Welcome to another episode of white house history. Rich diverse history about the white house and the people who live and work there. Mike is a retired apple from the navy Civil Engineer court was served in a variety of climates around the world and 29 year military career including commander. Including as commander of camp david. After retirement thousand ten, Michael Jordan private industry is a chief executive officer of the Building Information Technology company headquartered in his hometown of pittsburgh, pennsylvania. In october in 2017 he published his first book inside camp david, private world of the president ial retreat. Retreat. Mike travels often speaking about the book has been covered by the wall street journal, the today show cspan and many other print Radio Television outlets. After our conversation, mike will be taking questions from our live audience. Please be your questions for mike and the chat we will get to as many as possible welcome to white house history live mike. Wonderful to be here. Its an honor to serve the nation. [inaudible] only start from the beginning, your story with camp david. Tell us about how you were selected as commander of camp david, what that process was likely. Camp david is actually a navy command Naval Support facility and a town nearby. The navy has operated and maintained it since it was started in 1942 by president roosevelt. Civil engineer Corps Officer with history. 1998 is put on a short list for possible officers to be considered, how the interview with president clinton, went through a visit to the camp about a week later i got the call. Visited once as an assignment officer left the visit that day the next assignments. That cut a really difficult place to work it will be weird to work there someday. Put it away, went on for the next few tours and lo and behold i was shortlisted was selected reported in june of 1999 and the end of president clintons second term bird. Lets talk a little bit about the history of camp david. The history begins later talk about that. Lets go back to 1942 roosevelt loved with a three president ials in his times in the potomac. New book on the right is Oakland California today. Secure as hobbies its a place to go get away from the white house Helicopter Squadron existed, that got to find somewhere drivable nearby. Interestingly because of the new deal, bring us out of depression and part of the work projects are the Progress Administration on the conservation corps put money back into the country i rebuilt a lot of the roads and parks. You place in maryland, also known as camp number three. Rose was given three sites nearby to visit. He went to all three when he came to camp number three he looked at it and said this is it. And heres the first and this is my shangrila. Joe roosevelt amended chandra law applying a utopian mysterious place of the mountain. He had that whimsical nature about naming things bridget thats what its name. As mail president eisenhower renamed after his grandson, camp david. That is how we know it today. You describe kempton for a lot of our viewers and listeners who im sure have never visited camp david in person. Im probably will not visit camp david. When you paint a picture of what the camp is like . I will try. Great partners of ours 1800 feet elevation, on the spring and summer months. A leafy canopy perfectly manicured yards, the road meanders to the camp. In these cabins we president ial walkthrough all the cabins have this oak plank siding with the certain shade of green paint. All the roofs are cedar shake shingles. These very rustic, very leafy, very fresh. But at night i find it particularly surreal definitely quiet, no white except pathway light. No noise except for a squirrel in the tree no lights, no noises from below eerily quiet peaceful. Inside the campus is called cedar just from the corner from aspen and the president s logic. How many cabins are in camp david, how big is the site . There are about four guest cabins president eisenhower started that called the president ial watch eisenhower when he renamed it camp david named all of the trees, all named after trees coat 12 for entertainment 20 total that include the fire department, the ash, clinic, eucalyptus, popular, the cycle of drought the staff at camp david pretty were the commander. Was assize the military staff at camp david . What kind of job do they perform . Over 200 sailors and marines, officers maintain their maintenance. Officer supply corn to marine officers in washington d. C. Also put all of the sailors and rings together just over 200 staff. Theres also white house communication detachment there in charge of communications that is a joint command coming out of the main command. Q tells a little bit about how camp david is changed over the years . It was very rustic is been some notable additions to the complex. Mention there is a chaplin so there is a chapel at camp david. That also about the activities and how that complex is changed over time. To fdr again apparently its why the navy has it. He took the sealers of the uss potomac of not had a job and took them with him to camp david brought them for security. They went there during the non winter months. Truman, not a favorite of camp david prefer to go to key west. Had the trees pushed back on during eisenhowers time it was winterized and installed the other cabins. They still maintain that, over the years use of a family cabins have been added president nixon during his time but a lot of expansion into the camp, putting in the hourglass shape pool adding laurel which is the main entertaining cabinet you see sometimes on news report and coverage of World Leaders and visiting number of other features throughout. To modernize the time they challenge the president to modernize the cabin and expanded thats been going on last for five years but