Presidential Visits to Oregon

Visits to Oregon by sitting Presidents 

This list was complied by the folks at the Oregonian. With updates by the Oregon APIC and the creation of a VEEP visit list.

 

1880 – Rutherford B. Hayes becomes the first sitting president to visit Oregon.

May 1891 – Benjamin Harrison visits Portland and Salem.  Gov. Sylvester Pennoyer snubs him and keeps him waiting .

May 1903 – Teddy Roosevelt makes his only visit as sitting president; visits Salem and Portland.

1909 – William Howard Taft speaks at Multnomah Stadium

Sept. 15, 1919 -- Woodrow Wilson visits Portland.

1923 – Warren G. Harding speaks at the Multnomah Athletic Club

Aug. 3, 1934 – Franklin Roosevelt makes remarks at the future site of Bonneville Dam.

Sept. 28 1937 – Franklin Roosevelt returns to dedicate Bonneville Dam, then give an address at Timberline Lodge later the same day.

Sept. 23, 1942 – Franklin Roosevelt makes a third trip to Oregon to visit the Kaiser Shipyards and tell the workers building the Liberty ships what a wonderful job they are doing.  The visit takes place under a press blackout and wasn't reported at the time.

June 11, 1948 – Harry Truman makes a marathon campaign train swing through Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Oakridge, Klamath Falls – all in the same day.

May 10, 1950 – Harry Truman makes remarks from the rear platform of a train in Oregon and Idaho and also stops in Pendleton.

Oct. 3, 1952 – Harry Truman makes remarks from the rear platform of a train in Oregon and California.

Sept. 23, 1954 – Dwight Eisenhower makes remarks at the Pendleton Airport.

Oct. 18, 1956 – Dwight Eisenhower comes to Portland on a campaign swing; speaks at Portland Airport and Civic Auditorium; also rides in a parade.

Sept. 27, 1963 – John F. Kennedy delivers remarks at Tongue Point in Astoria.

Sept. 17, 1964 -- Lyndon Johnson visits Portland to deliver remarks at a breakfast gathering.

Sept. 25, 1971 – Richard Nixon visits Portland and delivers remarks to editors and publishers.

Nov. 1, 1974 – Gerald Ford visits Portland and remarks on domestic and economic affairs; talks at OMSI.

Sept. 4, 1975 – Gerald Ford visits Portland, talks with reporters, speaks at Republican fund-raising dinner, talks at Youth Bicentennial rally.

May 22-23, 1976 – Gerald Ford visits Medford, Portland and Pendleton.  Talks to reporters, participates in a fund-raising event, gives the commencement address at Warner Pacific College, speaks with farmers in Pendleton.

Oct. 25, 1976 – Gerald Ford visits Portland, speaks with reporters, delivers a talk to the National Association of Broadcasters.

May 4-5, 1978 – Jimmy Carter visits Portland, meets with community leaders, talks to reporters.

Nov. 3, 1978 – Jimmy Carter visits Gresham for a "get out the vote" rally.

May 22, 1980 – Jimmy Carter talks to reporters in Portland after an inspection tour of the Mount St. Helens eruption.

Sept. 23, 1980 – Jimmy Carter makes remarks at the Democratic National Committee fundraising reception.

Nov. 3, 1980 – Jimmy Carter visits Portland for a campaign rally.

March 5, 1983 – Ronald Reagan has a Q&A with forest products workers in Klamath Falls.

Oct. 22-23, 1984 – Ronald Reagan visits Medford and Portland on a campaign swing.

May 20-21, 1990 – George H.W. Bush visits Portland and makes remarks at the dedication of the Police Memorial; campaigns for Denny Smith and Dave Fronhnmayer.

Sept. 19, 1991 – George H.W. Bush visits Portland to help raise money for Sen. Bob Packwood's campaign.

Sept. 14, 1992 – George H.W. Bush makes remarks to Burrill Lumber employees in Medford.

April 2, 1993 -- Bill Clinton comes to Portland to help craft the Northwest Portland Plan.  The plan is adopted in 1994.

June 27, 1995 – Bill Clinton visits Portland; makes remarks at Pacific Rim Economic Conference in Portland.

Feb. 14, 1996 – Bill Clinton visits Portland after floods and talks to those who worked on the flood wall.

Sept. 20, 1996 – Bill Clinton makes remarks after a bus tour in Portland.

June 12, 1998 – Bill Clinton makes remarks at a reception for Rep. Darlene Hooley in Portland; makes commencement address the next day at PSU, then travels to Springfield to visit Thurston High School.

Jan. 5, 2002 – George W. Bush visits Portland and speaks at Parkrose High School.

Aug. 22, 2002 – George W. Bush visits Portland; Reception for Sen. Gordon Smith; remarks at Ruch and Central Point.

Aug. 21, 2003 – George W. Bush visits Portland; Makes remarks at luncheon in Portland, then goes to Redmond.

Aug. 13, 2004 – George W. Bush visits Portland, Beaverton; remarks at Southridge High School.

Oct. 14, 2004 – George W. Bush makes remarks at Central Point.

Oct. 20, 2010 – Barack Obama visits Portland to campaign for John Kitzhaber

Feb. 18, 2011 – Barack Obama visits Intel's Ronler Acres in Hillsboro

July 24, 2012 – Barack Obama visits Portland for a fundraiser.

May 7-8th 2015 – Barack Obama visits Portland for a fundraiser and a speech on Fast Track Authority and the Trans Pacific Partnership at NIKE in Hillsboro.

Oct. 9, 2015  – Barack Obama visits Roseburg to speak with families and the community hurt by the shooting at Umpqua Community College. 

 

April 21, 2021 - Joe Biden makes first visit to Oregon as President. Visits Airport Expansion. Holds DNC Reception at Portland Yacht Club. 

VICE PRESIDENTIAL VISITS

 Sept 13, 1960 – Richard Nixon makes a brief campaign stop Portland. 

 Oct 3, 1980 – Walter Mondale  arrives in Salem for weekend in Oregon and Washington. 

 Oct 4, 1980 – Walter Mondale  attends campaign event at home of Frm. Governor Bob Straub. 

July 7, 1982 – George H.W. Bush comes to Oregon for a fundraising dinner with Gov. Vic Atieyh. 

July 8, 1982 – George H.W. Bush comes to Oregon City to meet with GOP leaders & Congressman Denny Smith and then speak at the New Federalism Conference.

 Aug 29, 2000 – Al Gore visits Eugene for series of public and private events focusing on healthcare.

 Aug 30, 2000 – Al Gore visits Portland for campaign town hall appearance on healthcare.

 Jan 13, 2004 – Dick Cheney makes fundraising visit near Portland International Airport for the Republican Party.

July 31, 2004 – Dick Cheney makes campaign stop in Oregon.

Sept 3, 2004 – Dick Cheney makes a campaign stop in Pendelton for Republican ticket.

 July 8, 2010 – Joe Biden visits Portland for a fundraiser to support Congressman Kurt Schrader. 

Oct 8, 2014 – Joe Biden visits Portland for a rally to support Senator Jeff Merkley.