June 25th is Red Hat Day, honoring the legacy of Jacques-Ives Cousteau, the pioneering oceanographer and filmmaker who advocated for marine science and conservation. The day is a nod to the red woolen cap Cousteau famously wore onboard his research vessel Calypso. 

In August 1975, President Ford’s son Jack boarded the Calypso to participate in the NASA-Cousteau Bathymetry Experiment, a collaborative project led by Cousteau and Russell Schweikart, a former Apollo 9 and Skylab astronaut. The experiment sought to determine if the Landsat satellite could measure the depth of shallow ocean waters, allowing scientists to better study and map the marine landscape.

Known for his sense of adventure, Jack Ford was an enthusiastic scuba diver and a long-time admirer of Cousteau. The project also appealed to his sense of volunteerism. As he had written to White House Counsel Phil Buchen just weeks before his trip, he hoped the Ford Administration would provide “the means for all Americans to get involved in voluntary activities.”

Jack spent three days with the team in the crystal-clear waters off the coasts of Bermuda and Florida before returning home to celebrate Labor Day with his family.

The project proved successful, and today modern satellites continue to map the ocean from above. The collaborative spirit of scientific exploration showcased in the 1975 expedition continues to be reflected on Red Hat Day, celebrated world-wide by ocean enthusiasts, scientists, and environmentalists.

(Side note – Jack had also vacationed in the Caribbean just a few months prior to this venture. During that visit, he sent his parents this postcard:

Jack’s message to his “folks” read: “Things are so nice I may not leave – I only wish I didn’t have to. Weather’s been super – I look like a lobster! Tell Kennerly¹ he should have come along.”)

Author: Dr. Mirelle Luecke

1. David Hume Kennerly, White House photographer. ↩︎