Birthday Parties

What do the following people have in common: David Eisenhower, Boris Yeltsin, Chelsea Clinton, President Obama, Malia and Sasha Obama, and Japanese Prime Minister Noda? They all celebrated their birthday at Camp David.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is presented with a birthday cake at the G8 opening dinner in May 2012

Sasha Obama plays in the Aspen pool on a birthday visit

to Camp David in June 2011

In August 2009, Michelle Obama planned a surprise birthday party for the President in Laurel Lodge. It was attended by his family; friends from Hawaii and Chicago; some college friends; and David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs.

They arrived the night before and spent the weekend playing basketball, pool, golf, shuffleboard, and Scrabble.

In July 2009, Malia Obama had around 20 girls up to Camp David for her 11th birthday. The Obamas returned to Camp David for Malia's birthdays in 2010 and 2011. Sasha celebrated her 10th birthday at Camp David in June 2011.

In 1996, Chelsa Clinton invited 30 friends to join her in celebrating her 16th birthday at Camp David. After arriving at the retreat on a bus, they played paintball in the woods there with President Clinton cheering them on. Following a birthday dinner in Laurel Lodge, they headed over to Hickory for movies and bowling.

Russian President Boris Yeltsin admires his birthday present at Camp David along with President Bush and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Robert Strauss  (photos: AP; AFP/Getty)

Russian President Boris Yeltsin celebrated his 61st birthday at Camp David in February 1992. President Bush surprised him with a birthday cake, a pair of Texas cowboy boots (with a silver map of Russia on them) and a White House parka.

David Eisenhower, whom grandfather Dwight D. Eisenhower named Camp David after, celebrated his 24th and 25th birthdays at Camp David with the Nixons in 1972 and 1973. David is married to President Nixon's daughter Julie.




Sources: The White House; The Obamas by Jodi Kantor; Chicago Sun-Times; Obama Foodorama; Chicago Tribune; Living History by Hillary Clinton; Lakeland Ledger; AP, AFP/Getty; The Washington Post; Los Angeles Times; Herald-Journal; Lewiston Daily Sun