Camp David, built in 1938, was originally named "Catotin Villa". It is one of the three amusement parks in Cato Hill. It is located in Cato Hill, Maryland, at 120 km northwest of Washington, D.C., with an altitude of about 548.6 meters and an area of about 5 square kilometers. It only takes 30 minutes to get here by helicopter from the White House. At first, it was a holiday place for American federal government workers and their families. The following year, it became a special sanatorium for President Roosevelt, and later became a leisure summer resort for the President of the United States. President franklin roosevelt once used this place as his summer house and retreat, and gave it a poetic name "Shangri-La" according to the novel Lost Horizon published by British writer james hilton 1933 ("Shangri-La" means "the sun and moon in my heart" in Tibetan, which is the ideal realm people yearn for-"Xanadu"). Later, in 1953, President Eisenhower named the resort after his favorite grandson David and renamed it "Camp David". After that, Camp David was renamed Camp Three for a period of time. It was not until 1960 that Nixon became president that the title of Camp David was restored. Perhaps it is the name of this naive child that can make the presidents who come here for vacation find the pure feeling of natural leisure.
The whole holiday camp consists of several country villas, including 10 country bungalows with stone and wood structures. The main buildings are aspen house, birch house, rose house and dogwood house, among which aspen house is the official residence of the president. The main facilities are conference rooms and concert halls, including the presidential hillside residence, which has four bedrooms and has a unique pastoral style and mood. There is a classical stone stove in the room, which can bring warmth to the whole room, and an elevator leads to the presidential wartime command room 30 meters underground. The fishing pond outside the house adds a bit of life to this quiet manor. Looking from the mountain, the surrounding national parks have a panoramic view, which is refreshing. In addition, there are various recreational facilities, such as golf courses, heated swimming pools, tennis courts and gyms, so that presidents can enjoy their favorite pastimes and get maximum physical and mental rest. Over the years, successive presidents have often come here to adjust their busy official life in the White House and serve as a more relaxed place to meet foreign VIPs in diplomatic activities.
At first, there was only one log crossing the road to Camp David, and only one sailor (later changed to a marine) guarded it. Later, the logs were replaced by tall iron gates, and the number of guards increased, making Camp David look like a heavily guarded "prison". Only staff, logistics personnel and the president's guests are allowed to enter Camp David. When the rest of the idlers are still near the mountain crossing, they will see a small sign that reads: "No parking, slow down and turn!" Don't wait and see! "
In addition to being relaxed and comfortable, Camp David is shrouded in a mysterious color. After all, politicians from all over the world often meet here, and security issues have become the top priority. Although Camp David has long been famous, it takes only half an hour by helicopter from Washington, but it can't be found on the map. What's more, Camp David has its unique natural barrier, hidden in the dense forest, just like disappearing out of thin air. Especially when summer comes, the endless Woods are full of lush trees. Unless the plane risks flying at low altitude, it is impossible to judge its exact position. In addition, Camp David is still under the guard of the Marine Corps and united states secret service staff. It is surrounded by a high fence. The entrance to the only highway leading to the villa is also closely monitored. There are checkpoints at regular intervals along the way, which are equipped with alarms. In addition, agents and police dogs constantly patrol back and forth. Therefore, every president and distinguished guest who comes here can enjoy this rare freedom with peace of mind.
The famous "Holy Land of Peace"
During the newly-built World War II, the American presidential resort with pleasant scenery and elegant environment became the "Kartak Pavilion Command" where President Roosevelt made strategic decisions with his aides during his vacation. During this period, President Roosevelt also set a precedent for inviting foreign heads of state to visit Camp David. The first lucky guest was British Prime Minister Churchill, one of the three giants of the Allies at that time. Since then, Camp David has moved from the "back garden" of American presidents' vacation and leisure to the forefront of political diplomacy.
But Camp David is truly famous in history and the world because it witnessed two famous "Camp David Conferences".
First, 1959 From September 25th to 27th, Khrushchev, Chairman of the Soviet Council of Ministers, held three-day informal talks with American President Eisenhower at Camp David. The two sides extensively exchanged views on Germany, Berlin, disarmament, nuclear test ban, scientific and cultural exchanges, economic cooperation and bilateral relations. Although the talks did not achieve any substantive results, it was a preliminary attempt by the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, to get out of the Cold War, ease the dialogue and extend an olive branch to each other. It not only gradually eased the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, but also set a historic precedent for the United States and the Soviet Union to resolve international disputes and bilateral relations in the form of summit meetings.
Secondly, from September 6th, 1978 to September 7th, 1978, American President Carter, Egyptian President Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Bei Jing held a two-day tripartite secret meeting at Camp David. During the meeting, there was a fierce dispute between Egypt and Israel, and they held their own negotiating positions and held their own words. However, under President Carter's repeated efforts and constant pressure, the two sides finally reached the historic Camp David agreement, which gave birth to the first peace agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbors and opened the door to peace in the Middle East. After the signing of the agreement, Israel returned desert of sinai occupied in the 1967 Middle East War, Egypt recognized Israel, and the two countries established diplomatic relations, which normalized their relations and ushered in the first light of peace in the Middle East. Camp David is therefore known as the "Holy Land of Peace" by the world.
Leisure "Xanadu"
The president, a symbol of power and status, was once the highest state that many people with lofty ideals dreamed of. However, when they really "exist", the president and his family lost their former "freedom" and were burdened with too many constraints. Therefore, it is conceivable that the free and leisurely life is their dream "Xanadu", and it is this "back garden" of the White House that creates a leisurely world for them. They can put on casual clothes and enjoy their favorite entertainment. For Clinton and George W. Bush, who are keen on running, they can run at will in the tree-lined Camp David without being "restricted" by agents.
Franklin roosevelt once discussed the war strategy of allied operations with Churchill here, and also arranged his favorite philatelic products here;
Eisenhower held high-level talks with Khrushchev here, expressing the desire of both sides to jointly contain military opponents, and once swung freely on the golf course here;
Kennedy once discussed the action plan of invading the Bay of Pigs with Eisenhower here, and his wife Caroline once rode and whipped freely here.
Johnson used to study the unpredictable situation of the Vietnam War here with his assistant, and once let time pass in a bowling alley here.
Nixon met Brezhnev here and tried his hand at the newly built swimming pool here.
Ford once defended his pardon of Nixon here, and also drove a snowmobile here;
Carter once urged Israel and Egypt, the bitter rivals, to reach a historic peace agreement here, and once enjoyed cycling and roaming here with his wife.
Reagan once met Mrs. Thatcher, the "Iron Lady", borrowed furniture drawings from the wood shop here and studied them thoughtfully.
George H.W. Bush once discussed the international situation with Gorbachev here, held a grand wedding for his beloved daughter here, and repaired the horseshoe and horseshoe of his beloved BMW here.
Clinton once hosted the US-Israel-Palestine summit here, and avoided the sex scandal between him and Monica Lewinsky here.
It was here in the early hours of the morning that George W. Bush decided the first shot of the global war on terrorism (Operation Enduring Freedom), and he also soothed the heart frightened by the "9. 1 1 incident".
Half is strategizing, and half is taking it easy. This is the holiday resort of the President of the United States-Camp David.