Since the early days, Utah has been a draw for sitting U.S. presidents. Some came here to campaign, several came for official business, and others, well, they visited just for fun.
A couple of presidents were here for less than a day, but a few of them liked it so much that they came back over a dozen times. And for two, the hours spent here were some of their last on earth.
Ulysses S. Grant
President Ulysses S. Grant was the first U.S. president to visit in 1875, when he came to meet with his Utah territorial appointee, Gov. George Emery. While here, he also met with Brigham Young, the territory's first governor and then-president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Grant's wife, Julia, reportedly told Young she admired the pioneers' accomplishments but was not a fan of polygamy.
Rutherford B. Hayes
President Rutherford B. Hayes traveled across the U.S. for two months in 1880 to take in the sights. He had a "no politics" policy while traveling, which may be why his two speeches here — in Ogden and Salt Lake City — were brief, consisting of a mere handful of sentences. On a Sunday in September, Hayes simply thanked the gathered crowds for their "hearty and kind reception and welcome." Hayes also met with the then-president of the Church of Jesus Christ, John Taylor.
Benjamin Harrison
It was a decade before another president came to town. Harrison stopped by in 1891, during the pivotal period when Utah was pushing for statehood. While here, he was expected to speak at the Tabernacle. However, the territorial governor reportedly advised him to avoid the venues of the Church. Instead, he spoke at Liberty Park, then took the train through Utah County, where he gave brief speeches — from his train's observation car — in Lehi, American Fork and Springville.
William McKinley
It was only for 20 minutes, but the 25th president of the U.S. did stop in Utah on May 26, 1901. He'd wanted to stay longer, but his wife was ill, so the day trip they had planned was canceled, and their train moved on.
Theodore Roosevelt
President Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Utah three times, although only once while president. During his 1903 visit, he was part of a parade down Main Street in Salt Lake City, where cheering crowds filled the street and leaned from upper-story windows. During a speech at the Tabernacle — which was filled to the brim — Roosevelt praised the pioneers for helping Utah blossom like a rose and urged conservation of natural resources for future generations.
William Howard Taft
When President William Howard Taft arrived in Salt Lake City in October 1911, he was one of the first VIPs to stay at the newly opened Hotel Utah (now the Joseph Smith Memorial Building). Aside from enjoying the grand accommodations, he reviewed the troops at Fort Douglas, spoke at some club gatherings and even took in the Utah State Fair — no word on whether he tried the funnel cake.
Woodrow Wilson
Utahns who turned out to hear President Woodrow Wilson speak on Sept. 23, 1919, were some of the last to see him active. The president was touring the U.S. to gain support for America's entry into the League of Nations. But just days after his visit, he suffered his fourth stroke, leaving him incapacitated in the final months of his presidency.
Warren G. Harding
President Warren G. Harding was on a nationwide tour when he crossed Utah in June 1923. In Salt Lake City, he went golfing with the then-president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Heber J. Grant. At Zion National Park, he rode up the canyon clad in a cowboy hat and oversized chaps. Just 37 days later, while recuperating from his exhausting trip and a bout of food poisoning, Harding died of a heart attack in San Francisco.
Herbert Hoover
President Herbert Hoover may hold the record for the most visits to Utah, at 22, but only one of those visits happened during his presidency. In a politically driven speech at the Salt Lake Tabernacle in November 1932, Hoover urged Utahns to be optimistic despite the pains of the Great Depression. He touted the importance of self-reliance and warned against government overreach.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt campaigned in Utah in 1932, and then returned briefly as president in 1935 on his way to dedicate the Boulder Dam (now known as the Hoover Dam). In a brief speech from a rear train platform in Salt Lake City, he said, "I am very happy today to see from your faces that things for all of you are a lot better than they were when I was here last." Roosevelt returned again in 1936 to speak at the funeral of former Utah Gov. George Dern, who had served as his U.S. secretary of war in the Philippines.
Harry S. Truman
In September 1948, President Harry S. Truman gave a lengthy speech at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. He praised the early pioneers who "built a civilization out of the desert" while admonishing former Republican presidents for "quick and greedy exploitation." He also spoke briefly from his train in Helper. Truman returned in 1952 to give a speech on the original Brigham Young University football field in support of presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
In 1954, one year into his presidency, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made a brief stop at the Four Corners. While not in the state long, he was definitely familiar with Utah's then-predominant religion. Ezra Taft Benson, future president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served as Eisenhower's secretary of agriculture.
