Presidential Retreats

There’s much more to learn about presidential retreats than the location of Camp David, as Hannaford shows in his book on the places where the chief executives recharge and rest. Hanaford, president of the PR firm Hannaford Enterprises and senior communications adviser to President Reagan, explains the need to get away from the unending pressures of the White House and spending quality time with family, away from prying eyes. The tour includes George Washington’s scenic Mt. Vernon estate, John Adams’s quiet Peacefield in Massachusetts, and Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest plantation, where he found respite from “the hubbub of Monticello.” Whereas Andrew Jackson fled to his island refuge, Rip Raps, at Hampton Roads Harbor, Va., Abe Lincoln found solace at his Soldiers’ Home retreat just outside Washington, D.C. Franklin D. Roosevelt vacationed at his family estates at Hyde Park, N.Y., and Warm Springs, Ga., to clear his head. Other restful spots for presidents include JFK’s stately Hyannis Port, Mass.; LBJ’s raucous Texas ranch; and Richard Nixon’s Key Biscayne, Fla., and San Clemente, Calif., retreats.. Hannaford brings everything up to date, including current tour schedules, with a pleasing format and anecdotes catering to Americans’ taste for history and tradition. 8 pages of photos, 1 map. (Oct.)