• President Carter Arrives at Camp David to Discuss Iran Hostage Crisis
    Marion S. Trikosko
    Camp David
    travel
    meetings
    crisis & controversy
    This photograph by Marion S. Trikosko captures President Jimmy Carter arriving at Camp David in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland on November 23, 1979. Accompanying President Carter on the helicopter trip from the White House to Camp David was, from left to right, Secretary of Defense Harold Brown, Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance, and Vice President Walter F. Mondale. The group was on hand to meet and discuss the Iran Hostage Crisis, which began earlier that month, on November 4. The hostages would be held for 444 days, until January 20, 1981. Camp David was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, then called Shangri-La, as a presidential retreat. President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed the retreat Camp David after his grandson, David Eisenhower.
  • President and Mrs. Reagan at Camp David
    Michael Evans
    leisure
    Camp David
    This photograph, taken by White House photographer Michael Evans on October 2, 1982, shows President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan walking hand-in-hand during a visit to Camp David. Camp David, then called Shangri-La, was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a presidential retreat. President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed the retreat Camp David after his grandson, David Eisenhower. President Reagan relished the privacy and freedom of the retreat, and enjoyed the rare pleasure of being able to take morning walks away from security personnel and public scrutiny.
  • President and Mrs. Reagan Deliver Radio Address at Camp David
    Michael Evans
    travel
    Camp David
    initiatives
    In this photograph, taken by Michael Evans on October 2, 1982, President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan deliver a national radio address on drug abuse and crime during a working vacation to Camp David. During her husband's presidency, Nancy Reagan's main initiative was taking an active role in the War on Drugs, creating the "Just Say No" campaign to educate youth about the dangers of drugs and drug abuse.
  • President Obama and G8 Leaders Watch Champions League Final
    Pete Souza
    sports
    Head of State
    Camp David
    travel
    This photograph, taken by Pete Souza on May 19, 2012, shows President Barack Obama and other world leaders from the G8 Summit including Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom and German Chancellor Angela Merkel watching the overtime shootout of the 2012 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League final in the Laurel Cabin conference room at Camp David. During the soccer match, Chelsea of England narrowly defeated Bayern Munich of Germany during a penalty shootout. President Obama hosted the foreign contingent for the G8 Summit at Camp David from May 18-19, 2012. Among the others pictured in this photograph is José Manuel Durão Barroso, president of the European Commission.
  • Mrs. Bush Hosts Thanksgiving Buffet at Camp David
    Eric Draper
    Thanksgiving
    Camp David
    food & drink
    This photograph, taken on November 27, 2008, shows First Lady Laura Bush and guests lining up at a table for a Thanksgiving Day buffet at Camp David. The seasonal spread was prepared by chef Matthew Wendel and included turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans, and corn bread dressing. President George W. Bush and Mrs. Bush hosted the holiday celebration for friends and family. Among the guests pictured in this photograph is Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
  • Chef Wendel Slices Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving at Camp David
    Unknown
    Thanksgiving
    Camp David
    food & drink
    In this photograph, chef Matthew Wendel cuts a slice of pecan pie for first daughter Barbara Bush during a Thanksgiving celebration at Camp David in 2001. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working as a waiter-caterer at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas. After President George W. Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel continued to prepare meals for the first family during their trips to Camp David and visits home to the Prairie Chapel Ranch near Crawford, Texas. Wendel collaborated with First Lady Laura Bush to prepare many holiday meals for the first family, including family-style Thanksgiving spreads, chili for New Year's, and Easter brunch.
  • Chef Wendel Prepares Lunch at Laurel Lodge Kitchen
    Eric Draper
    Camp David
    food & drink
    In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on February 9, 2008, chef Matthew Wendel prepares quesadillas with on a large flattop griddle in the kitchen at Laurel Lodge, Camp David. Wendel's quesadillas, made with homemade tortilla shells, were popular with President George W. Bush and his family. Wendel became acquainted with the Bush family in 1995, while working as a waiter-caterer at the Governor's Mansion in Austin, Texas. After Bush was elected president in 2000, Wendel continued to serve the first family during visits to Camp David and the Prairie Chapel Ranch, their residence near Crawford, Texas.
  • Luncheon at Camp David for President of South Korea
    Joyce N. Boghosian
    Camp David
    Head of State
    This photograph was taken during a luncheon hosted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in honor of President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea and his wife, Kim Yoon-ok. The luncheon was held at Camp David on April 19, 2008. For the event, chef Matthew Wendel prepared a buffet spread that included fried chicken, potato salad, corn muffins, deviled eggs, and hummingbird cake.
