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1/11 SLIDES © “Cecil Stoughton. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston

If you thought social media made it tricky to sneak off on vacation, imagine being the President of the United States. However, the upside to public scrutiny (even before the Internet was invented), is that it makes for great archives. The White House HIstorical Association recently combed through the presidential libraries for never-before-published photos of the Kennedys, Eisenhowers, Carters, and others enjoying their vacation. Away from prying eyes and polished news junkets, these candid images show an informal side to the presidents as they danced, lunged for scrambling toddlers, and played board games. Each family had their own go-to destination: John and Jackie Kennedy could be found frequently at Hyannis Port, the family compound in Massachusetts, the Eisenhowers and Reagans enjoyed spending time at Camp David, the Johnsons took long walks in Texas, and the Nixons hosted parties at their "Western White House" in Los Angeles. Click through the gallery to soak up the last few weeks of summer vacation with the presidents.

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2/11 SLIDES © Courtesy White House Historical Association

Kennedy Family at Hyannis Port

This photograph by presidential photographer Cecil Stoughton shows President John F. Kennedy, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and their children, John Jr. and Caroline, on vacation in Hyannis Port in 1963.

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3/11 SLIDES © Courtesy White House Historical Association

President and Mrs. Eisenhower at Camp David

President Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Eisenhower playing Scrabble at the presidential retreat in 1954.

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4/11 SLIDES © Courtesy White House Historical Association

President and Mrs. Carter Dancing on the Delta Queen

President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter dancing on the riverboat the Delta Queen in 1979. Accompanied by their daughter, Amy, the president and first lady rode down a 659-mile stretch of the Mississippi River to garner support for the president's environmental policy.

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5/11 SLIDES © Courtesy White House Historical Association

President and Mrs. Nixon with Frank Sinatra

President Richard M. Nixon and First Lady Pat Nixon welcome Frank Sinatra to La Casa Pacifica, their Spanish-style villa near San Clemente, California. The Nixons enjoyed working and hosting parties from their "Western White House."

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6/11 SLIDES © Courtesy White House Historical Association

President and Mrs. Reagan on Lake Lucky

President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan paddling their canoe "TruLuv" across Lake Lucky, a pond at Rancho del Cielo, their 688-acre ranch near Santa Barbara, California. Ronald gave the canoe to Nancy on their 25th wedding anniversary in 1977.

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7/11 SLIDES © Courtesy White House Historical Association

President and Mrs. Reagan at Camp David

The Reagans walking hand-in-hand during a visit to Camp David in 1982.

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8/11 SLIDES © “Cecil Stoughton. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston

Kennedy Family in Hyannis Port

This photograph was taken on August 4, 1962 at the Kennedy family's six-acre compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. Kennedy's father purchased the main house on the compound in 1929 as a summer house for his wife, Rose, and their eight children. By 1960, the Kennedy compound held three houses for the growing family, including one for John and Jackie.

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9/11 SLIDES © Courtesy of the White House Association

Kennedy Family Attends Easter Service in Palm Beach

Following an Easter Sunday service on April 14, 1963, the family stands outside the private chapel at the residence of Ambassador Joe Kennedy, Sr., the president's father, in Palm Beach, Florida.

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10/11 SLIDES © Frank Wolfe

President and Mrs. Johnson in the Texas Hill Country

President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson walk among the wildflowers near their Texas ranch on July 5, 1968. He later donated his reconstructed birthplace, childhood home, and ranch to the National Park Service so that the landscape that was so important to him would be preserved alongside his history.

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11/11 SLIDES © Cecil Stoughton. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston

Mrs. Kennedy Arrives for Weekend Vacation at Wexford

This image shows First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy arriving with her children for a weekend getaway to their family estate in Akota, Virginia. They are accompanied by Maud Shaw, the children's governess. The Kennedys built the house on the 166-acre estate and Jackie named the house Wexford after the Irish county from which the Kennedys could trace their ancestry.

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