Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis recalls Prince Philip's visit to Boston
Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis recalls Prince Philip's visit to Boston
LITTLE DRAMA. >> IT WAS HERE IN BOSTON THAT IT ALL BEGAN. ERIKA: THIS VISIT TO OUR EVOLUTIONARY CITY, A SHOW OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND THE U.S. ON AMERICA’S BICENTENIAL. ♪ BY THE SIDE OF THE QUEEN AND PRINCE PHILIP FOR MUCH OF THE FESTIVITIES, THEN GOVERNOR MICHAEL DUKAKIS. >> IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT A BRITISH MONARCH STEPPED FOOT ON AMERICAN SOIL. RIGHT HERE IN BOSTON, THAT WAS SOMETHING. ERIKA: SOMETHING SPECIAL WHEN THE COMMONWEALTH NEEDED A BOOST. >> WE HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE COUNTRY, WE HAD GONE THROUGH THE BLESSING STUFF. NEVERTHELESS, THERE WAS A BIG CROWD HERE. ERIKA: AND NEARLY A BIG MISHAP WHEN THE QUEEN DISEMBARKED FROM HER YACHT. >> ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE’S THE QUEEN AT THE DECK RAIL, STEPS ONTO A RELATIVELY STEEP GANGPLANK AND BEGINS SLIDING DOWN THE GANGPLANK AND I’M THE GUY AT THE BOTTOM. ERIKA: THE GOVERNOR HAD BEEN TOLD NOT TO TOUCH THE ROYALS AS PER PROTOCOL AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT HIS AID WAS NOT REQUIRED. >> CAME TO THE BOTTOM WITH A BUMP BUT SHE DIDN’T FALL AND SAID GOOD MORNING. AND I SAID, GOOD MORNING. WELCOME TO BOSTON. ERIKA: THE QUEEN AND PHILIP HOSTED A RECEPTION ATTENDED A SPECIAL SERVICE AT THE OLD NORTH CHURCH AND TOURED THE USS CONSITITION. AFTER PHILIP’S PASSING, THE GOVERNOR REMEMBERING THEM BOTH AS MAKING AN ENDURING IMPACT. >> SHE WAS REALLY QUITE PROPER PLEASANT BUT VERY SELF-CONTAINED. >> HE WAS LOOSE, RELAXED, PLEASANT, FRIENDLY, INTERESTED, JUST A CHARMING GUY. IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY AND IN MANY WAYS KIND OF BEGAN THE REBIRTH AND REVIVAL OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW ENGLAND. IT WAS SIGNIFICANT. ERIKA: AND PRINCE PHILIP RETURNED TO BOSTON IN 1992 DURING THE TALL SHIPS FESTIVAL, SAIL BOSTON. ON THAT TRIP HE SURPRISED STUDENTS FROM SEEKONK WITH THE DUKE OF EDINBU
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Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis recalls Prince Philip's visit to Boston
According to former Gov. Dukakis, it was the first time a British monarch had set foot onto the soil in the United States.
According to former Gov. Dukakis, it was the first time a British monarch had set foot onto the soil in the United States.
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