I watched the
funeral proceedings broadcast from Ronald
Reagan's Presidential Library, which, as you may have surmised
from my eulogy
blog, I have been to on more than one occasion. Television did
not do it justice, neither the building nor, especially, the view out
the back where the actual proceedings were held.
The
view from the back of the library is one of the most striking and
beautiful views I have ever seen. It is also quintessentially
Californian. No matter where in the world or in what context I saw a
portrayal of that view I would sigh and say, "Ahhh, California.
Home." It is open skies and rolling hills
stretching into forever. They say on a clear day you can see the
ocean. The view is so beautiful that upon first seeing it I
became jealous. I wanted a view like that! Can I build my house
here? I don't know how much property they own or if development
can encroach. If you have a chance, it's worth going just to see.
None of that
really came through on TV. A combination of evening mist and the
sunset hour seemed to wash it all out in a blurry golden haze. Too
bad.
The building
itself also didn't fare too well during the broadcast. It looked like
a khaki shoebox. In person it's a serene haven done in a California
Mission style. I loved the
courtyard (through which they carried the body from the parking
lot into the library) so much I wanted one of those as well. I don't
know who the architect was, but he did an excellent job. It too is
reminiscent of the courtyard in a California Mission.
So what else is
there? It's been a few years since I last visited so I can't speak to
the current exhibitions, only about what I saw.
- A gallery. I saw a fascinating exhibit of Winston
Churchill's paintings there once. The old chap was a very good
artist.
- It opens with a
biographical section. Some of it is propagandistic -- I
can't believe they actually spun his ratting people out to the
House Unamerican Activities Committee as something good -- but
most of it was straight ahead and interesting. How much you get
out of this may depend on how much you already know about the
President. It is fascinating to see objects you've only
previously heard or read about
- Exhibits about politics. (You could even sit and watch
Kennedy and Nixon go at it in the first ever televised
debate.)
- An impressive mock up of the Oval
Office as it was during his term. (Whenever I think of the
Oval Office or the White House, it is this I see.)
- Rotating
displays of items acquired while in office (including a
sample of Nancy's infamous chinaware, if I recall). The supply
of material they have to draw from is reportedly vast -- so
these displays are ever changing.
- They also had an interesting use of technology -- a sort of
"virtual" Reagan. In a theater-like room you could type a
question in at a terminal then take a seat. The computer would
search through extensive clips of Reagan speeches and news
conferences to find an appropriate answer then play your
question followed by the response clip. Pretty cool.
- Much more than I could ever possibly remember.
As for the Library
part, I think you need to be a credentialed, qualified researcher to
gain access.
The area where
President Reagan was laid to rest used to be publicly accessible
without any kind of admission. Call first (800-410-8354 or
805-577-4000) to make sure it still is. If it is and you find
yourself in California and would like to pay your respects drop by.
You can see the magnificent view, look at the courtyard, see a
2001-like
monolithic slab of the Berlin wall, and poke around the gift
shop all for free. The museum and gallery are what require
admission. (Again, call first to confirm that -- it's been a few
years since I've been there.)
Yours,
Gene
Nash
P.S. -- Looking
around the library websites, seeing the pictures, reading the info...
I still find it hard to believe he's dead. He was there my entire
life. He was there when I actually saw these things. Now he's gone.
It's hard to connect.