A small group of demonstrators greeted Vice President Spiro T. Agnew outside Palm Springs International Airport following his arrival Set. 17, 1970.
Agnew flew in from San Diego with the intent of spending a quiet weekend playing golf and tennis.
He arrived in Palm Springs at 11 p.m. on a military “Jetstar.” Secret Service agents arrived the day before to meet with Police Chief Robert White regarding security measures.
Agnew was slated to stay in a private residence and speculation was high that either entertainer Bob Hope or Isabel Moore was to be his host.
Agnew had stayed with Moore during his last visit to the desert. Two prominent Palm Springs Republicans, City Councilman Edgar McCoubrey and Dave Margolis, president of the Palm Springs Republican Assembly, journeyed with Agnew to San Diego to attend the California Republican State Committee fundraising dinner.
According to some of Washington’s political pundits, Agnew found a new enthusiasm for tennis after hitting pro golfer, Doug Sanders during the 1970 Bob Hope Classic. Agnew also powered a tennis shot into another player, but journalists suggested that since tennis balls were considerably softer than golf balls Agnew stood a chance of causing less damage playing tennis.
There is a multitude of ways to Explore Palm Springs, which turned 75 in 2013. One of the more intriguing methods is by exploring Palm Springs history.
The Palm Springs Historical Society will share a weekly story whose time and place corresponds with today.
The Palm Springs Historical Society is located at 221 S. Palm Canyon Drive.
Visit www.pshistoricalsociety.org for more information.