a very sequential smart way to keep current but maintain the rustic nature outside. And the amenities on the inside part is not a marble, brass a four star resort is not meant to be. It is a rustic, comfortable place to get away, to think, to walk in privacy and silence. And recreate on your own or meet with other World Leaders. The most unique thing the bottom right of this photo of the Evergreen Chapel donated to private money, with camp david commissioned in 1994 during president george h. W. Bush. How do president s get to camp david customer could talk about fdr within driving distance. But present to circle do not drive to camp david in a morbid. We prefer to bring them end by the Helicopter Squadron eisenhower was the first to come in like that. And weather permitting they will fly in the talk marine one. Theyll come up by motorcade from where ever their departure platform is. Camp david is a president ial retreat. Yet you know president s often find themselves working in camp david. Tell us a little bit how it functions as the white house . Thank you. I think most people recognize no matter who is the president , there can be a lot of critiques about what you do when youre off duty for how you do your job. But the fact is you are always on duty. And you need time off, we all need time off. In addition to a second home some of us have been some do not, camp david provides that peaceful getaway for family, friends, and if needed for staff and for World Leaders. Its a great the president s going to get away most of the time as a couple to get away, to recreate but also im sure to think about things every is a little different. To me the outsider think the best val is a personal respite for your family and friends. Then you find its a great place to bring World Leaders to to talk privately. There is no press unless you invite the press and pray there is no press, there are no protesters, there is no traffic, no plane flying overhead serenely, private and peaceful. How do people get around . Its golf carts everyone is assigned a golf cart program golf cart one. So golf cart one, golf carts for all of the gas, bicycles are available for pedestrians. We have crosscountry trails through the woods in the winter months if you want to do that. Snowmobiling saw the president president ford and his family. Principally golf carts to get around or walk. Just a reminder to everyone we are going to be taking questions at the end of our conversation. If you do have questions for mike about camp david comments history, what its like please put them in the chat will get to as many as possible. Stock a little bit about the history of camp david the Historic Events that have taken place for camp david. Can you talk about some of these episodes for them and why president s might choose camp david for the setting of these historic occurrences . I will mention four events and then i will focus on the fifth one in particular. We have seen photos from the nearby stream. But the point of the bottom left of them talking about how, roosevelt on the top left inside aspen the stone hearth fireplace is still there for there is a wagon wheel the roosevelt table is still there. President truman, i only went ten times in his tenure he preferred key west. The president s come that thats the first time with fdr and churchill. President carter made it famous for most people 1978 with the peace accords with sadat and israel. During my time 2000 president clinton brought arafat and the Prime Minister of israel to camp to try to represent a similar thing for president 12 president obama hosted the conference at camp david. The single time the most World Leaders have been in camp at any one time. The incident want to go back to his 1961. April 1961. President kennedy inaugurated in january succeeding president eisenhower. Bad things are being planned by the scenes with the cia, u. S. Government and others passed off to the administration you see the photo of the top right of Pulitzer Prize winning photo called serious steps. Whats interesting about this i think from a human and political point is that president kennedy inherited the operation. It was launched, and did not go well hence the name. Riches across the political and personal ill and invites president eisenhower to come to camp david and help them understand how to get to this how do i fix this mess, what do i do . Its a very poignant and significant moment i think part of the new upstart democrat inviting the old guard fivestar general to talk about what to do. I think its a very humble may be possibly desperate measure. Very humble way to recognize leadership and what passes between administrations and talk about what to do best for the country. You mentioned this already, mike, who talk about this in your book. Some president s and first ladies visit camp david or frequently than others. If you talk a little bit about the differences in how the president s and first families use camp david and explain why think that is . One, i think it depends on children. What are the ages of the president s children. I think that dictates are they going to leave their intramural leagues, back in d. C. , are they hosting their friends, of the running out of the house, too, some have second homes and go there for they could do both. Three, some like the quiet nature. President clinton really went to camp david his first term but did a lot more second term. Over two terms is on the value. Some prefer just to go somewhere else. Prefer to entertain elsewhere. You have seen a mix over 80 some years of how they use it. Host can you share this one or two of your most favorite memories from your time camp david . Are certainly the historic moments most people recognize the middle east peace summit, work with the state department to welcome president clinton meeting Yasser Arafat