Historical Moments at Camp David

Washington: President Donald Trump departed the White House for a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, located in Maryland’s mountains. This retreat, one hour northwest of Washington, has been pivotal since Franklin Roosevelt established it during World War II. While this isn’t Trump’s first visit to Camp David, he typically prefers weekends at his own properties, such as Mar-a-Lago in Florida or his golf courses.

Here’s a historical overview of Camp David’s key events and visitors:

1942: Franklin Roosevelt created the camp, originally named Shangri-La, inspired by James Hilton’s novel “Lost Horizon.” Roosevelt wanted a secure relaxation spot, different from the presidential yacht, amidst wartime safety concerns.

1943: Roosevelt invited Winston Churchill for discussions, including the planned Normandy invasion.

1953: Dwight Eisenhower rechristened the camp as Camp David, honoring his grandson and father.

1959: Eisenhower welcomed Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, marking the first U.S. visit by a Soviet leader.

1971: Amidst inflation, Richard Nixon met with advisers, a precursor to ending the gold-backed dollar.

1973: Nixon hosted the Soviet Union’s Leonid Brezhnev.

1978: Jimmy Carter convened Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin, resulting in the Camp David Accords signed in 1979.

The media access is limited unlike the White House, with restrictions unless invited for events like summits.

1984: Ronald Reagan, a frequent visitor to Camp David, hosted Margaret Thatcher from the UK.

1990: George H.W. Bush accommodated Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

1992: Dorothy Bush, daughter of George H.W. Bush, celebrated her wedding at Camp David’s Evergreen Chapel.

2000: Bill Clinton organized a summit with Ehud Barak of Israel and Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority.

2001: George W. Bush consulted British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and discussed Afghanistan post-9/11.

2003: Bush received Russian President Vladimir Putin.

2012: Barack Obama hosted the G8 Summit.

2015: Obama arranged a Persian Gulf nations summit.

2019: Trump canceled a planned meeting at Camp David with Taliban and Afghan leaders following a bombing in Kabul.

— Associated Press journalist Darlene Superville contributed to this timeline.