By Alice Bennett • February 28, 2026 • Share
This was a calculated move during the height of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, intended to show the American public that the White House was serious about energy conservation.
By opting for a commercial flight over the fuel-heavy operation of Air Force One, Nixon sought to lead by example. He traveled with a minimal entourage, including his wife Pat and daughter Tricia, and even took time to walk the aisles and chat with stunned fellow passengers.
While the gesture was a public relations success, the logistical reality was far from “green.” For security and essential communication, a backup Air Force plane followed the commercial jet at a distance, and a heavy Secret Service presence was required to manage the flight’s safety.
Though often cited as a unique event, other presidents have used commercial or non-military transport in the past, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1943 Pan Am flight to the Casablanca Conference.
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