Welcome back everyone!
Yesterday, our main goal was to visit the Bill Clinton Presidential Library (and get the stamp), and to reenter our beloved Texas!
Let me relay to you our journey from outer Tennessee, to being back in the Lone Star State!
Memphis Sights
Well, there were a couple of things to see in Memphis before we wanted to leave, so we looked around, and came across Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley!
Sigh.. that’s what I just said…
That’s one of his private planes! How rich do you need to be to own these things? Either way, he lived an extravagant lifestyle.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, price costs, and other issues, we could not explore Graceland properly. I suppose that in the later stages of the trip, we want to get home sooner, particularly after all that we’ve done so far! It certainly wears you down…
We then travelled to downtown Memphis, and came across the Civil Rights Museum!
…and the Lorraine Hotel.
The Lorraine was where 50 years ago last April, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot to death on the hotel balcony.
Today however, it serves as the location for the Civil Rights Museum.
It is a very happening place, but again, due to time constraints, we weren’t able to properly visit it.
Here, where this wreath is hung, was the spot where Dr. King was struck down by an assassin’s bullet, from across the street.
For those old enough to remember, Dr. King’s death brought shock to the nation, and to Civil Rights activists, who broke out into riots, marches, and protests. So great was MLK’s image, and his vision extended far, and is still being carried out.
After reflecting on the events of that fateful day, we made for the bridge to cross the Mississippi River, and into Arkansas.
It’s hard to believe that we crossed east over the river less than two weeks ago further north into Illinois. I guess it’s finally become a complete circle hasn’t it?
Arriving in Little Rock two hours later, we found the Clinton Library!
William J. Clinton Presidential Library
Before I begin this part, i’d like to address something.
Any criticism that I offer towards the library is not directed at President Clinton as a person, but rather, the portrayal and interpretation that the library offers of him.
With that said, let’s begin!
Our first impression of the design was similar to that of a “trailer on stilts”. Still, it’s a pretty nice design! I love how every library has it’s own unique style.
So we went inside, and got our 8th stamp on the passport (as this is one of the main 13)!
This limousine was used by Clinton throughout his eight years in office. The presidential vehicle is always an icon of the power of the president.
Another replica of the Cabinet Room (similar to the one in Ford’s office)! We didn’t explore this too thoroughly though, as it was nearly identical to the one in Grand Rapids.
The Library consists mostly of a very large layered hall, with numerous aisles of exhibits, and these large timeline boards in the center. It’s a very different layout than what we’ve seen… and I can’t say that it was beneficial to the experience. Sometimes it was a bit confusing to figure out where to go, and mostly, the focus was concentrated on Clinton’s Presidency alone.
Many technological advancements of the nineties were presented in the Library. It’s good to acknowledge influences outside the White House, even if it was a very small section in comparison to all the other booths.
Hidden in a dark corner (literally), was the “small” section on a little event called “The Impeachment Battle” (as you can see in the picture). Curiously, it doesn’t mention Monica Lewinsky, how the Lewinsky Scandal happened, or why it was wrong to not only have an affair, but to lie about it under oath. In fact, a nearby tour guide leading a group of visitors skipped the section entirely. I’ll elaborate on this further, because I need to show the rest of the library.
Leaving politics aside, whether or not you agree with Hillary Clinton and her politics, her career has certainly been a remarkable one, and certainly a major influence on the modern political arena, especially through her work as First Lady, New York Senator, and Secretary of State.
Clinton oversaw a period of economic prosperity in the U.S. during the nineties, hence the chart like line above. Clinton did a number of good things with foreign relations as well, but those were only touched on briefly by the exhibit. There wasn’t much describing his work outside of the Presidency though, even with his service as Governor of Arkansas.
A number of Clinton election memorabilia. Note all the buttons to the left.
One of the reasons why we spent a little less time in the library was because there was a big event later in the day that was going to take place, as you can see above.
And this… “Unique” piece of art was part of the Clintons’ White House Christmas set.
They say that art is always in the eyes of the beholder… and this beholder says that it looks like a monument to large snakes (of course, that is only my opinion 🙂 ).
A number of Clinton’s saxophones. His love of jazz apparently comes from his going up in Arkansas, with it’s vicinity near major musical venues.
And this is Socks… their cat…
The reason I show this is because I had a cat named “Socks” a few years ago… you know, black and white and everything….
And he was a psycho.
He’d claw everything, attack anyone in sight, and oftentimes roll around on the ground trying to bite his foot.
