This photograph shows Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and President Jimmy Carter in discussion at Camp David the day after the signing of the Camp David Accords.
Carter had invited Prime Minister Begin and President Anwar Sadat of Egypt to the secluded presidential retreat in Maryland to negotiate a peace settlement. Carter served as mediator.
After 12 days of negotiation, Begin and Sadat signed the Camp David Accords on September 17, 1978. The two documents established a framework for peace in the Middle East and a framework for the conclusion of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. Within the outline of these agreements, the two signatory countries would work out other issues leading to a peace treaty and later would involve other neighboring countries.
On the evening of September 18, President Carter addressed a joint session of Congress to explain the agreements and to reiterate active U.S. support for a continuing peace process.
