Long-standing tradition to continue with president to appear at National Jamboree

You can call it a Jamboree tradition.

Since 1937 — the very first National Jamboree ever held — presidents have stopped by to speak to Jamboree participants.

The tradition is set to continue in 2017. President Donald J. Trump will visit the 2017 National Jamboree. He’s scheduled to speak Monday evening at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia.

Seven of 11 sitting U.S. presidents who were in office at the time of a National Jamboree visited the Jamboree site to give Scouts a memory they won’t forget.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, George H.W. Bush, William J. Clinton and George W. Bush each delivered formal addresses at the quadrennial Scouting celebration.

Add to that appearances by one vice president who later became president (Richard Nixon) and one first lady (Nancy Reagan).

The tradition will continue Monday in a planned speech for Jamboree participants and volunteer staff members. More info, including a schedule and how this affects Monday’s Jamboree programs, will be released soon.


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.