The White House Communications Agency (WHCA) is a joint service military agency under the operational control of the White House Military Office (WHMO) and administrative control of the Defense Information System Agency (DISA).
A fact sheet about the White House Communications Agency describes its Special Missions Command (SMC) as responsible for installing, operating, and maintaining the communications infrastructure at Camp David.
Some WHCA systems are mirrored at Camp David in order to provide continuity of operations in an outage. This FedBizOps listing for the Visual Information Command group within the WHCA solicits a contract to provide a digital TV broadcast system for real-time news to key leaders throughout the WHCA and the White House Operations Center. The mirroring of this system at Camp David is listed as one of the requirements.
Another FedBizOps listing describes an Operations Center and Conference Room Modernization Project at Camp David related to the Special Missions Command that would give them the ability to disseminate information from an alternate location.
In 2002, the White House Communications Agency expanded the fiber-optic network at Camp David to connect all of the buildings there to "provide virtually unlimited bandwidth to all users".
Camp David fiber network diagram
A blog written about the White House Communications Agency from 1965 to 1974 describes Camp David's role in the former Presidential Emergency Network operated by the WHCA. The presidential emergency facility (PEF) at Camp David was called Cactus and consisted of a "fully equipped switchboard and communications center with secure telephone and TTY". In an emergency, the President would have been able to broadcast a live address to the nation from Camp David. More information about the early days at the WHCA can be found here.
When President Carter took office, he was concerned about the cost of Camp David and thought about closing down the Presidential Retreat. He changed his mind when the Director of the White House Military Office Bill Gulley told him about the bomb shelter, the emergency communications center, and other facilities there.
Recent Updates to the Camp David Infrastructure
The FY 2013 DISA Budget states that in FY 2011, the Camp David infrastructure was upgraded to enable diversification and to make WHCA services more robust and survivable. The FY 2013 budget includes funding to "continue upgrades to the Camp David Technical Control Facility (TCF) infrastructure".
There have been a number of 2013 FedBizOps solicitations for the installation of new circuits connecting Camp David to various locations:
When I first heard that the 2012 G8 Summit had been moved to Camp David, I immediately wondered about the cabin assignments. I was disappointed to hear National Security Adviser Tom Donilon joke that the cabin allocation system was classified.
While I'm sure it was not actually classified, the information was not made public at the time. I became determined to find this out for myself (and for my blog readers, of course). Three months later, I can finally write this blog post.
United States: President Barack Obama - Aspen Lodge
United Kingdom: Prime Minister David Cameron - Maple Cabin
Russia: Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev - Dogwood Cabin
When President Vladimir Putin met with President George W. Bush at Camp David in 2003, he stayed in the Dogwood Cabin. I figured it was a safe diplomatic move to assign Russia the same cabin for the G8 Summit. I found out my assumption was correct when I saw that Prime Minister Medvedev posted a photo of himself on Instagram standing in front of his Dogwood Cabin.
The day before the G8 Summit began, I received a blog visitor from France via the Google search terms "Camp David cabins G8" and "Camp David Birch". I immediately began to look for confirmation online that President Hollande had been assigned to Birch cabin. A few days later, several more visitors from France arrived by searching for Birch cabin. Still, I could not find any confirmation of this in any news story.
Shortly after I tweeted that I was looking for confirmation that President Hollande stayed in Birch cabin, I received an email from another Françoise in France with a link to a story in Le Figaro. Because the article was written in French, it had never popped up in my Google News searches.
A few days later, the website for Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper posted some photos of Harper meeting with Hollande in Birch cabin.
Canada: Prime Minister Stephen Harper - Rosebud Cabin
When I came across this story by Canadian Press reporter Lee-Anne Goodman, I was disappointed there was no mention of the cabin he stayed in. So, I emailed Lee-Anne and asked her if she knew. She replied that Harper had stayed in the Rosebud cabin and that she had already reported it in another story. Somehow, I missed that one out of the dozens of Google News email alerts that were piling up in my inbox...
My blog received a number of visitors from Germany searching for information on the Red Oak cabin, but it was a while before I finally came across this story in the German version of the Financial Times confirming that Chancellor Merkel stayed there.
