one duty Petty officer inside camp. The gate sentry was armed with a 45 caliber pistol. However, after a couple of mishaps in 1956 the bullets were taken away. The log has been replaced by a high metal gates making it look like the entrance to a maximum security prison. Access is limited to crew members, support personnel and Presidential guests.
             President Carter described Camp David as truly beautiful, with the cottages (all named after trees) and paths snuggled on the top and down one side of a small mountain and sheltered by a thick growth of stately oak, poplar, ash, locust, hickory and maple trees. A security fence surrounds about 125 acres of terrain, and the close proximity of the living quarters makes it an atmosphere of both isolation and intimacy. A few golf carts and bicycles are available but most of the people choose to walk among the cottages.
             In 1955 there was a small clearing where the crew played soft ball. This clearing was enlarged during the Eisenhower years and a hanger and skeet range added. The introduction of the helicopter with a 30 minute trip from the White House, has made the camp more accessible to the President. FDR made 22 trips to Shangri-La, President Reagan made 187 to Camp David.
             The stable was built for the Kennedy's and a bridle path was cleared that circled the camp. The stable at one time housed Jacqueline's horse "Sardar", Caroline's pony "Macaroni", along with two horses that were on loan from the Marines. The bridle path was cleared by removing undergrowth and rocks, no large trees were taken out. One day President Reagan found the bridle path had been neglected and was in need of extensive repair and a unit of sailors repaired it and Reagan thanked them personally for its restoration.
             Cedar is the Camp Commanders residence. The Lt. Thomas E. Wyncoop family was the first to live at Camp David. This area had once been used to house marines that only came to camp when the President...