History

Popes Creek Stable is situated on the historic 2000 acre Potomac Preservation in southern Maryland. The preservation is owned by the Nitze family, and Mr. Paul Nitze - founder of the preservation, always took a great personal interest in horses and equestrian sports. Mr. Nitze boarded his own horses at the stable for many years, and continued to ride until he reached his mid-eighties. We should all be so lucky!

At one time, the preservation included a fully functional farming operation with a variety of crops and livestock, as well as the riding stable. Today, the farming activities are no longer in operation, but the riding stable continues as it has for over 30 years.

Mr. Nitze was an eminent political figure with a distinguished government career, giving over 50 years of service to our country. Mr. Nitze joined the U.S. government in 1940 and advised every President from Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan, with the exception of Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. He also served as director of the Department of State Policy Planning Staff, deputy secretary of Defense, and member of the U.S. delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks from 1969 to 1974. In 1962, he was a member of the group of top officials who met daily with President Kennedy to advise him during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He also served as the 57th Secretary of the Navy from 1963-1967. From 1984 to 1989, he was ambassador-at-large and special advisor to the President and secretary of State on arms control matters, playing a crucial role in negotiating the Immediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) and strategic arms treaties. President Reagan awarded Mr. Nitze the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 for his contributions to the freedom and security of the United States.

U.S. NAVY NAMES

DESTROYER

TO HONOR

PAUL H. NITZE

Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig has announced the decision to name the 44th ship of the Arleigh Burke class of guided missile destroyers, "Nitze." In a lifetime of government service that extends almost half a century, Mr. Nitze played a major role in ensuring the United States emerged as the sole surviving superpower at the end of the 20th century.

On Jan. 10, 2001 Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig announced that a similar destroyer will be named in honor of Mr. Nitze, a defense policy and arms control expert. The USS Nitze (DDG-94), which is due to join the fleet in 2004, is a multi-mission ship equipped with the Navy's AEGIS combat weapons system, which combines space-age communications, radar and weapons technologies into a single platform for maximum flexibility. The ship will be capable of firing surface-to-air missiles and Tomahawk cruise missiles as well as torpedoes and is equipped with a five-inch gun. The ship will also carry dual embarked SH-60 helicopters.

The destroyer Nitze (DDG-94) was delivered to the U.S. Navy in December 2004.

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Paul H. Nitze

1907 - 2004

Popes Creek Stable is honored to be associated with the Nitze family. They have always been a strong supporter and valued benefactor to equestrian activities and the local community. We look forward to many more years of continuing the equestrian tradition of the Nitze family at Popes Creek Stable.