European Union: President Herman Van Rompuy; Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso - Hickory Cabin
Perhaps the tweet below from BBC News political editor Nick Robinson best illustrates the concern the White House must have had when trying to determine the cabin assignments for the G8 Leaders.
The cabin assignment for the EU leaders was reported in the German Financial Times story.
Italy: Prime Minister Mario Monti - Southern Pine Cabin
A week after the conclusion of the G8 Summit, I found myself at a dead end. I had only two more leaders to go and could not find the cabin information anywhere on the internet. By then, it was "yesterday's news" and I knew that no additional stories would be written. I decided to go to the source and submit a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
I had never written an FOIA request before and didn't even know for sure if this was something that would fall under that category. I went to the State Department website and found the page where you can submit a request online. I asked for the name of the cabins assigned to PM Monti and PM Noda during the summit.
And then I waited. And waited. And then about three months later, I received the following response:
The State Department replied that they were unable to find any documents responsive to my request. However, they contacted the Visit Officer for the 2012 G8 Summit who provided the information that Prime Minister Noda was assigned to the Hawthorn cabin and Prime Minister Monti was assigned to the Southern Pine cabin.
President George W. Bush's dog Spot arrives at Camp David in 2001 for an important meeting in the Laurel Lodge
President Bush hits some tennis balls to puppy Barney in April 2001; President Bush and Chief of Staff Josh Bolten walk with Barney in July 2007
President Bush with Millie and Ranger in November 1991; President and Mrs. Bush walk with Millie in September 1992
President Reagan and dog Lucky head to Camp David on Marine One; President and Mrs. Reagan walk Lucky in 1985 and Rex in 1988.
The Fords take Liberty for a walk in 1976; Liberty goes for a swim in the heated Aspen pool in October 1974
President Ford with Liberty in October 1974 and February 1975
President Nixon and Bob Haldeman walk with dog King Timahoe in February 1971; President and Mrs Nixon with Pasha, Vicky, and King Timahoe in November 1973.
President Johnson and dog Yuki with Ambassadors Bunker and Harriman in April 1968
President Kennedy's daughter Caroline rides her pony Macaroni at Camp David in March 1963
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's dog Fala and his dog house at Shangri-La (Camp David)
Sources: The White House; George Bush Presidential Library;
Ronald Reagan Library; Gerald R. Ford Library; Richard Nixon Library;
Lyndon Baines Johnson Library; JFK Library; Harry S.Truman Library
President Obama shoots pool in Hickory after the G8 Summit on May 19, 2012
According to the Brunswick corporate website, President Eisenhower had Camp David "furnished with not one, but four Brunswick tables. Every President since Eisenhower—Kennedy, Nixon, Carter, Clinton—has used those tables."
Guests playing pool in Holly in 1979
President Obama played pool in Hickory during his birthday party in 2009 and after the G8 Summit in May 2012. The stained glass light fixture above the pool table is decorated with a navy anchor, flags, and "Camp David" in decorative lettering.
During the 1978 Camp David Summit, President Carter had a pool table set up in Holly cabin to provide some recreation for the participants over the thirteen stressful days there.
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.
The G8 Summit was held at Camp David on May 18-19. The summit location was unexpectedly moved from Chicago to Camp David back in early March. When asked about the location change at a March 6th press conference at the White House, President Obama replied:
"Somebody pointed out that I hadn't had any of my counterparts, who I've worked
with now for three years, up to Camp David. G8 tends to be a more informal
setting in which we talk about a wide range of issues in a pretty intimate way.
And the thinking was that people would enjoy being in a more casual backdrop. I
think the weather should be good that time of year."
G8 Summit Leaders Arrival
French G8 delegation arriving at Dulles Airport
The G8 leaders arrived at Dulles Airport throughout the day on Friday. This video shows the arrival of Italian Prime Minister Monti.
Upon arrival, the leaders were greeted and escorted into temporary portable buildings set up by the State Department to handle the leader arrivals.
