Inside Camp David The Private World of the Presidential Retreat

"Full of firsthand glimpses into a secret world and fresh insights that may delight even the most politically cynical among us." ― The New York Times Never before have the gates of Camp David been opened to the public. Intensely private and completely secluded, the president's personal retreat is situated deep in the woods, up miles of unmarked roads practically invisible to the untrained eye. Now, for the first time, we are allowed to travel along the mountain route and directly into the fascinating and intimate complex of rustic residential cabins, wildlife trails, and athletic courses. For over eighty-five years, Camp David has served as the president's home away from the hustle and bustle of Washington, an ideal place for the First Family to relax, unwind, and escape the incessant gaze of the media and the public. It's hosted gatherings for presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Barack Obama—holidays, reunions, even a wedding. But more than just a getaway, it's also been the site of private meetings and high-level summits with foreign leaders to foster diplomacy. Former Camp David commander Rear Admiral Michael Giorgione, CEC, USN (Ret.), takes us deep into this enigmatic and revered sanctuary. Combining fascinating first-person anecdotes of the presidents and their families with storied history and interviews with commanders past and present, he reveals the intimate connection felt by the First Families with this historic retreat. "Intimate and informative . . . Giorgione blends the presidential with the personal and casts a loving eye on a seldom seen but consequential place [with] grace, candor and humor." ― Richmond Times-Dispatch "Just the presidential memoir America needs right now." ― The Wall Street Journal