A fascinating history of U.S. presidential vacation spots--collected
for the first time in one guide that covers everything from Mount Vernon
to Kennebunkport to Camp David.
Where do you go to relax when you're the leader of the free world?
Even the president needs to get away from it all sometimes. From George
Washington to Barack Obama, each of our presidents has sought solace
from the tightly structured daily routines of the White House. As Ronald
Reagan once said of his California ranch, "I do some of my best thinking
there." Peter Hannaford takes readers on a fascinating armchair vacation
with each of our leaders, offering unique historical context for the why
and the where of their chosen retreats.
Which president asked visiting foreign dignitaries to send him seeds to
plant at his family home? Who called his vacation property "Sherwood
Forest" because it was "a good place for an outlaw"? Which
adventure-loving Commander-in- Chief set up a Summer White House in New
York every year? Who liked to cruise aboard the presidential yacht when
faced with momentous wartime decisions? Who polled the American people
to help him decide where to vacation?
Presidential Retreats explores a side of the American presidency that
we don't often see--the downtime--as it offers an intriguing glimpse at
the evolution of leisure time in this country.
