Driving Mr. Gardiner

The January 27, 1953 Washington Post article "Nixon Gives His Chauffeur Real Thrill - Drives Him Home," documented the event.  Two days earlier Mrs. Nixon had placed a call on Sunday morning to Paul F. Gardiner, a chauffeur with the Airport Transport Limousine Service.  Since 1941 Gardiner had been assigned to drive celebrities who had flown into Washington National Airport, which had opened that same year.

The Packard Motor Car Co. had contracted with Airport Transport for the services of a driver to take Nixon around Washington during the inaugural events in a new Packard.  Nixon was to have use of the car for a month (can you say "product placement?"), but it was returned to the company shortly after the inauguration.

Mrs. Nixon, calling from their D.C. home at 4801 Tilden Street, NW, asked Gardiner, living at 10710 Amherst Avenue in the Glenview section of Silver Spring, to "bring the Nixon car into town."  The Post article did not indicate what make/model this vehicle was, but perhaps it is safe to assume that it was a more "democratic" conveyance than the luxury vehicles that Packard was known for manufacturing.

Once Gardiner arrived at the Vice President's home, Nixon insisted on driving him the eight and a half miles back to his house.  "So I got in the back seat," Gardiner explained, "and he took me all the way out to Silver Spring."

The vision of a sitting Vice President of the United States, and especially of Richard M. Nixon, driving alone through downtown Silver Spring is quite amazing.  Where did Nixon go after he dropped Gardiner off at his house?  Why did he want to be alone?  These are questions of profound historical importance considering who they are being asked about.

One thing that hasn't changed during the ensuing fourteen presidential inaugurations is the desire to make a buck, or at least a lot more of them.  Local Silver Spring merchants offered a variety of products to make the inauguration of General Dwight D. Eisenhower as President of the United States a pleasurable and fashionable experience.

Chas. Schwartz & Son, a Washington, DC jewelry store established in 1888, offered at its 900 Ellsworth Drive location $5.95 binoculars to view the parade ($47.34 in 2009 dollars).  Next door at 902 Ellsworth Drive, Joseph R. Harris Ladies Apparel offered a "dazzling variety" of inaugural gowns for junior, misses and women, priced $25 to $49.95 ($198.90 to $397.40 in 2009 dollars).  Gentlemen could buy "Full Dress" patent leather formal shoes for $17.95 ($142.81 in 2009 dollars) at William Hahn & Co., 8601 Georgia Avenue.

And for those who were going to avoid the crowds and just stay at home and watch the swearing-in and parade on their black & white televisions, they had the option of hosting an "Ike Party."  Gifford's Ice Cream Co. at 8103 Georgia Avenue advertised ice cream novelties shaped like Uncle Sam and "decorettes" featuring the GOP elephant.

While Richard M. Nixon's post-1953 life is well documented, very little can be said about Paul F. Gardiner.  Less than two weeks after his brush with fame, the Post's Bill Gold reported in his "District Line" column of February 7th that Gardiner received a gold watch and gold pin from Airport Transport "in recognition of 12 consecutive years of safe driving."  I suspect the real reason for the award was the recognition that the Washington Post article brought to the company.

Very little additional information on Gardiner (1907-1988), a native of Rockville, could be gleaned.  His wife's name was Mildred L. Gardiner (1906-1986) and they had one daughter, Constance A. Gardiner (1927-?).  If anyone has additional information about the Gardiners, please phone me at (301) 537-1253, write PO Box 1160, Silver Spring, MD 20910-1160, or email sshistory@yahoo.com.

 The Silver Spring Historical Society's web site is www.sshistory.org.  Only with your help can the history of Silver Spring be preserved.