From Mount Vernon to Crawford; A History of the Presidents and Their Retreats

New York: Hyperion, 2005. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. Very good/Very good. xii, [4], 363, [3] pages. Illustrations (some in color). Endnotes. Bibliography. Index. The author was the Chief White House Correspondent for the U.S. News & World Report. A fascinating and unique look at our presidents' retreats, hideaways, and homes. Kenneth T. Walsh focuses on the various retreats where our commanders-in- chief have gone to escape the hustle and bustle of Washington, chronicling the important decisions that were made and the historic events that have occurred at them. Moreover, he describes what these sites reveal about the characters of the presidents and the times in which they lived. From George Washington (Mount Vernon) to George W. Bush (Crawford ranch), from FDR (Hyde Park) to JFK (Hyannisport), almost every single president has had a beloved place where he could really be himself. Based on interviews with four of the living presidents, as well as officials and staff, this is a fascinating glimpse into this largely unexamined facet of American government. Derived from comments posted on-line: Little has been written about our presidents and their activities while in the confines of their individual retreats. What did these presidents do to ease the burden of their office when they could get away to their retreats. We know they interacted with family and friends, but over time much state and international business was conducted upon retreat property as well. Washington had his estate in Virginia at Mount Vernon, Jefferson retired to Monticello in the mountains of Virginia, John Adams simply returned to is home outside Boston and farmed. Lincoln took retreat by visiting injured shoulders in Union hospitals during the Civil War years and Eisenhower actually purchased his estate known as Camp David located outside Gettysburg. He used the royalties from his post WW II book Victory In Europe to purchase the land and renovate the farm house at Camp David. The Bush's had their retreat at their ranch in Crawford, TX while Clinton and Kennedy played at Martha's Vineyard. Ronald Reagan often retired to his ranch in California for R&R. Jimmy Carter returned to his humble beginnings and peanut farm in Plains, GA. Eisenhower's second escape was the greens at Augusta Country Club in Georgia.