Presidential Retreats : Where the Presidents Went and Why They Went There

by Peter Hannaford

• ISBN13: 9781451627145
• ISBN10: 1451627149
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-10-30
• Publisher: Threshold Editions

Summary

A fascinating history of U.S. presidential vacation spotscollected for the first time in one guide that covers everything from Mount Vernon to Kennebunkport to Camp David. It's estimated that the combined attendance at the thirteen official presidential libraries, with visitors to Mount Vernon and the very active Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center, adds up to approximately 5 million annuallyand this does not include the myriad presidential homes and retreats, birthplaces, and other sites open to the public. Now, presidential biographer Peter Hannaford has channeled his knowledge of presidential vacation homes into this history lovers' travel guide. From George Washington to George W. Bush, every one of our presidents has felt the need for a place where he could get away from the demands of the office. The basic reason was the same for all: a release from pressure. As Ronald Reagan said of the time he spent at his ranchcumulatively nearly one year out of his eight in office"I do some of my best thinking there." For our early presidents, their homes in the country were their retreats. Some conducted business while they relaxed; others used these havens mostly to rest, think, read, write, as well as to enjoy fresh air and spend quality time with family. Many of the places are not open to the public, yet they all have tales to tell: political plotting and planning; important policy decisions made; foreign leaders met (and lobbied), children raised, even some romantic dalliances. Featuring contact information and website addresses for each site, readers experience them all firsthand in Presidential Retreats.