Written by Chris Binkert
During the Revolutionary War, legend has it that George Washington climbed to the top of Torne mountain in New York in order to observe British naval activity on the Hudson River. While attempting to estimate the arrival times of ships he took out his pocket watch and accidently dropped it into a crevice in the rock and was unable to retrieve it.
The watch had been a gold covered gift from the Freemasons and was a treasured item.
This presidential watch story got me thinking about how the presidents kept time, and how such a mundane concept evolved over the centuries.
Early Presidents
Don’t worry, Washington later replaced his lost watch with a French 1788 Jean-Antoine Lepine pocket watch.
Thomas Jefferson, having served as Minister to France, used a French-made Vaucher pocket watch. At home, Jefferson invented a unique seven-day gravity powered clock called The Great Clock at Monticello. Driven by fourteen 18-pound cannon balls, the clock tracks the day and time with a two sided dial. The clock still works and is wound every Sunday.
19th and early 20th century Presidents
The Presidents of the 19th and early 20th century primarily used sturdy old clocks to know the time of day. The White House has many mantle and grandfather clocks. One of the grandfather clocks, a 1795 Seymour, is in the Oval Office today, placed there by Gerald Ford in 1975.
Modern Day Presidents
In modern times the president is surrounded by aides and secretaries that keep them on schedule. But the president still wears a watch. In fact, the image and symbolism surrounding the president’s choice of a wristwatch can telegraph intention without saying a word.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to wear a wristwatch, a Movado 14 carat gold Triple Calendar. It was a gift from Tiffany & Co. and was inscribed “Franklin Delano Roosevelt with Loyalty, Respect and Affection January 30, 1945″.
Harry Truman
Truman was gifted a Flying Officer watch by his Senate staff before he became president. It was the first of its kind to tell time around the world. Once president, Truman began wearing a $25,000 Universal Geneve Tri-Complex. Known for its precision, the watch displayed a calendar and moon phase as well. He wore it to his first big meeting at Potsdam with Churchill and Stalin, striving to send a message that he’d arrived and should be respected.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Ike was the first president to wear a Rolex Datejust, a gift from Rolex engraved with 5 stars (his military rank) and his initials. Today, Ike’s Rolex is valued at $1 million.
John F. Kennedy
Before his election to the presidency, he was gifted an Omega Ultrathin, engraved ‘President of the United States, John F. Kennedy’. He wore it to his inauguration in 1961. That watch was later purchased by Omega for $350,000 to keep in its collection.
Lyndon B. Johnson
LBJ wore a Rolex Day-Date as President. He treated it like it was a badge of the office itself, wearing it constantly. He gave them away to allies and foreign leaders as well. Later, out of office, he wore an 18 carat gold Patek Philipe. Inscribed on the dial was this saying: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Richard Nixon
Nixon wore a Vulcain Cricket alarm watch while president. Memorably, he was gifted a solid gold Omega Speedmaster in 1969, engraved with his name and reference to the first Man on the Moon. Valued at over $100,000, he declined the gift due to Federal Gift Rules.
Gerald Ford
To emphasize the need for cost savings, Ford wore an inexpensive Pulsar LED digital watch. He later wore a Rolex Day-Date “President” watch, and in retirement was gifted a Vulcain Cricket.
Jimmy Carter
In keeping with his desired ‘man of the people’ image, Carter wore a Casio Forester, usually with the face on the inside of his wrist.
Ronald Reagan
Reagan also wore his watch on the inside of his wrist, but his was a Rolex Datejust. The Rolex projects quiet authority and confidence.
George H. W. Bush
To project a down to earth image, George Bush wore a Timex Indiglo, keeping his collection of upscale watches in the drawer. In his 1992 re-election debate Bush was famously caught checking his watch as a voter asked a question, suggesting Bush was eager to leave the scene.
Bill Clinton
As President, Clinton wore a chunky, inexpensive Timex Ironman Triathlon to work. He wanted to project authority with simple, digital functionality. Later, out of office, Clinton indulged in upscale brands like Panerai, Zenith, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and A. Lange & Sohne.
George W. Bush
Like his father, Bush wore a simple Timex Indiglo with an American flag placed at the ‘12’.
Barack Obama
Obama wore a Jorg Gray Chronograph, a gift from his Secret Service detail. Post presidency, he wore a white gold Rolex Cellini, a more subtle, understated luxury item.
Donald Trump
Trump has a collection of upscale watches. He has worn Patek Philippe Ellipse, Vacheron Constantin, and Rolex models to project taste and confidence.
Joe Biden
Also a watch collector, Biden wore a Rolex Datejust to his inauguration, a gift from First Lady Jill Biden. He has worn Omega Seamaster, Omega Speedmaster Professional, and a Seiko. Biden also was the first president to wear an Apple Watch.
It’s clear that modern politicians carefully calibrate their choice of wristwatch to coincide how they wish to be perceived by the voting public. Once out of office, they are free to indulge in expensive symbols of wealth and power to better match their station in life.
Interested in learning more about the presidents? Visit the Carolyn & James Millar Presidential Gallery on the upper level of the Booth Western Art Museum. The gallery features original letters and photographs of every U.S. president. Learn more at www.boothmuseum.org.
