It is well known that Harry Truman was the first US President to receive a Vulcain Cricket. What is not well known is that he did not receive it from Vulcain. He received it from the White House News Photographer's Association.
There is a great photo of the presentation which you will be able to see in the upcoming second version of the Cricket and the Presidents. But for now the watch itself -
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| Courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum |
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| Courtesy of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum |
It is also well known that Dwight Eisenhower was a Vulcain Cricket owner - although nobody is exactly sure how he came to own one. He was more known for wearing his Rolex, but that's politics for you.
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| Courtesy of Vulcain / Paajanen Family |
Perhaps the greatest fan of the Vulcain Cricket while in the Oval Office was Lyndon Johnson. He had more than one, and also purchased a BUNCH of them to gift to staff and dignitaries, and if President Johnson's White House calendar / diary records are to be believed, one recipient was Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara.
And finally there was Richard Nixon who received his Vulcain as a thank you for a public speaking engagement while Vice President.
And he wore his Vulcain Cricket A LOT!
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| Courtesy of the Nixon Presidential Library |
Again - none of these watches were presented by the brand, it all happened wonderfully organically.
It wasn't until a family jeweler based in Helsinki Finland met with the son of the inventor of the Vulcain Cricket that a true tradition of Vulcain presenting a Cricket to the President (either former or current) President of the United States. And that was kicked off with a gift of a Vulcain Cricket to then US President Ronald Reagan.
There is a lot more to this story, and when my updated book about the US Presidents and the Vulcain Cricket comes out, you can read all about it ; )
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