What You Didn't Know About Camp David

Sure, there are a lot of headaches that come with being president of the United States, but the job comes with some pretty sweet perks. The president gets the chance to fly around in Air Force One, a personal chef who's ready to prepare a snack at any time, and a private retreat in the wooded hills of Maryland in Washington, D.C. It is located about an hour's drive from. This retreat, Camp David, has become famous over the years as a place where the president and his family can unwind from the pressures of the job.

The Hidden Camp

We know that Camp David sits in a rural part of Frederick County in Maryland, but the exact location is kept secret for security reasons. In fact, it was not included in any maps until recently, when Google Earth satellite maps made it impossible to hide.

Real David

When Franklin D. Roosevelt founded Camp David during his presidency, he called the place Shangri-La, named after the mythical Tibetan paradise, but Eisenhower thought the name sounded too fancy and un-American. was. After being elected, he named the retreat after his grandson, David Eisenhower.

This is a very cute setup

No, there are no outhouses—Camp David is like a modern resort. There is a grand building, the Aspen Lodge, and 18 cabins to accommodate guests, the Secret Service, and more. There is also a bowling alley, tennis courts, a basketball court, a skeet shooting range, riding stables, two swimming pools, and a movie theater (the Reagans watched an impressive 344 movies at Camp David). There are also lots of golf carts, the only vehicle the president is allowed to drive.

Don't Mess With Camp Counselors

Well, Camp David doesn't actually have advisors, but armed guards. Camp David is considered a military base, so the staff are members of the Marine Corps and Navy, and they understand that their primary goal is to keep the president safe. The Navy joined Camp David during FDR's first voyage to the retreat, when the crew of the presidential yacht, a branch of the Marines, traveled.

A Divisive Topic

George W. Bush enjoyed Camp David so much that he spent more than 400 days there, more than any other president. Reagan was a close second, but unlike Bush, who liked to entertain at Camp David, Reagan preferred to spend quiet time with his wife. Others didn't work so hard for it. Truman thought the president's withdrawal was unnecessary, and Gerald Ford was also a rare visitor to Camp David.

Jimmy Carter Brocade Piece There

As the name implies, the Camp David Accords was signed at Camp David in 1978 during the Jimmy Carter-led peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. He thought hosting the meeting at Camp David would take some of the political pressure off the situation. Negotiations still took longer than expected, as neither side sometimes spoke to the other, but in the end, historic agreements were signed.