How Many Presidents Have Visited Martha Vineyards?

I admit, when I think of the President of the United States I do think of this island, Martha’s Vineyard. However, the research does not actually point to this being a favorite vacation spot for the presidents or their families. While the history of the island is flavorful, it is also conservatively democratic as well. When there is a dramatic occurrence on the island such as the current presidents’ visit in August of 2009, they do tend to deck out their stores with tourist related items. Why not? This island depends on its summer traffic to keep the economy thriving.

Year round residents number less than 20,000 people however, during tourist season that number increases to over a quarter of a million! The ferry takes approximately 25,000 people to and from the island every day during the summer. Who can blame them for trying to increase their revenue by catering to the tourist wants; especially when the visiting president is one as well approved of as President Obama! 

President Obama has visited the island in the past and likely will do so again, however, one article noted he would not be making any public appearances on the island during his stay while another noted he would be playing golf, “two public and three private” golf sessions. President Obama is only the third president to visit the island during his tenure in office. That number is surprising, given the locale of the island, temperate summer climate, restful and soothing atmosphere. However, Lyndon B Johnson and another Texan did not have kind regards for the island and did not use the vineyard as their vacation spot. It must also be made clear that both the Clintons and the Obama’s did not have their own vacation homes or getaways while many other residents have indeed had other places for their off time. While most of the research for this article states that “at least six” presidents have visited Martha’s Vineyard, this writer could find the names of only five.

The number of visitors who also happened to be president of the United States of America is as follows:

1.    John Adams

2.    Ulysses S. Grant

3.    John F. Kennedy

4.    Bill Clinton

5.    Barack Obama

The number of presidential visitors who happened to be presidents during the time of their stay on the island is as follows:

1.    Ulysses S. Grant

2.    Bill Clinton

3.    Barack Obama

 Martha’s Vineyard depends on the influx of visitors to their island in order to keep their own economy afloat. The cost of living is always greater on an island and one could argue that the five men with their families were just trying to stimulate the economy by vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard as opposed to any other vacation destination. Indeed, one could argue that out current president is just doing his private part to spread the stimulus money to the general public by vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard!