By: Bill Drennan - Ronald Reagan: An Essay on the Legacy of an American Icon

United States Air Force Military Aide to President Reagan

In 1983 I was a major serving in the White House as President Reagan’s first Air Force Aide. I was the “duty aide’ with the President at Rancho del Cielo, his retreat in the mountains above Santa Barbara, when Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip arrived to visit the President and First Lady on March 1st.

The plan was for the President and First Lady to welcome the royal couple at a dockside ceremony upon the arrival of HMY Britannia.? They would then board Marine presidential helicopters for the quick flight to the ranch.

But the weather that day was terrible. Rather than sailing through rough seas from Los Angeles, the Queen and the Prince instead flew into the Santa Barbara airport. Unlike the airport, however, the ranch itself was completely socked in, grounding the helicopters. So the Reagans, the Secret Service, the President’ doctor, and I rode in four-wheel drive vehicles down the winding, partially washed-out mountain road to the city. The arrival ceremony was moved to an airport hangar to keep the principals dry, where the photo above was snapped.

Afterward, the royal couple in tow, we drove back up the mountain to the ranch. There were a few modest homes on the side of the road occupied by homeowners who were more than happy to periodically endure a few days of isolation during heavy downpours in exchange for a spectacular view of Santa Barbara and the Pacific Ocean when the weather was clear.?

Hearing on the news that the royal party would be driving up the mountain to the ranch, one hearty soul had put a large, hand-lettered banner on his fence with the greeting “Welcome Liz and Phil!”

Cheeky colonial! The agent driving the Queen’s SUV told me she laughed when she saw it.