Sunday, July 3rd, 1977

While watching Wimbledon on Friday in Mr. B's apartment the phone rang. Ive been there a few times when Frank Jr. called and always enjoyed listening in as the two Brennans compared Camp notes, but this day it was different. Mr. B's eyes were wide--It was the White House calling. Specifically it was the President's appointment secretary asking if he was free over the weekend. As it turned out the President wanted Mr.Brennan to come to Camp David and give the First Lady a tennis lesson. I've been sworn to secrecy until now. I didnt even dare write this in the diary.

This was how it unfolded; On Saturday he drove Camp David some 30 miles from the Academy. He went to an unmarked gate and got out of the car while they searched it, they ran mirrors underneath, dogs sniffed inside and told me that uniformed and plain clothes agents were everywhere. The uniformed agents opened his hood and looked inside, 20 minutes later he was driving up to the Main Lodge at Camp David. There he met with Secret Service agents who briefed him on decorum, court location and if he needed anything and importantly how to address the President and First Lady.

Mr. B boarded a golf cart with the President's Aide de Camp, a Marine who drove him to the tennis courts. Mr. B's said they are har-tru just like ours and beautifully rolled and maintained. A few minutes later the President and First Lady arrived in a a golf cart with little Amy and daughter in law, Caron Carter, equiped with racquets.

Introductions were made and at first Amy and Caron hit around a bit with the President, while Mr. B worked with the First Lady. Then the President joined Mr.B and Mrs. Carter. The President retrieved balls and lovingly called the First Lady Ros and Rossi and from time to time cheered her on saying 'Run Rossi, run"! Mr. B said it was very affectionate and cute. Mr. B said everyone wore tennis clothes except the first lady who wore jeans instead. The President wore Fred Perry shorts and shirt and played with a Wilson Jack Kramer racquet. Mr. B said he was impressed at how down to earth the Carters are. He said he had Mrs. Carter hitting well and Amy too, then he got to hit with the President and said he was steady, very mobile with classic form. Mr. B. was invited to spend the night and just got back a while ago.

Meanwhile Mark Sanderson has the fastest serve I have played against, he crushes the ball I can only pick it up off the bounce...that said, I beat him 6-4 after a lucky service break. I did it just by blocking it back deep to the backhand side and pulling him off the court. This is an amazing accomplishment because he's beating everybody and is a much better player.

I just got my mail from yesterday, Mr. B had all the mail and was so busy he forgot to hand it out. My mom sent me three badly needed shirts and a dozen peanut butter cookies. I am in heaven, these cookies are so amazing. Im lucky to have such a great mom, she knows her homesick son all too well.

After checking the campers in, I hit with Bobby Dickinson, I have never got more than 3 games on hard courts, I played him even, but he pulled it out 6-4. He was friendly and we went to Wises and had Ice Cream. We talked about the team and about the season and it was real nice. Everyone here plays on a college tennis team, it was interesting to hear about their seasons and what they went through.

It's almost bedtime and I ran into Mr. B in the Lobby he had a great time and the food was fantastic. He said he was the only guest for dinner and they made him feel like family. He says he sat with the President and chatted a while and mentioned that they really hit it off well. He says the president loves to surround himself with common folk and that he had some friends of Georgia up on Saturday, they didnt talk politics at all, and thought their talk was a mini vacation from the pressures of the office. The President grilled Mr. B about the camp and the kids. Mr. B. told him that all of his kids were campers and they loved the experience. The President says he wants to send Amy to camp next summer, thats the secret that Mr. B is entrusting me with.

Im heading to bed, we have another 100 new campers to teach tomorrow morning...all of this excitement and Im so tired!