I draw no intimate connection between the two Socks’ of course, I just wanted to relay a bit of family history.
And here is a replica of the Oval Office, similar to many of the libraries that we’ve seen. The reason that it is outside is because photography wasn’t allowed inside. That is actually a first in the 10 libraries that we’ve seen so far. Still, it’s a very nice room.
So, to sum it all up… we were not too impressed with this library.
Maybe it’s because of the frequent number of presidential libraries we’ve seen lately, but this library was not only underwhelming, but slightly biased on it’s subject material. And I still say that despite the fact that there is some amount of bias in any of these libraries.
And don’t get me wrong, I am non-partisan and politically independent. And many of the libraries we’ve visited, though often having opposing viewpoints (like Reagan or Eisenhower vs. Truman or LBJ), still were very well laid-out. In the end, you have to have “purpose” in what you do, the very reason why what you did mattered. And most other libraries were successful at telling that “story”.
Other libraries also extend their analysis of the men that they represent beyond the boundaries of their political career. They not only show how a president gained those beliefs, but also how they grew up, how they ascended the political ladder with hard work and virtue, and how their character was molded by their experience.
Clinton’s library i’m afraid, had none of that. It didn’t paint a picture for us to even see adequate reason as to why he did what he did. Even if I didn’t agree with what he did, I would have been somewhat content and even pleased to learn more if they had just showed how he grew up, and why his beliefs took root. And I am VERY certain that if the library showed a more full aspect of his life and career, it would definitely feel more fulfilling to me.
My evaluation doesn’t end there however, we need to address something more.
Presidential Libraries don’t just promote ONLY the positive events of presidents, but ALSO the factors that are negative or degrading. Showing both sides of a person’s life is certainly more genuine than examining just one.
To get my point across, take Richard Nixon’s Library in California as an example. Nixon is generally interpreted as dishonest and untrustworthy especially with his association and denial of Watrgate. Despite this, as you can see above, his library had several exhibits based on Watergate, encompassing both walls, and nearly an entire section of the facility.
Many people forget too that Nixon did many good things both outside, and in the White House. His negotiations with the Soviet Union as Eisenhower’s Vice President, his landmark diplomatic trip to China, and his work on the Equal Rights Amendment are often overshadowed by Watergate. It’s important to weigh in both the good and the bad when surveying a legacy. But I digress.
The point is, the Nixon Library did not cater to Nixon’s political views, but instead portrayed both sides of the proceedings accordingly, including that of the prosecution against him. They took time to analyze every little detail to present sound evidence for viewers to form their own conclusion. And the Nixon Library certainly wasn’t afraid to mention the causes, the responses from Nixon, or how discontent the nation was by the time Nixon resigned.
Even Lincoln’s library showed the negative views that people had of him during the Civil War. No realistic person is without flaws, or criticism.
Compare this picture with that of the Nixon Library.
By the omitting the cause of the incident, it undermines the importance it had in the political era. By not even mentioning Monica Lewinsky, it doesn’t portray the wrongdoing that was involved with Clinton OR Lewinsky. And by saying that after Clinton was acquitted, everything “went back to normal”, it refuses to recognize the past, and defines which point of view it’s leaning on, and where it’s dialect originates from.
The lack of analysis of the Lewinsky Scandal AND the lack of depth beyond the “prosperity” of the Clinton Administration is intentional. It merely serves to carry out a political statement, and leave a faultless impression of the Clintons’ “legacy”.
Speaking as a student of History, and in comparison with others that we have visited, this Presidential Library certainly isn’t my favorite. Maybe this library has meaning for others, but drawing from my own experience, the 10/13th official presidential library that we have seen pales in comparison to others we have seen before.
Anyways… thank you for putting up with that lengthy review. I apologize if that was a long rant, but I had to get that out of my system.
On the bright side, we made excellent time in getting back home. And soon, two hours later, in the town of Texarkana…
TEXAS!!!!! 😀
That’s right, we are finally back in Texas! Even the sign is welcoming us back!
In fact, I feel like singing “Texas, our Texas” right now… I am also a horrible singer, so I’ll spare you the torture.
Even more tear jerking was seeing our first Whataburger in nearly three weeks (not pictured, we were too excited)!
Anyways, we are currently staying in Palestine, a small East Texas town, about two hours from our final stop on the trip, College Station, home to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library.
From there, two final hours to New Braunfels… our home.
I thank you all again for sticking with me to the end, through thick and thin!
Mark's Historical Roadtrips! 