Inside Camp David: The Private World of the Presidential Retreat

by Michael Giorgione

Among the trees, a clearing of the chief executive’s mind is possible that results in tangible benefits for national policy.

It is stylistically so similar to Camp David that the hit TV show The West Wing used it as a stand-in for the presidential retreat for episodes that were supposed to be set at Camp David.

All this complicated ancient history of the Middle East and another attempt by a U.S. president to broker a peace, and, like many things in life, it principally came down to interpersonal relationships. These three adult men each had their own strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, aspirations and fears.

As Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy revealed in their wonderful book The Presidents Club, in the presence of those few who are truly peers, the president might find that his solitary load feels a little less heavy.