Martha’s Vineyard,
Presidential Vacation Spot
As Martha’s Vineyard anticipates the visit of President Obama and his family, now expected to take place in late August, MVOL takes a quick look at the long history of high-power and presidential visits to the Island.

President Ulysses  S. & Mrs. Grant  visited the Vineyard in August 1874 (what is it with August!) accepting the hospitality of Bishop Havens at his cottage in the Methodist Campgrounds (now referred to as the MV Campmeeting Assoc.). The Association’s Cottage Museum exhibit includes the rocking chair where President Ulysses S. Grant sat when he visited and walking tour guides include the Cottage in their itinerary.

Jackie O on Martha’s Vineyard
Up in Aquinnah, old-timers still remember seeing Jackie Onassis biking to and from her 366 acre compound at Red Gate Farm in Aquinnah wearing her signature sunglasses and hair hidden under a triangular scarf.
 

President Bill Clinton,
Regular Visitor to
Martha’s Vineyard
And then came the ‘Clinton Years’ which are still viewed as both awesome or awful, depending on which side of the traffic-stunning presidential motorcades one found oneself.  Folks around here remember the casual forays into Edgartown for ice cream, the berry loaded Presidential muffins whipped up by Espresso Love owner Carol McManus and first-pup, Buddy, making a beeline for the grass, Clinton in tow, after exiting  the presidential aircraft.

Hillary Clinton on Martha’s Vineyard
Next came Hillary on her own in 2007 at the start of her bid for the presidency, playing to a standing room only crowd of well-wishers at the Tabernacle which stands at the center of the same Methodist Campground that hosted President Grant over 100 years ago.

Martha’s Vineyard Online – mvol.com, General Manager Dawn Bellante was at that spectacular event as well as at Hillary’s appearance at the Bunch of Grapes bookstore in Vineyard Haven in 2003. She recalls the event: "TheTabernacle that night was supercharged, Carly, Ben and Sally Taylor took the stage to welcome Hillary, the crowd was going wild and there was a profound sense of  connectedness that happens frequently on Martha’s Vineyard. You have direct access to some of the most talented, influential and exciting people on the planet while they are relaxed and happy. There was a similar energy at a much different event when Hillary appeared at the Bunch of Grapes in Vineyard Haven. Hundreds of people lined up for hours to meet Hillary and have her sign a copy of her memoir “Living History” on a sultry summer’s day. At other times I have seen Bill and Chelsea around Main Street just enjoying themselves and another lovely day on the island.”

Obama in '09
And now the Island prepares to welcome President Obama.  Where ever they go and in spite of the inevitable challenges a presidential visit poses, President Barack Obama is sure to be welcomed on Martha’s Vineyard where his election numbers constituted a landslide with 75% of the Martha’s Vineyard voters. 

For the moment, rumor and conjecture enliven cocktail party and grocery line conversation: will the Obama’s stay in Oak Bluffs where the African American community has long vacationed? Or what about Blue Heron Farm In West Tisbury-sublet for the last two weeks in August through Wallace & Co.;  where will they most likely visit and with whom; will they stop by Mocha Motts and sip an ‘Mochabama,’ a drink blending dark and white chocolates that owner Tim Dobel revealed on FOXNews.com.

Stay tuned as Martha’s Vineyard prepares for yet another presidential visit.

For more on the Obama Family vacation on Martha's Vineyard click here.