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‘Camp David of the West Coast’ Scheduled to Open to the Public in March

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Mr. and Mrs. Annenberg forged a meaningful relationship with Ronald and Nancy Reagan, who visited the Annenbergs' Estate in California on New Year’s Eve for eighteen years. Leonore Annenberg was also appointed Chief of Protocol in Reagan’s administration, and was charged with the befitting task of welcoming dignitaries upon their arrivals to the U.S.The private estate that hosted Ronald Reagan on New Year’s, Frank Sinatra on his wedding day, and Richard Nixon during Watergate is scheduled to open its visitors’ center to the public on March 1. The Sunnylands Estate, built by Walter and Leonore Annenberg in 1966, is situated on over 200 acres of sprawling greens in Rancho Mirage, California, and has earned a reputation as one of the most highly coveted sites for celebrities, politicians, and diplomats during its rich history. In the spring, the property will continue to serve as the site of international talks and negotiations, and members of the public will have the opportunity to visit the Sunnylands Center and Gardens to learn more about the Annenbergs and their extensive philanthropic efforts.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Annenberg wed in 1951. Walter had amassed his wealth in the publishing industry, founding both TV Guide and Seventeen magazine, among other publications. After earning their riches and constructing their winter retreat in Rancho Mirage, the couple then turned their attention towards public service. Walter was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Britain in 1969, and Leonore Chief of Protocol by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Following his brief stint as Ambassador, Mr. Annenberg resumed his business activity until 1988, when he sold several of his more notable publications to Rupert Murdoch for $3 billion. He and his wife then committed the rest of their lives to philanthropy.

The Annenberg Schools of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Southern California and the Annenberg Collection of Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan are among the places where Mr. and Mrs. Annenberg, who were both born to Jewish immigrants in the early 1920s, have left an indelible imprint. “Walter and I believe that education is the foundation of a democratic society,” explained Leonore after being presented with the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy in 2001. “When asked what motivates his philanthropic work, my husband has responded with a very powerful statement: ‘I regard my philanthropic work as an investment in the future of America. It is the most effective way I can serve my country and help to ensure its benefits for the next generation.’”

However, in an ironic twist, the couple who devoted their lives to enhancing the public domain will likely be remembered for the activity and history of their private Sunnylands Estate. Having consulted preeminent designers including William Haines and A. Quincy Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Annenberg began construction of their winter retreat in 1963. The property consists of main and guest homes, a nine-hole golf course, and eleven man-made lakes. Exclusive episodes involving visiting celebrities and dignitaries made mention of these features; the property is hidden from public view, as a pink brick wall surrounds the premises along with a bevy of eucalyptus, olive, and Tamarisk trees.

Notably, Sunnylands was visited by seven United States presidents in the course of its existence. President Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, used to golf and fish at the Estate; Presidents Ford and his wife, Betsy, visited often; President George H.W. Bush loved fishing and chose Sunnylands to host a state dinner with then Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu; Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles crossed continents to join Mr. and Mrs. Annenberg, and a host of Hollywood celebrities paid visits to Sunnylands, as well, including: Bob Hope, Fred Astaire, Gregory Peck, Ginger Rogers, Bing Crosby, Mary Martin, and Sammy Davis, Jr.

Former Secretary of State George P. Schultz reminisced about his experiences at Sunnylands. “My first memories of going [to the Annenbergs’ Estate] was for their New Year’s Eve parties: I played golf with President Reagan there on the 31st of December,” he told the New York Times. “It was fantastic. That became an annual event.” As he continued, Schultz’s recollections seemed to echo those of another era. “The guest list was really exciting and lots of fun — listening to Bob Hope tell jokes and Dolores Hope sing,” he noted. “The Annenbergs made a point of somehow causing interesting conversations to take place.”

While the Estate will generally open to the public eye in March, diplomats and politicians will gain access to beginning in February. Three meetings have already been scheduled for the spring, and the United States plans to hold an important diplomatic meeting between prominent U.S. and Mexican officials after the next presidential election. It is for this reason Sunnylands is now being advertised to the public as the “Camp David of the West,” the retreat where U.S. officials will likely receive incoming diplomats and foreign dignitaries in the future. One can certainly imagine that Walter Annenberg, who passed away in 2002, would be proud.

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