and having a photo shaking his hand, watching from the sidelines as president clinton spent two weeks trying to forge the peace agreement. Watching president bush welcoming the blairs to couples getting to know each other much like as you would moved with their neighbors as you move into a neighborhood. There very poignant things to watch on the sideline for even you get to serve there, see things, you have to remember you are in the role you get to know some personal things about the families but you are not of their world you have to maintain that corm. I will tilt two stories that are a more personal nature. I think it helps to relate to the families. The first one is the final clinton weekend hundreds of guests coming through, musicians performing in ang chapel, a wonderful event. As im walking to the helicopter, theres snow on the ground and walking them down to seee them, 20yearold Student Hands me something. She said commander, ive had to use my, please give them to your daughter, thank you for everything youve done. Itss unexpected and great keepsakes no. Thats the first one and theres a scene of 2001. Thecl second one is the position and the fact that you are responsible for security and you have to run errands, it was during the middle easthi in the first week, a common thing to do in the summer and shes coming back with the girls in the backseat and we have a strict policy, not camels and the marie corps are, we know all the marines and they were just doing their job and they said you cant bring pets into the camp and she gives this look and the girls are hearing this and the tear comes on and shes looking at them and hes looking at her in there looking back and hes doing his jobob and moms doing r job and michelle leans in and says for dinner and kind of winks. Yes, maam so he says funny moments like that you realize we have this, we have rules and regulations and work through it and thats the favorite story because of that. Thank you. The final chapter in your book is called camp david, tell us, what is the true meaning and is a different for every family who spends time there . Definitely different as i described. President george w. Bush going to kick david and spend every christmasad there so for some is a time for family to come together. During my time, clintons love camping for thanksgiving and every president is different, nancy reagan loved it but he did all of this so they all use it differently. The meaning comes from this and it has seen, the spirit of camp david coined by one of the soviet premiers and you can come together with trust within nature, no press and the ability to sit down as people, break bread, share a story and get to know each other and to me, thats the true meaning, president s to get away and relax in a place to entertain family and guests and probably one of the most unique places in the world. In. We have some really Great Questions from our live audience. Nancy from facebook asks i know president reagan and nancy reagan rode horses cap david, is there a stable there andt what other activities are available . The only time was during the kennedyab years when it was kept the. Otherwise, horseback and i had one incident where the National Parkin Service brought the horss up and we went back into the wilderness and the go through so horseback riding is possible but no corral. Theres any golf course and driving range and president s want to go golfing, they go to the golf course want to fish, nearby fishing poles. There w is a bowling l. A. , Movie Theater, game room, a library, a bar, lounge and recreation shop and etc. Have you ever accidentally approached the perimeter of camp david . There are some warning signs around the camp and could drive byds and most people know not to go down there. If you do happen to stick close, you can check and get back to your path. Theres a no fly zone but im sure it happens and continues to happen. Didnt fdr make a wrong turn when he was driving was and didnt he come across a neighbor . It happened. We didnt drive around as much as we do today in the humerus of its healed who are you . Those little moments about everyday life and how we engage each other. What is the longest of president has stayed there . Carter there for a week or more . Yes, there was a time carter was there over a week almost two weeks for the peace talk is clinton was there although he went to japan midterm but president carter was there 1979 and came back and talked about the condition of the country and what was going on and all this was going on and it was almost two weeks working there but typically president s go for a weekend in. How did eisenhower get to name him david . Under executive order, legislation or did he just have someone so with number of their . I like the second explanation bus but i dont know. He changed the name to camp david but i have to check the archives t. When the president chooses not to visit him david very often, health does it change operations . This. Some weekends you are always on with an operations tempo they say. What happened that camp david when the president is away . What would you do as a staff. Training, physical fitness. You need to always be ready. You are really sitting waiting taking care of the place. You are always ready. That is what we live for, those visits. Has hollywoodod or the news media ever filmed onsite for camp david . Abc news interviewed without regard of camp david. Middle events in 2000, the press was there in a secluded area to film. Coming in and then they were escorted out on the bus. There been hollywood guest and musical guest. No real filming other than the archives. What is the reason for the no pets rule at camp david . It depends on what happens in history. The Camp Commanders dog. It is a humorous time. Today we are a little bit more reasonable. You mentioned the