John F. Kennedy
Just two months before his assassination, President John F. Kennedy visited Utah in September 1963. He participated in a parade in his honor, where he rode atop the back seat of an open limousine, shaking hands along the route. That evening, Kennedy spoke before a crowd of 8,000 wedged into the Salt Lake Tabernacle. He praised Utahns for their high percentage of "boys and girls who finish high school and go to college" and discussed the importance of U.S. involvement in global affairs.
Lyndon B. Johnson
In his five years as president, Lyndon B. Johnson visited Utah five times. Two of those visits came in 1964. On his first trip, in September, Johnson was headed to California when he made an unscheduled stop to visit his good friend, then-Church President David O. McKay. Johnson returned just a month later to give a speech at the Salt Lake Tabernacle.
Richard Nixon
Newly elected President Richard Nixon visited Utah twice in 1970. In July, he gave a speech in front of the Church Administration Building, and then he attended the Days of '47 Rodeo. He returned in October to give another speech at the Salt Lake Tabernacle. Maybe it was an omen, maybe it was just bad luck, but the presidential seal reportedly fell off the podium during his message there.
Gerald Ford
President Gerald Ford's son attended Utah State University, which is probably why the president accepted an invitation to speak at commencement there in June 1974. During that visit, he also attended a concert by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (now called the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square) and met then-president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Spencer W. Kimball, who gave him a Book of Mormon. Ford returned again in November of that year to support the candidacy of Utah Sen. Jake Garn.
Jimmy Carter
President Kimball presented President Jimmy Carter with the "Family Unity Award" during National Family Week in November 1978. At the event held in the Salt Lake Tabernacle, Carter talked about the importance of strong families. He said the elements of a good family will never change, including unselfishness, commitment, security and love.
Ronald Reagan
President Ronald Reagan visited Utah three times, the first in September 1982. His first stop? A picnic in Hooper, Weber County. He did make his way to Salt Lake City, where he visited the cannery of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Reagan returned a month later to speak at the Salt Palace. In September 1984, he returned one last time for a speech to the American Legion Convention.
George H.W. Bush
On his first visit to Utah as president, President George H.W. Bush was greeted by roughly 7,000 Utahns at Salt Lake City International Airport. While here, he met with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ, as well as patients at Primary Children's Hospital. Bush returned — twice — in 1992, when he spent some time with general authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ again. In July of '92, he spoke at BYU about family values.
Bill Clinton
While not on official business, President Bill Clinton took a couple of ski vacations in Utah while serving his second term in office. The family stayed and played in Park City in 1998 and 1999. During both visits, Clinton stopped by Main Street Deli in Park City before heading to the airport. He reportedly enjoyed some peach frozen yogurt there.
George W. Bush
The second President Bush made four visits to Utah while in office. In 2002, he attended the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. He returned in 2005 to speak at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Convention. Bush came back in 2006, this time for the American Legion Convention. His final visit in 2008 was to attend two fundraisers, but he also took some time to give leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ a tour of Air Force One.
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama spent about 15 hours in Utah in April 2015, half of them overnight at the Sheraton Hotel in Salt Lake City. While here, he spoke at Hill Air Force Base about solar power and the economy. Obama also spent some time with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ, learning about the church's efforts to provide humanitarian aid.
Donald Trump
President Donald Trump made his only trip to Utah as president in December 2017. He flew in just to sign documents that would officially reduce the size of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. His two-and-a-half-hour stopover — the second-shortest visit of all sitting presidents — also included a quick visit to Welfare Square and a meeting with leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Joe Biden
As president, Joe Biden stayed overnight in Utah on Aug. 9, 2023. Air Force One landed at Roland R. Wright Air Force Base at the international airport in Salt Lake City, where Biden was greeted by Gov. Spencer Cox and other state leaders. His motorcade then proceeded to the Hotel Monaco, passing crowds that lined the downtown streets. Biden later gave a speech at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center before attending a fundraiser in Park City.
What presidents didn't visit Utah?
Aside from the first 17, there are only three presidents post-Grant who didn't visit the Beehive State. Despite giving Utah official state status, President Calvin Coolidge never made it here. Neither did Chester Arthur nor Grover Cleveland.
Were you around for any presidential visits? Did you get a glimpse of the POTUS in person? Were you close enough to shake hands? Share your memories in the comments below.
