America First as a presidential campaign rallying cry is not new. Presidential historians generally agree that the slogan was first used in Woodrow Wilson’s 1912 campaign.

For the trivia buff American political history is never boring. And every presidential candidate delves deep into the history of predecessors and their campaigns. Finding a way to link their campaign with history bolsters the perception of patriotism rooted in tradition.

Recently I learned something surprising about political history. There are some travelers that use this trivia as a tool for planning a road trip.

A Route 66 enthusiast that I recently met was traveling this storied highway using the EZ 66 Guide For Travelers by Jerry McClanahan, the Route 66 Navigation app, and his notebook filled with presidential trivia. Did you know that President Harry Truman had a connection with Miami, Oklahoma?

A Kingman Surpise

At Jim Hinckley’s America we share America’s story. And we inspire road trips by telling people where to go. We blend these components in presentations, books and published articles, the Coffee With Jim podcast, and in presentations.

And we also tell America’s story with projects such as Kingman Tours developed by Kingman Main Street and Talisman Magic Marketing. Research for this self guided walking tour turned up a few Kingman surprises. This dusty crossroads remembered as one of the towns noted in a song about getting your kicks on Route 66 has quite a politcal history.

A Presidential Connection

Kingman in the 21st century is linked to the now forgotten presidential campaign of John Kerry. And as of September 16, 2024, it was linked with the Kamala Harris campaign. That was the date Gwen Walz, wife of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, spoke in Kingman.

In August 2004, John Kerry, emulating the whistle stop tours of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, made a stop in Kingman during his presidential campaign. That was rather bold as Mohave County, with Kingman as the county seat, has been a Republican bastion for decades.

But, perhaps, one of the more intriguing presidential connections with Kingman is a story from the early 1960s. Before Senator Barry Goldwater tossed his hat into the ring in a bid for the presidency as a strong America First candidate, he attended several private strategy sessions with staunch supporters. One of those supporters was Roy Dunton, namesake for Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman, and an owner of Dunton Motors.

During my brief tenure as a Republican committeeman for my district, Roy would regale me with tales of his years as a party leader during our travels. One of his favorite tales was about the strategy sessions over a barbecue dinner held at his home with Goldwater. Dunton also introduced me to Senator John McCain, another political story with a Kingman connection.

Territorial History

On Andy Devine Avenue, Route 66, Sandwiched between the Brunswick Hotel and the Hotel Beale built in 1900 is Sportsman’s Club, originally the Palace Saloon. This is a territorial era time capsule. Crowning the facade is a simple stone that reads Lovin 1906.

The saloon stands in mute testimony to the accomplishments of Henry Lovin, a territorial tycoon in the years bracketing 1900. This venerable old watering hole is one of the points of interest on the narrated self guided Kingman walking tour.

Lovin was a pioneering rancher. He was also a miner, a developer, and a merchant. And he was a politician.

In the first years of the 20th century he served as Mohave County Sheriff. And he served on the constitutional committee that drafted the Arizona constituion. That was followed with a stint as Mohave County’s first State Senator.

America First

America first as a presidential rallying cry for the political movement that is moving the Republican Party aside is not new. Neither is the philosophy behind. President Wilson and President Harding used variations of the America first concept in their campaigns in an effort to tap into the isolationist movement that was popular at the time.

But what might be new is the traveler that links a passion for Route 66 with a fascination for political trivia.