library. What kind of books are in the library. Po does it depend on the administration . It keeps them archived in a public library. Hichristmas cards, holiday card, Movie Theater in the library. Carter chose to meet with because of smaller nature. I like that one. Some other historical knowledge nabout the military services. One foror public use in the history of camp david in the second the president ial papers. Do you have any stories about the johnson years in camp david . Lbj. Coronado california. Chuck and his family go in from the kennedy to johnson years. In the book it talks about particularly person kitty about scalding hot water in the shower working to try to make it hotter than possible. They talk about that transition from kennedy reacting to the assassination and then bringing president johnson and his family has President Biden visited camp david, do you know . He has been there eight times so far. He was there a number of times. The microburst on the hill. Sometimes knocking down trees in the state park, the national park. Fortunately, nothing serious has hit the area. Marianne asked a good question. Has there ever been a wedding at camp david . A president s daughter married their in the Evergreen Chapel. What was the Biggest Surprise you ever had while working at camp david . The day the sprinklers went off, i did not witness it but secret service watching nearby. He threw his clothes into the golf cart and went out to the driving lanes. It is humorous but you have to understand the frustration of someone dealing with that. I tried to make light of it that night. It was a poor attempt to humor. When to be serious and not. Fortunately, no experience during my time. A tough time in the world. I left a month before 9 11 occurred. We spent a a lot of time describing that at the time. How much heads up do you get to know when the president is coming . Depends on thes president. The change of command, 10 00 a. M. , my predecessor knew scheduled we get word the president is coming that night. You realize you are about to inherit thehe camp. You know nothing really about what iset going on. I found that to be a very fortunate event. It taught me just to sit back, let people do their jobs. I have to do is get dressed up, walked down there, introduce myself. Let people do their job. Train them, let people have their back, support them let them do their job. Again, it depends on the person. Can the Vice President and his or her family go there as well . Ifow the president allows th. Not a lot, but occasionally. Staff are others going away for leadership retreat. The time and Chapel Welcome people and they do what they to deal. E do you know how the pandemic has affect camp david . New procedures . This is the Trump Administration , beginning of the biden administration. Everyone is just observant of following the rules. By the navys Health Protection commission. Very appropriate response. Held back from a lot of outside. No World Leaders have been there i think that that will open up. I think i know the answer to this question, but i will ask it anyways. His camp david ever open to tours . You are spot on. It is not open. Do not believe that. That is not true. The only way to get to camp, crewmembers can have just appeared know someone that works there if allowed or know the president and be invited. What is the food like at camp david . A good question. We run a galley operation. There is still lounge and bar available. We work with the first family, soquel social secretary, welltrained specialist that sometimes work with the president chef or white house to prepare the meals. We sometimes work with the state department. Sometimes coastal meals. We accommodate the guest. Day to day, we have a galley that serve the crew that works there. Something you think every american should know d about cap david. Its all about jeopardy. It is a navy command just like marine one is a command in air force one and et cetera. It was first established in 1942 someone from the marines or navy at camp david. The Camp Commander is a u. S. Navy commander. Sometimes an officer select did with the camp. The senior marine is the captain the Marine Security company. Further White House CommunityAgency Detail there may be a Lieutenant Colonel in the u. S. Army. Your last question this evening, several viewers, why did you decide to write the book on camp david and what was one or two things that were fascinating that you learned while you are researching to write the book. Wonderful final question. On the day of change of command spirit she hands me this journal the first page of the journal, saying dear daddy please write stories so the kids will care about it. It is humorous. After every visit i would sit down. See what happens. I put that away in my desk and never opened it. Never thought i could write a book. Reunion weekend during one of the previous at camp david. A lotta former training officers spouses were there. We are all meeting each other. Ifi had heard them talking about trying to catch the history. Many had written their own story i first realized i could write the book. I kneww i was not going to write anything and i knew i could weave in 15 stories of other commanding officers. I thought, now, we can bring the whole campou together. You will see the stories in the name of the book. You will see human photos and use it that way to become a historical narrative to some of the personal insight. It was to show respect and to tell the stories. A little bit about the inside workings and how they support the presidency around the world 247. Thank you so much for joining us. This is been a really comprehensive conversation about camp david. American history tv documen that appeared funding for cspan2 comes from these Television Companies and more. 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