The
portables provided a foreign delegation reception area that was "a
quiet and tranquil resting place while awaiting onward movement". The
furnishings were of "upscale quality" suitable for "foreign dignitaries
up to the level of king, prime minister, or president".
Modular reception center at Dulles Airport for arriving G8 leaders (photos: ModSpace)
President Obama departed the White House for Camp David at 6:00PM. From the White House, it takes Marine One about 30 minutes to reach Camp David. The helicopter landing zone at Camp David is a short walk (or golf cart ride) away from the residential cabins.
G8 Summit Leaders at Camp David
President Obama greeted leaders at the entrance of Laurel Lodge as they arrived for the welcome reception and dinner on Friday evening. The theme of the working dinner was "International Unity" and the discussions were focused on security.
Laurel Lodge at Camp David
Video of President Obama greeting the G8 leaders:
On Saturday morning, the media was invited into Laurel Lodge for a brief photo opportunity prior to the first working session of the summit. President Obama spoke about the discussions the leaders had the night before. Later that morning, the leaders headed over to the Aspen Lodge to pose for the G8 family photo.
Video of the G8 leaders posing for their official photo:
After the photo op, the leaders held their second working session followed by a working lunch with the leaders of four African nations to discuss the topic of food security. Three additional working sessions were held in the afternoon. President Obama also held separate bilateral meetings in the Aspen Lodge with Prime Minister Cameron and Chancellor Merkel.
The summit had some relaxing moments as well. On Saturday morning, President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron went to the gym and used the treadmills. In the afternoon, the leaders watched the Champions League final soccer match. The summit concluded at 6PM and President Obama delivered the closing remarks outside the Aspen Lodge.
G8 Leader Cabin Assignments
National Security Adviser Tom Donilon joked that the "cabin allocation system" for G8 leaders was classified. The cabin choices must have been made with diplomatic care; some cabins are definitely nicer than others. In her 2007 book, Laura Bush referred to the Birch and Dogwood cabins as "the two cabins where dignitaries stay". In 1978, Egyptian President Sadat stayed in Dogwood and Israeli Prime Minister Begin stayed in Birch.
Medvedev outside Dogwood cabin; Harper and Hollande inside Birch cabin
Additional photos of the G8 Summit at Camp David can be found on another post: G8 Summit Photos
Media Coverage of the Camp David G8 Summit
G8 media center at Camp Round Meadow gym G8 Summit media bus (photos: @EUintheUS)
Media trucks - G8 Summit at Camp David (@BBCNormanS)
The international media center was located at Camp Round Meadow in Catoctin Mountain Park. The State Department arranged catering to provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner there.
To cover events inside Camp David, the press rode a bus from the media center to the Evergreen Chapel, which served as a press pool hold area. Reporters were forbidden to take any pictures while riding the bus. Some French journalists had to delete some photos they took while waiting inside the Evergreen Chapel.
A pool report described the bus passing by "fenced-in wooded areas, several cabins, tennis and basketball courts, and a few golf carts zipping around the grounds".
G8 Summit Leaders Gift
Gifts are traditionally given to the leaders at the G8 Summit. In February, Chicago-based R.S. Owens proudly announced they were selected to create a commemorative G8 gift from President Obama representing a famous Chicago landmark. Less than two weeks later, the summit location was moved to Camp David.
President Obama gave the leaders a Camp David parting gift, but details about the gifts were not initially disclosed by the media. It took a Freedom of Information Act request to confirm that President Obama gave each leader a black leather Camp David jacket. Read more about the Camp David G8 Summit gift.
Traditional Camp David jackets have been blue windbreakers with the blue patch. President George W. Bush favored the
leather bomber jacket (pictured above was for P.M. Gordon Brown). President Obama wearing a green windbreaker
G-8 Spouses Invited to the White House for a Tour and Luncheon
First Lady Michelle Obama invited the spouses of the G-8 leaders to the White House on Saturday, May 19th for a guided tour by White House Curator Bill Allman followed by a luncheon in the Blue Room.
The meal was prepared by Chef José Andrés and the White House chefs using local produce grown in the White House Kitchen Garden. Menu items included gazpacho soup, Maryland rockfish, and tangerine sorbet with strawberries.
