# Closest sitting President has been to combat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 4, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461 "2016-06-04T02:47:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/1 "2016-06-04T02:47:46Z")
It’s commanplace to see the President visit troops, and occasionally even in a theater of service. But what is the closest a sitting President been to actual combat? I know Lincoln was visting a fort around Washington DC in 1864 when the Confederates were firing on it, but what other cases are there? And for that matter have there been other major leaders who were in combat situations while they were in office? ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/2 "2016-06-04T03:19:47Z")
didn’t Madison have to bail out of the White House as Washington was coming under attack by the British? I think they left just minutes before the white house was invaded ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/3 "2016-06-04T04:34:27Z")
FDR met Churchill on a ship in the Atlantic, which was a major theatre of the war at the time (‘Battle of the Atlantic’ vs. Nazi U-boats). He also met with Churchill another 11 times, and with Stalin, but I think those locations were farther from the actual front lines. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/4 "2016-06-04T04:56:59Z")
Lincoln was present during the Battle of Fort Stevens in the northwestern part of D.C. in 1864. [https://www.nps.gov/cwdw/learn/historyculture/president-lincoln-under-direct-fire-at-fort-stevens.htm](https://www.nps.gov/cwdw/learn/historyculture/president-lincoln-under-direct-fire-at-fort-stevens.htm) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/5 "2016-06-04T05:03:24Z")
Duh. I should have read the OP more carefully. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/6 "2016-06-04T05:19:00Z")
[Well, there was the episode where a US destroyer fired a torpedo at the USS Iowa, which was carrying FDR at the time:](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_William_D._Porter_(DD-579)) > [@](#): > > On 14 November, at Roosevelt’s request, Iowa conducted an anti-aircraft drill to demonstrate her ability to defend herself. The drill began with the release of a number of balloons for use as targets. While most of these were shot by gunners aboard Iowa, a few of them drifted toward William D. Porter which shot down balloons as well. Porter, along with the other escort ships, also demonstrated a torpedo drill by simulating a launch at Iowa. This drill suddenly went awry when a torpedo from mount #2[6] aboard William D. Porter discharged from its tube and headed toward Iowa.[3] > > William D. Porter attempted to signal Iowa about the incoming torpedo but, owing to orders to maintain radio silence, used a signal lamp instead. However, the destroyer first misidentified the direction of the torpedo and then relayed the wrong message, informing Iowa that Porter was backing up, rather than that a torpedo was in the water.[3] In desperation the destroyer finally broke radio silence, using codewords that relayed a warning message to Iowa regarding the incoming torpedo. After confirming the identity of the destroyer, Iowa turned hard to avoid being hit by the torpedo. Roosevelt, meanwhile, had learned of the incoming torpedo threat and asked his Secret Service attendee to move his wheelchair to the side of the battleship, so he could see.[3] Not long afterward, the torpedo detonated in the ship’s wake, some 3,000 yards astern of the Iowa. Iowa was unhurt, but according to legend, trained her main guns on William D. Porter out of concern that the smaller ship might have been involved in some sort of assassination plot.[7] The entire incident lasted about 4 minutes from torpedo firing at 1436 to detonation at 1440.[6][8] ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/7 "2016-06-04T05:33:23Z")
Washington actually led troops himself during the Whiskey Rebellion. However, the rebels gave up and fled rather than fight him. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/8 "2016-06-04T05:41:03Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > And for that matter have there been other major leaders who were in combat situations while they were in office? For most of history, that was the rule, rather than the exception. You would think that it would have meant less frequent wars, but it didn’t seem to work that way. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2016, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/9 "2016-06-04T06:51:12Z")
King Albert I of Belgium personally led his troops on the front lines during World War I. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/10 "2016-06-05T02:39:50Z")
Obama dealing with congress?😛 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/11 "2016-06-05T03:05:24Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > King Albert I of Belgium personally led his troops on the front lines during World War I. But that was before he became President. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/12 "2016-06-05T03:21:42Z")
George VI and Elizabeth declined to flee London to their home in the countryside (Coventry?) during the blitz. What other personal acts of leadership did George do during the war? As I’ve understood it, he was a big plus to the morale of the English people during the war. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/13 "2016-06-05T03:23:37Z")
Dude, that’s what the vice president is for. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/14 "2016-06-05T06:10:41Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > What other personal acts of leadership did George do during the war? As I’ve understood it, he was a big plus to the morale of the English people during the war. He was commander in chief of The Home Guard (AKA “Dad’s Army”). The Imperial War Museum in London has a Sten Gun made especially for him that he carried around in his car in case German paratroopers suddenly decided to drop in. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/15 "2016-06-05T06:20:50Z")
And his daughters learned to wrench trucks, which was totally cool! Oldest was Over There and brought back a GVI ha’penny. She sent a picture of Dover Castle and I asked she had gone into the tunnels. “Where they planned the evacuation of Dunkirk? Hell, YEAH!” I choose to assume her sisters are mine, based on my proximity when they were conceived. This one I have no doubts about. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/16 "2016-06-05T06:43:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > But that was before he became President. OP asked for > [@installLSC](#): > > other major leaders who were in combat situations while they were in office I’d say the King of Belgium qualifies. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/17 "2016-06-05T07:40:14Z")
Napoleon III, Wilhelm I of Prussia, and Otto von Bismarck were all at the [Battle of Sedan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sedan). Napoleon was captured in that battle. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/18 "2016-06-05T13:23:07Z")
Churchill went to watch the crossing of the Rhine in March, 1945, seen [here](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Churchill_on_the_east_bank_of_the_Rhine.jpg/598px-Churchill_on_the_east_bank_of_the_Rhine.jpg) on the eastern bank with Monty and Brooke. Brooke later [wrote](https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=93jhJEMorgMC&pg=PT819&lpg=PT819&dq=churchill+rhine+brooke+killed&source=bl&ots=4Y0Q6ytXXG&sig=AXTTTWt9Pw8vvGMQeixTBDTNegU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwizhZal-pDNAhXKAMAKHZrrAq8Q6AEIJjAB#v=onepage&q=churchill%20rhine%20brooke%20killed&f=false) _“I honestly believe that he would really have liked to be killed on the front at this moment of success… He had often told me that the way to die is to pass out fighting when your blood is up and you feel nothing.”_ ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/19 "2016-06-05T14:30:27Z")
Osama bin Laden was at the Battle of Jaji during the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Wikipedia gives “Robert Fisk (2005). The Great War For Civilisation, p. 4.” as their citation. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2016, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461/20 "2016-06-05T14:42:04Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Osama bin Laden was at the Battle of Jaji during the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Wikipedia gives “Robert Fisk (2005). The Great War For Civilisation, p. 4.” as their citation. Was he the president of a division of his family’s construction business? (Yes, I see your point. It brings up an interesting question of what constitutes a geopolitical leader these days.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/closest-sitting-president-has-been-to-combat/756461.md?page=2)