
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


In this episode, Howie Franklin, the only flight steward to serve five U.S. Presidents aboard Air Force One, joins us with jaw-dropping stories from a life lived at the center of American history. It kicks off with a story with former Marine Commandant General Krulak and quickly dives into Howie’s early days — from rubbing elbows with celebs on Fire Island to working in elite kitchens as a teenager. Drafted into the Air Force, he found his way from a toxic chow hall in South Dakota to flying global missions with generals and diplomats. Howie shares how a single flight changed his life, landing him in a world of professionalism and purpose. We hear how he earned the trust of Henry Kissinger, cooked on diplomatic missions across the globe, and eventually became the go-to steward for Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. With vivid recollections of world leaders, near-farcical bathroom lines in midair, and White House-level logistics, this episode is a front-row seat to history—with plenty of laughs and a few “Did he just say that?” moments.
By Chuck Newton and Pete Harmon4.9
194194 ratings
In this episode, Howie Franklin, the only flight steward to serve five U.S. Presidents aboard Air Force One, joins us with jaw-dropping stories from a life lived at the center of American history. It kicks off with a story with former Marine Commandant General Krulak and quickly dives into Howie’s early days — from rubbing elbows with celebs on Fire Island to working in elite kitchens as a teenager. Drafted into the Air Force, he found his way from a toxic chow hall in South Dakota to flying global missions with generals and diplomats. Howie shares how a single flight changed his life, landing him in a world of professionalism and purpose. We hear how he earned the trust of Henry Kissinger, cooked on diplomatic missions across the globe, and eventually became the go-to steward for Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton. With vivid recollections of world leaders, near-farcical bathroom lines in midair, and White House-level logistics, this episode is a front-row seat to history—with plenty of laughs and a few “Did he just say that?” moments.

230,021 Listeners

400 Listeners

230 Listeners

649 Listeners

782 Listeners

301 Listeners

1,865 Listeners

933 Listeners

663 Listeners

1,658 Listeners

922 Listeners

286 Listeners

1,275 Listeners

212 Listeners

164 Listeners