said, "That was worth it." His wife, Carol Moeller, held a sign that said, "God bless president and Mrs. Bush." While she appreciated the president’s visit, she said, "I was totally disappointed with the way the protesters ruined last night." Her husband said the president’s visit will be a boost for Jacksonville, particularly the Jacksonville Inn. "Now they can have a plaque that says George Bush slept here," he said. Still, residents in tiny Jacksonville were a little overwhelmed by all the secret police, helicopter units and other law enforcement teams combing the town for the last week. Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe said the president’s visit taxed his department of four full-time officers, who helped in the security effort.
Jacksonville Inn owner Jerry Evans stands in the cottage where President Bush and wife Laura stayed Thursday night. The president ate cold cereal for breakfast and read several newspapers before heading to the Medford airport for his next campaign stop. Jacksonville Police Chief David Towe said the president’s visit taxed his department of four full-time officers, who helped in the security effort. The number of protesters, in particular, was difficult, he said. "It got a little crazy last night," Towe said Friday. He expressed relief that the president’s visit was over and life was returning to normal in Jacksonville. "We’re glad he got to come," he said. "But we’re glad we’re done."
October 16, 2004 Bushes leave a lasting imprint Jacksonville recovers from a historic night By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune The coffee pot was still hot Wednesday morning in the Latourette Cottage when Jacksonville Inn owner Jerry Evans took a look at where President George Bush and his wife had just spent the night. "They were the most pleasant, accommodating, polite people," he said. Evans agreed to let a couple of nosy journalists have a peek at the cottage minutes after the president and first lady had left.
Napkins with the presidential seal sat on the counter, the shower area was still steamy and the table hadn’t yet been cleared. The president had eaten a bowl of Post Honey Bunches of Oats and the first lady had ordered a hot breakfast with eggs. With the notoriety surrounding the Bushes’ stay, Evans contemplated changing the name of the cottage. "I may call it the presidential cottage after this," he said. The president and his wife were charged the full $375 fare for the cottage, and Evans said he charged several thousand dollars to house President Bush’s entourage.
Evans said the advance team had special requests for the inn. Agents even felt the tile floor in the shower area. "They wanted rubber mats so the president doesn’t slip and fall," he said. The president brought his own coffee, but requested two coffee pots in his room. "He gets up at 5:30, reading five or six newspapers," Evans said, pointing to a stack of newspapers sitting on the coffee table. The Bushes had dinner Thursday night in the patio area behind the Jacksonville Inn, with Bush ordering the portabello mushroom filet and his wife the salmon. When protesters outside the inn became noisy, Evans said, the president offered to leave to avoid any more disruptions to the guests.
Evans said he told the president he would try to persuade the protesters to calm down, although he was unsuccessful. A confrontation between protesters and law enforcement agencies at about 8 p.m. resulted in two arrests. "(Bush) still managed to finish his dinner," Evans said. The last time a sitting president stayed in Jacksonville was in 1880, when Rutherford B. Hayes spent the night at the U.S. Hotel. However, George W. Bush’s father stayed at the inn when he was vice president, Evans said. Early Friday morning, about 100 people lined the streets of Jacksonville to say goodbye to the president and first lady. Jacksonville resident Tom Moeller got a brief glimpse of Laura Bush, who was waving behind the bullet-proof glass of the Bushes’ limousine. After a two-hour wait in the chilly morning, Moeller said, "That was worth it."