  • Luncheon at Camp David for President of South Korea
    Joyce N. Boghosian
    Head of State
    Camp David
    food & drink
    This photograph was taken during a luncheon hosted by President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush in honor of President Lee Myung-bak of South Korea and his wife, Kim Yoon-ok. The luncheon was held at Camp David on April 19, 2008. Here, President Bush, Mrs. Bush, President Lee, and Mrs. Kim help themselves to a buffet spread. The buffet was prepared by chef Matthew Wendel and included fried chicken, potato salad, corn muffins, deviled eggs, and hummingbird cake.
  • Linden Lodge, Camp David
    Unknown
    Camp David
    This is a photograph of Linden Lodge, a one-room cabin at Camp David. Located near Laurel Lodge, the main communal lodge, Linden Lodge is one of several private cabins at Camp David. Other small cabins include Hawthorn and Sycamore Lodge. During the George W. Bush administration, chef Matthew Wendel lived at Linden Lodge while working at Camp David. Wendel's duties included cooking meals for the family, and ensuring the property was ready for the arrival of the first family or their distinguished guests. Wendel also prepared meals and assisted the first family at the Prairie Chapel Ranch, their home near Crawford, Texas.
  • Chefs Hadley, Wendel, and Mills at Laurel Lodge Kitchen
    Unknown
    Camp David
    This photograph shows chefs Mike Hadley, Matthew Wendel, and Ronnie Mills posing in the main kitchen in Laurel Lodge at Camp David. Wendel, pictured at center, became acquainted with George W. Bush and his family in 1995, and oversaw meal preparations for the first family at Camp David and the Prairie Chapel Ranch, their residence near Crawford, Texas. Hadley and Mills were experienced naval chefs, accustomed to cooking for large crowds aboard military vessels and at Camp David.
  • Golf Cart at Camp David
    Unknown
    Camp David
    transportation
    This photograph shows a golf cart used by chef Matthew Wendel for transportation around Camp David while living at Linden Lodge. Golf carts are an efficient mode of transportation at Camp David, enjoyed by presidents, guests, and staff members alike. Wendel prepared comforting meals for President George W. Bush and his family during their visits to Camp David and the Prairie Chapel Ranch, their residence near Crawford, Texas.
  • Menu for Luncheon at Camp David Honoring Prime Minister Thatcher
    White House Calligraphy Office
    menu
    Camp David
    This menu was created for a working luncheon hosted by President Ronald Reagan honoring Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom on November 15, 1986. The luncheon was held at Camp David, the president's country retreat in Maryland. Also present at the luncheon were Ambassador Antony Acland of the United Kingdom; Charles D. Powell, private secretary to the prime minister; White House chief of staff Donald T. Regan; Secretary of State George Pratt Shultz; and John M. Poindexter, assistant for national security affairs. This menu is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller, who served from 1966-1987.
  • President and Mrs. Carter at Camp David with Prime Minister and Mrs. Begin
    Unknown
    Head of State
    Camp David
    In this photograph, President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter walk the grounds of Camp David with Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and his wife Aliza Begin. Starting September 5, 1978, President Carter hosted Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat at Camp David for 13 days of peace negotiations. The event culminated in the signing of the Camp David Accords on September 17, 1978, which established a framework for peace between Egypt and Israel.
  • President and Mrs. Eisenhower at Camp David
    Unknown
    Camp David
    leisure
    This photograph of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower was taken in July 1954 at Camp David in Catoctin Mountain Park in Thurmont, Maryland. Camp David was a presidential retreat known as Shangri-La when it was established during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. President Eisenhower renamed the retreat Camp David after his grandson, David Eisenhower. In this photograph, President and Mrs. Eisenhower can be seen playing Scrabble at the presidential retreat.
  • Roosevelt and Churchill Fishing at Shangri-La
    Unknown
    Camp David
    World War II
    Head of State
    This black and white photo is of President Franklin D. Roosevelt fishing in a stream, accompanied by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The presidential retreat during Roosevelt's administration was known as "Shangri-La" but was renamed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after his grandson and is still known as "Camp David."
  • John F. Kennedy Jr. with Charlie at Camp David.
    Unknown
    children
    pets
    Camp David
    This photograph shows John F. Kennedy, Jr., playing with dog Charlie and another child at Camp David.
  • George Bush with Millie and Ranger at Camp David
    Unknown
    Camp David
    pets
    This photograph shows President Bush taking a walk with dogs Millie and Ranger at Camp David.