Camp David

Main Lodge at Camp David during the Nixon administration, February 9, 1971

Naval Support Facility Thurmont, popularly known as Camp David, is a mountain based military camp in Frederick County, Maryland used as a country retreat and for high alert protection of the President of the United States and his guests.

First known as Hi-Catoctin, Camp David was originally built as a camp for federal government agents and their families, by the WPA, starting in 1935, opening in 1938.^[1] In 1942 it was converted to a presidential retreat by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and renamed U.S.S. Shangri-La. Camp David received its present name from Dwight Eisenhower, in honor of his grandson, Dwight David Eisenhower II.^[2]

The camp is very isolated and quiet. The compound consists of several cabins hidden throughout the woods, connected only by small mulch walking paths. These cabins are all named after various trees, plants, and flowers. There is only one main road on the compound, essentially cutting the camp in two parts: one side in which the Marines and Naval personnel live, eat and train; and the other side consisting of all the guest cabins and presidential recreational facilities.

Navy operations

Camp David is a United States Navy installation, commanded by a Naval Commander. Sailors are mostly Seabees and most officers are in the civil engineering field. The Navy Seabee Detachment performs maintenance and beautification. The sailors must undergo a "Yankee White" level background check, which involves passing the most rigorous background check conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD). The sailors are hand-picked for their service at Camp David, and represent the best of the U.S. Navy. Some of the sailors include: grounds and maintenance personnel, electricians, carpenters, corpsmen, and the President's cooks (mess specialists).

The Camp is alleged to be one of the most secure facilities in the world, as reported by a Department of Defense journal in 1998. The Facility is guarded by one of the United States Marine Corps' most elite units, MSC-CD (Marine Security Company, Camp David). Each Marine is hand-picked from the infantry and sent through a battery of psychological and physical tests. The chosen Marine must then undergo specialized security training at the Marine Corps Security Forces School in Chesapeake, Virginia. The candidate then reports to the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. Assuming the Marine successfully completes all of their schooling, they still must undergo the "Yankee White" background check. Only then will the candidate be eligible for the assignment at Camp David. After 12 months of service at Camp David, a Marine is awarded the Presidential Service Badge. Typically tours at Camp David are 18–20 months.

Presidential Use

Every president since Franklin Roosevelt has made use of Camp David. Roosevelt hosted Sir Winston Churchill in May of 1943.^[3] Dwight Eisenhower held the first cabinet meeting here. John F. Kennedy and his family often enjoyed horseback riding and other recreational activities. Kennedy often allowed White House staff and cabinet members to use the retreat when he or his family was not there. Lyndon Johnson often met with important advisors at the retreat and hosted Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt. Richard Nixon was a frequent visitor and did much to add and modernize the facilities. Gerald Ford often rode his snowmobile around Camp David and hosted Indonesia President Suharto.^[4] Jimmy Carter brokered the Camp David Accords here in September 1978 between Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.^[3] Ronald Reagan visited the retreat more than any other president. Dorothy Bush Koch the daughter of George H.W. Bush was the first person ever to be married here in 1992. Bill Clinton increasingly used Camp David more as his tenure in office progressed. George W. Bush hosted dignitaries including British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2007.^[4] As of late June 2009, Barack Obama seldom finds time for Camp David because of the busy schedule of his daughters, but said "If Michelle and I had our way we'd go there every weekend".^[5]

Analogous facilities

Analogous facilities include:

• Chequers, country residence of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• Harpsund, country residence of the Prime Minister of Sweden
• Harrington Lake, country residence of the Prime Minister of Canada
• Marienborg, summer residence of the Prime Minister of Denmark
• Kultaranta, summer residence of the President of Finland
• Lohn, country estate of the Swiss Federal Council outside Berne
• Mansion House, summer residence of the President of the Philippines
• Palacio de Marivent, summer residence of the King of Spain in Palma de Mallorca.
• Hacienda Hato Grande, country residence of the President of Colombia
• Pavillon de la Lanterne (subsidiary structure of the Palace of Versailles), country residence of President of France, Fort de Brégançon, summer residence, Chateau de Rambouillet, guest residence, Domaine National de Marly and Domaine de Souzy-la-Biche, week end residences
• Isla La Orchila, Naval Facility with Presidential Residence, President of Venezuela
• the Papal Residence at Castel Gandolfo, summer residence of the Pope
• Granja do Torto, country residence of the President of Brazil
• Novo-Ogaryovo and Zavidovo, country residences of the President of Russia
• Kirribilli House is the harbour side residence of the Australian Prime Minister in Sydney.

Gallery

George H. W. Bush meets with his National Security advisors in the Laurel Lodge conference room on August 4, 1990.	George W. Bush meets with his advisors at Camp David on January 17, 2004, while preparing for his State of the Union address.	From Camp David, Vice President Dick Cheney and members of the Interagency Team on Iraq participate in a video teleconference with President George W. Bush in Baghdad, Iraq.	President George W. Bush and Chief of Staff Josh Bolten walk together with the President's dog, Barney, at Camp David, July 21, 2007.
Shinzo Abe and George W. Bush at Camp David in 2007.	Richard and Pat Nixon walking their dogs in Camp David.	Menachem Begin, Jimmy Carter, and Anwar Sadat at Camp David, September 7, 1978.	Menachem Begin poses at Camp David, 1978.
Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat with U.S. president Jimmy Carter at Camp David in 1978.	President of Egypt, Anwar Sadat, and Jimmy Carter meet at the beginning of the Camp David Summit in 1978.	Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Carter, and Menachem Begin meet on the Aspen Lodge patio of Camp David on September 6, 1978.	British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan walk at Camp David in 1986.
British Prime Minister Thatcher and President Reagan sitting in Aspen Lodge, 1986	David Eisenhower (age 12), grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, poses with sign at presidential retreat named in his honor, 1960	Main Lodge during Eisenhower administration, 1959	President Dwight D. Eisenhower meets with his Cabinet at Laurel Lodge, 1955

See also

• White House, official residence of the President of the United States
• List of official residences
• Site R, nearby bunker and communications center
• Rapidan Camp, the predecessor of Camp David
• Camp Misty Mount Historic District and Camp Greentop Historic District, built at the same time in Catoctin Mountain Park as Camps 1 and 2.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Camp David

• Camp David official White House page
• Camp David from the Federation of American Scientists
• Digital documents regarding Camp David, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library

Coordinates: 39°38′54″N 77°27′54″W / 39.64833°N 77.465°W / 39.64833; -77.465