How Many Times Has A Sitting POTUS Visited El Paso?

El Paso has seen many historic moments and has been visited by the President of the USA for a couple of them. The POTUS has been here more times than you may realize ...

Presidential visits to the 915 date way back, starting in 1901 with William McKinley.  POTUS McKinley stopped by on his way to Phoenix at a point in time when POTUS's were just starting to really wander the country. (See a pic here.)

He was followed a few years later, in 1909, by President William Howard Taft who was part of two history making moments when he met with Mexico's President, Porfirio Diaz.

Their meetings, (one held here in El Paso, the other taking place in Juarez, Mexico), marked the first time a sitting President for either country, LEFT the country. (Pics)

Following WW II, President Harry S. Truman popped in while, (aren't they always?), campaigning. (Pics) In the 60's, President Kennedy came to El Chuco twice, once in 1960 and again in 1963. (Pics)

In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson made history here again, meeting with Mexican President Adolfo Lopez Mateos to settle a boundary dispute between Mexico and the United States of America. This agreement is commemorated by the Chamizal Memorial.

A friend of my brothers once told me a funny story about President Reagans visit. Air Force One landed at Biggs and one afternoon, my bros buddy was wandering around in a desert area locals called "Tank Hill". So nicknamed because Fort Bliss held tank training maneuvers there. It's still mostly open desert, across Railroad Drive from  Underwood Golf Course.

He had a small bow and arrow and even though he was miles from the POTUS' plane, he was relieved of his "weapon" and held there by secret service agents until Air Force One took off. Funny story but he told me that, at the time, he was scared s**tless thinking he was about to go to jail.