Camp David
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Camp David serves the President, providing the First Family and their guests with a healthy, safe and uniquely private place to work or relax. Established as "Shangri-La" by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it was subsequently renamed Camp David by Dwight Eisenhower. The National Park Service of the Department of the Interior was directed in March of 1942 to study locations within a prescribed radius of Washington. The location, which would be developed into the weekend retreat. At Catoctin on April 30, the President gave final approval to preliminary sketches for the Lodge and the National Park Service started preparation of the working drawings. On May 11, with the use of preliminary prints, the construction crew was able to start. When construction was completed, Shangri-La had about 20 duplex cabins and miscellaneous buildings.
President Truman did not take as many guests to Shangri-La as did President Roosevelt. On several occasions, he and Mrs. Truman would go up alone. During President Eisenhower's administration, Camp David was used mainly as a place to relax. The Eisenhower's divided their time between the Camp and their farm in Gettysburg. Over the July Fourth weekend, 1953, President Eisenhower paid one of his first visits to Camp David. He was accompanied by Mrs. Eisenhower and her mother, Mrs. John Doud. Under President Kennedy's direction, the policy of opening the Camp to White House staff members when the President or First Family were not in residence was re-established. As during the Truman Administration, all facilities but the President's Lodge were utilized. President Lyndon Baines Johnson first visited Camp David as Vice President. After he assumed the office of the Presidency, one of his first visits to the Catoctin Area was to visit the first Job Corps Camp, just down the road from Camp David. After spending some time with the young men in the Camp, President Johnson met at Camp David for dinner with his foreign and military advisors. Less than one month after he was inaugurated, on February 15, 1969, President Richard Nixon made his first visit to Camp David as President. The President appeared interested and favorably impressed. The nature of the visit was relaxed, quiet and informal. With his frequent visits, Mr. Nixon changed the entire complexion and tone of Camp David. Having been sworn into office on August 9, 1974, Gerald R. Ford, accompanied by First Lady Betty Ford, children, Steven and Susan, and two young family friends, Gardner Britt and Dee Dee Jarvis, made his first visit as President to Camp David on August 31, 1974. An action-packed weekend of swimming, golf, tennis. skeet and horseback riding gave the Camp staff a clear signal that the President and First Family were avid outdoor enthusiasts. No strangers to cold weather, the President and Susan delighted in zipping about Camp on snowmobiles during their occasional winter visits. Consistent with the practice of previous administrations, President Jimmy Carter made his first visit to Camp David within approximately one month after his inauguration. With the exception of April 1977, during which the First Lady enjoyed a quiet visit with immediate family members, and Vice President Mondale and his family accepted an invitation to spend a weekend, the President visited Camp David at least once monthly. Shortly after his inauguration, on January 30, 1981, Ronald Reagan visited Camp David for the first time as President. On June 8 and 9, 1981, President Reagan hosted President Lopez-Portillo of Mexico for a series of Mexican-American working meetings. On April 19, 1982, the President addressed the nation by radio from Camp David. President and Mrs. Bush were very familiar with Camp David since, as Vice President, he and Mrs. Bush were invited to use the Camp on several occasions. They made their first visit as the President and First Lady on February 3, 1989. On February 17, 1989, Prince Charles was the president's first foreign guest. Prince Charles had previously visited Camp David in 1970 and his was the first of a record eighteen foreign leader visits during President Bush's time in office. The week after entering office in January 1993, President Clinton gathered his entire Cabinet and senior staff at Camp David for a weekend management retreat. He used his opportunity to become acquainted with the Camp and also to set the stage for his new administration team. President George W. Bush had made several visits to Camp David as a guest of his father. His most treasured memories of this wonderful place were the Christmas holiday visits when the George Bush,Sr. family, including the 4 sons, one daughter and the grandchildren, would assemble. The family decorated a fresh cut tree, provided by a crew member, and watched another crew member, dressed as Santa, pass out gifts to the children. On the weekend of May 25, 2001, President Bush rededicated the camp chapel that his father had dedicated over 10 years before. During times of conflict and strife, from World War II to more recent events, Camp David has offered solitude and tranquility. A majority of Presidents have used Camp David to host visiting foreign leaders, with Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain being the first, during May 1943. |
