Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David

by Charles Ferguson

216 pages, Hardcover

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Charles Ferguson spent three and a half years as the Camp David Historian and Presidential Chaplain. During that time, he coordinated with 14 Presidential Libraries to better tell the true story of the President’s exclusive mountaintop retreat, scouring records and memoirs for engaging stories, providing glimpses into the hidden world of Camp David. Conducting hundreds of tours for personal guests of the President, his accessible storytelling draws you into the wonders of Camp David as if you are walking the historical private trails with your own personal tour guide.

His writings have appeared on the Faith and Leadership website and in The Presbyterian Outlook, Presbyterians Today, and the United States Naval Institute’s Proceedings magazine.

Reviews

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up in the Carter-Reagan Era and hearing now and then about Camp David when the news mentioned the president meeting with a world leader or the president’s family taking a vacation there. Oddly, I’ve never been that curious about it until recently when Presidential Seclusion came to my notice. All of a sudden, I was excited for a ‘behind the scenes’ look at Camp David and learn about its rich part in US History and Politics.

The author, Charles Ferguson, has an insider’s perspective and spent much time gathering up the history and stories of Camp David when stationed aboard Camp David as Presidential Naval Chaplain. He began the book explaining his connection to Camp David and how the book was put together. He was keen on letting the individuals at the time share the history rather than him narrating so there are many direct quotes throughout the book.

Presidential Seclusion is structured chronologically beginning when President Roosevelt’s yachts were no longer a safe retreat for him during WWII and a search began for a more secure inland retreat that offered respite from the hot and humid DC summers and was still in easy distance of the capitol. I was fascinated with how the location was chosen in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland and Shangri-La came into existence and how this inland ‘camp’ had such a naval connection. From a not quite happy Roosevelt, to an indifferent Truman, it took until Eisenhower before Shangri-La (re-christened Camp David after one of his grandchildren) became truly appreciated. In a fun twist of humor, after Ike, each succeeding president was told by his predecessor that Camp David was a haven and each one had to experience it to believe it.

Camp David has welcomed such illustrious personalities as Winston Churchill, Nikita Khrushchev, John Steinbeck, Billy Graham, Beyonce, and so many more. It has been treated as a private First Family retreat, a peace summit, a conference and event center- always meeting the current sitting president’s needs.

All in all, I found my curiosity satisfied and my knowledge expanded. The mystique of Camp David and its ability to calm and refresh those fortunate to visit does sound like that Shangri-La Roosevelt envisioned. Ferguson did a fabulous lob of melding fact with fun stories that made the people and the place more real.

I rec'd a hardcover copy from Stackpole Books to read in exchange for an honest review.

My full review will post at The Reading Frenzy 12.8.25.

[Earl Ecklund III · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful short book by a former Camp David chaplain which discusses the history of the presidential retreat and the presidents who have used it since FDR helped design it during WWII. From those who rarely visited it, Truman & JFK, to those who spent large amounts of time there, Nixon, Reagan and the Bushes, this book gives great insight into a world the public rarely gets to see into.

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cool history of Camp David and how each president used the facility. The older presidents had more interesting tidbits - especially about which foreign leaders they hosted there and strategic peace talks that were held. However, it gave almost no detail about how the camp operates. I thought it would include a lot more behind-the-scenes details, but it kind of stayed on the same note of "presidents are people too and they need rest - and this one also found rest at Camp David."

Glad to have read it, but not a must-read.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendous read & a must for a history lover or student of presidencies! I always say the best thing I can say after reading a book is that i will pre-order it plus I am telling my book friends about it. This surely holds true with Presidential Seclusion. The author not only highlights this precious spot in the state of Maryland, but goes into lesser-known facts about the many structures, its dedicated staff and how it has evolved through the last 80 years.. I enjoyed readling how each administration made additions to personalize it & most of it has a lasting and permanent effect. The Evergreen Chapel was a topic I knew very little of and I think it was probably my favorite to read.

I come to this book with a limited background on this area. I grew up in Central Pennsylvania & saw President Carter more than once when he would secretly sneak off to fly-fish. My Father was a PA State Trooper & my Father grew up during the depression. He was part of the CCCorps that actually worked on the construction of Camp David during President Roosevelt's administration. I also grew up Presbyterian like the author's profession as a Chaplin.

Camp David (or originally known as Shangri La) did not differentiate though between political parties or select Faith or even the notion that only "good countries" were invited which is a ridiculous thing for any President to comment. (One did & I am not surprised who it was - Not who I voted for Thankfully!)

I worked for 30 years for the Pennsylvania Republican Senate and I even camped in the Catoctin Mountain and Cunningham Falls. I could picture the holidays and season changes in this setting. This book needs to be added to anyone's reading list who admires or yearns to learn about our Executive Branch & the staff that serve our President, our Vice-President & their Families.

I thank Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and independent review.

[Gayle (OutsmartYourShelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Brit I have occasionally heard the words 'Camp David' & viewed it as the US equivalent to Chequers, the grace-&-favour country residence of the UK Prime Minister. Which it is - sort of. Rather than a country house, this is a retreat in the Catoctin Mountains, comprising of 'rustic' cabins behind a guarded perimeter where the President can retreat to relax & unwind. Originally built from an existing mountain camp in FDR's time, the site has been used by over a dozen presidents for personal & family use, & it has played host to some of the most powerful world politicians over the decades.

Written by a former employee, this book gives the history of the camp, & how important a part it has played in each of the presidential terms from FDR down to Biden. It is very informative, although not being able to see any photographs (no doubt due to national security reasons) limits the reader in being able to visualise it to an extent. I found the chapters on the presidents up to JFK more interesting than the more recent ones, but it was all good. 3.75 stars (rounded up)

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Globe Pequot Publishing Group Inc/Prometheus, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great look into the mystery and intrigue of Camp David, from how it came to be, to the history that was made there.

There aren't many books on the topic, so this is an interesting read from a man who spent three and a half years as the Camp David Historian and Presidential Chaplain.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay.

[Yvette Kalinowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5