Official flag from the USS Sequoia presidential yacht featuring Seal of the President of the United States, measuring 17.5 x 11.5, depicting the traditional bald eagle with a patriotic shield on its chest, clutching an olive branch and bundle of arrows in its talons, with the motto “E Pluribus Unum” printed in black lettering on a banner clenched in its beak, encircled by 50 stars representing each state. The flag’s body is a deep navy blue canvas and the hoist end is a reinforced off-white canvas with brass grommets in both corners. Handsomely mounted and matted above a small engraved plaque reading, “Presented by President Richard Nixon,” to an overall size of 24 x 19. Includes a letter of provenance from Amyx, in part: “This beautiful flag depicting the Presidential Seal…is from the Presidential Yacht, the Sequoia. The Sequoia is a 105 foot craft used officially by President Hoover, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford. John Fitzgerald Kennedy celebrated his final birthday aboard the Sequoia. In 1978, President Carter, against much criticism, sold the Sequoia because he felt the annual maintenance of nearly one million dollars was excessive. The winning bid was $286,000. The winning bidder, Thomas Malloy, stated he was, ‘accepting the craft in protest’ because the government had removed official items from the yacht [this flag perhaps being one of the items Mr. Malloy was referring to]. As a result, Mr. Malloy sold it shortly thereafter to a Mr. Pulliam who went on to buy back or borrow virtually all missing items. This flag is one of the missing items.” Also accompanied by an official color satin-finish 10 x 8 White House photo of the Sequoia and a booklet from the Nixon administration entitled ‘The President Greets Young Americans,’ which answers the question “Is it possible to obtain a Presidential Flag?” with the following, in part: “By custom and tradition, this flag belongs to the President and is displayed only on occasions when the President personally participates. Therefore, it is not possible for anyone to obtain one of these flags.” A profound piece of American history deserving the attention of a discriminating collector or institution.