About the G-8 Summit
Official G8 Summit 2012 logo
Official G8 Summit Website
The State Department created an official G8 Summit 2012 website: click to visit
G-8 Summit 2012 Participants United States: President Barack Obama; Canada: Prime Minister Stephen Harper; France: President François Hollande; Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel; Italy: Prime Minister Mario Monti; Japan: Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda; Russia: Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev; United Kingdom: Prime Minister David Cameron; European Union: President Herman Van Rompuy, Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso
Additional Leaders Invited
President Obama invited four African leaders to participate in a discussion session on May 19th about food security in Africa:President Yayi Boni of Benin; Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia; President John Mills of Ghana; and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.
G8 Declaration
Upon the conclusion of the 2012 G8 Summit at Camp David, the official G8 Declaration was released by the White House.
G8 Security Measures and Closures
Catoctin Mountain Park
The National Park Service closed the Catoctin Mountain Park for security reasons during the summit. All trails, campgrounds, picnic areas and buildings were closed along with Cunningham Falls State Park.
Foxville-Deerfield Road remained open to through traffic only and portions of MD Route 77 were closed east and west of the park boundaries. Click here to view the full-size map of the park closures.
Maryland State Police issued a traffic advisory for weekend G8 road closures in Frederick County. The advisory gave details about Rt. 77 closures and increased traffic along the Rt. 15 corridor.
Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR)
G8 Summit NOTAM 2/2137
The FAA issued a NOTAM effective at 5:30PM (EDT) on May 18th and ending at 8:30PM EDT on May 19th. The NOTAM defined a 30 nautical-mile radius TFR consisting of a 10-nautical-mile radius inner core (no-fly zone) and an outer ring extending out from 10nmr to 30nmr. Aircraft operating within the outer ring had to follow specific "squawk and talk" procedures defined within the NOTAM.
The FAA had previously published a Flight Advisory pertaining to the above TFR. The 30 nautical mile radius TFR is significantly larger than the usual 10 nautical-mile radius restriction ordinarily in place when the president is at Camp David.
NORAD has established a warning signal for communicating with aircraft consisting of highly focused red and green colored signal lights (as shown in this video clip). This signal is directed at aircraft suspected of making unauthorized entry into a restricted zone. Pilots who do not adhere to the restrictions may be intercepted, detained and interviewed by law enforcement.
G8 Protests Near Camp David
Shortly after the White House announced that the G8 Summit was being moved to Camp David, the Occupy Chicago group announced a Victory Party and declared "They have heard the cries for peaceful protest and are running scared".
Cunningham Falls Park Closed After Occupy Group Announces Camping Plans
The Twitter hashtag #OccupyCampDavid quickly appeared along with tweets from accounts associated with the Occupy movement and the hacktivist group Anonymous. Early protest plans called for protesters to reserve campsites at nearby Cunningham Falls State Park during the G8 Summit.
The Occupy Baltimore group announced their intention via Twitter to plan a visible protest in Thurmont A Thurmont farmer allowed some of the protesters space for camping out overnight.
The Occupy group invited protesters to go to Thurmont to voice their concerns "regarding nuclear policy, energy policy, resource wars, agribusiness, the 1% corporate dictatorship, and other international issues." Their proposed G8-alternative People's 99% Agenda included topics related to nuclear disarmament, international banking reform, war, deepwater drilling, global climate, and a host of other issues.
A local Baltimore TV news station interviewed the Thurmont police chief about preparations for protesters including a staging area for demonstrations away from the center of town and a section of a road that will be open for marches.
Police Chief Gregory Eyler: “There’s a lot of rumors going around: Thurmont’s going to shut down all the streets and we’re going to shut down the businesses. It’s not true.”
Occupy Frederick
G8 Protests in Frederick
The Occupy Frederick group planned a weekend of G8 protest activities 15 miles south of Camp David in downtown Frederick, MD. The "Occupy G8 People's Summit" was held on Friday May 18th at the local library with speakers from Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, Jubilee Justice USA, and others followed by a march in downtown Frederick.
