By Rick Riessen

The list of items required by Admiral Rickover for his visit was forwarded to our command, USS Henry Clay SSBN 625, prior to a proposed visit to the boat while we were in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, circa 1976. I was given the list and proceeded to gather all of the items. A visit by Admiral Rickover was a very serious event and I recall everyone’s nerves being on edge. Following is the list, complete with miscellaneous spelling and grammatical errors.

Rickover List
bond paper plain envelopes Bic ball point pens black & green pencils (sharpened)
2 yellow lined pads 2 white lined pads ink blotters
½ dz red pencils (sharpened) 2 accordian envelopes clean (not new) towels for bath, wash, hand small scotch tape dispenser stapler/staples paper xlips sm/lg 3x5 cards letter opened large glass ashtray scissors spotless water glass (for desk) shaving gear
Rise plain safety razors

Medicine cabinet
surgical soap in wrapper Crest toothpaste (reg)
electric toothbrush .. mounted and charged
Vitamin tablets (navy type)
1 pkg Navy issue dental floss (commercial ribbon) band aids
Bayer aspirin
Sewing kits with safety pins

Food
use margarine (Imperial)
use skim milk Vanilla ice cream breakfast steak crisp bacon
types of fish good sandwich materials: pastrami, lean ham, fresh bread fresh orange juice fresh assorted fruits:6 chilled apples
6 chilled oranges
6 chilled pears
12 bananas not bruised, not chilled
boxes green seedless grapes fresh salad material assorted cookies Sanka instant coffee wheat germ
Corn flakes
4 packs lemon drops “Luxora or Brach’s” salted peanuts: 3 pkgs in shell
3 canned Planters style
3 canned dry roasted
Variety of hard candies

ODD BALL ITEMS
2 packs of Muriel Corona Long cigars
Ships patch on a blue working jacket (size 38r)
Variety of shoe polished

SERVICES REQUIRED
shoe shine upon arrival hair cut fruit bowl suit pressed and dry cleaned shirt cleaned boxes/ wrapping paper/ string to wrap any leftovers an MS
a yeoman to place calls light tight room if possible khaki shirt 14/32 khaki pants 30/25 copy of NY Times daily quiet room