On Saturday, the "Counter-G8 Community Bloc Party" was scheduled for a local Frederick park. Described as an "all inclusive all ages event for radicals and residents alike", the party featured free food, music, dancing, games, workshops, a free exchange of goods, and more. This tweet says there was "space for 100 tents and plans to caravan to Chicago after".
Frederick County released a video of Sheriff Chuck Jenkins addressing the citizens of Frederick regarding the upcoming G8 Summit.
Sheriff Jenkins also wrote a letter to Frederick County residents advising them to be prepared for severe traffic congestion, a heavy influx of visitors, and security checkpoints throughout the area.
He asked residents to respect the rights of protesters and "simply don’t get involved in conversations with activists or demonstrators that result in controversy".
March 4 Freedom G8 rally bus
March 4 Freedom Plans G8 Protest Against Zenawi March 4 Freedom is a Washington, DC-based advocacy group whose main objective is to help coordinate the movement against genocide and dictatorship in Ethiopia/Africa. They planned a protest rally against Ethiopian Prime Minister Zenawi on Saturday May 19th. They arranged bus transportation from DC to Thurmont. About 200 protesters participated.
As the closest town to Camp David, Thurmont had to prepare for an influx of visitors during the G-8 Summit. The Cozy Inn, which has a small Camp David museum inside, and the local Super 8 were booked by journalists covering the event. Local restaurants and businesses planned to schedule extra shifts to handle the crowds.
According to Thurmont police chief Gregory Eyler, the 10PM closing time for the city parks would be enforced. The county sheriff's department made contingency plans in the event of large-scale protests and the deputies were prepared to work overtime.
Some area residents rented out rooms in their homes on Craigslist. Or for $50,000 per week, you could rent your own mini Camp David at Trout Run - a presidential fishing spot and filming location for the West Wing TV show. Frederick County public schools closed on Friday May 18th out of safety concerns for their students. Local radio enthusiasts made plans to monitor the local airwaves during the event.
Here are some photos taken around Thurmont by Town Commissioner John Kinnaird in preparation for the G8 Summit. More of his G8-related photos can be viewed on the Thurmont G8 website.
G8 flags displayed in a Thurmont city park and the new Thurmont town sign
Police motorcycles lined up outside the Cozy Inn in
The State Department planned to utilize FEMA's National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg as meeting space for U.S. officials. They also contacted Mount St. Mary University about renting the campus seminary.
Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs said they were expecting 300 guests to be housed at the training center and that local business owners were ready for the increase in visitors. He said that Emmitsburg should expect extra traffic beginning on Tuesday, May 15th through Saturday.
Local G8 Summit Website Links
G8Thurmont.com - Information about the town of Thurmont including restaurants, lodging and local businesses
Frederick County G8 Summit Information - Official Frederick County website providing information on traffic, road closures, and public safety during the G8 Summit
Take a short aerial tour of Camp David tracing the same route the president takes from the South Lawn of the White House to the landing zone at Camp David. You'll fly around the retreat stopping for a closer look inside the buildings before heading back again to the White House.
Previous G8 Summit Hosted By U.S. - Sea Island Summit 2004
The last G8 Summit hosted by the United States was held on a small resort island off the Georgia coast. President George W. Bush chose Sea Island for its " beautiful natural setting and reputation of gracious hospitality". The international press corps was located 80 miles north in Savannah, GA. The official website is no longer up but can be viewed here via the Internet Archive.
The G8 protests were also centered in Savannah and plans for a G8 Protest Carnival were posted on the organizers' website (no longer online nor archived). Early news reports predicted anywhere between 5,000 to 100,000 participants. $35 million was spent on security for the summit including 20,000 law enforcement officers and military personnel. The total protester turnout for the G8 Summit was low at around 300 people. The local paper described a scene at the protest: "The 50 protesters danced, waved flags and shouted at 100 stone-faced officers in full riot gear, while a helicopter circled overhead and two patrol boats floated nearby in the river."
Eighty miles to the south, another group of protesters marched down the closed 8-mile road to the entrance of the secure zone on Sea Island. The video below shows scenes from the march and the protesters' encounter with law enforcement on Sea Island.
