Jelly Bean Anyone?
As a new student to American presidents, I know very little about the iconic Republican president Ronald Reagan. We have two presidential libraries in Southern California and I have not been to either one of them. It seems like motivation enough to make the long trek to Simi Valley. I enjoy taking my mom and Laura to things like this because they both have good insight into history and art and cults of personality. It was a chance for me to see if I could get an understanding of the recent rise in popularity for this American president. Laura and I stopped off in LA to pick up my mom on a bright sunny Saturday in February to make the long drive west on the 101 to what appeared to be the middle of nowhere.
Reagan was president for most of the 80's, so I did know a little bit about him. He fired all the air traffic controllers, loved jelly beans, and survived an assassination attempt. Having been politically disconnected during that time I had a hard time placing him in the pantheon of American presidents. After the disastrous presidency of George W, it seemed as if Reagan is being held up as the shinning example of what the Republican party can and should be. I wanted to at least get an education of what he had accomplished.
The museum is surrounded by nothing but green hills and wind; the normally brown landscape replaced with color from the recent rains. The library is housed in a very simple, nondescript, one story ranch style building. The courtyard is full of oak trees. The walk through the library takes a chronological look through his life. From growing up in Illinois through his long carer in Hollywood, Regan had a much longer career in the arts than I had realized. His 26 years in Hollywood included a term as president of the screen actors guild. His desire to get into politics as SAG president caused the end of his first marriage to Jane Wyman, making Reagan the only divorced president.
The thing that left the most powerful impression after walking through the museum was the lack of anything of real substance. Sure there are displays on the shooting and the firing of the controllers, and a curious slew of exhibits on Air Force One. I began to wonder if American presidents flew coach before Reagan, and he came up with the idea for a presidential jet. There is even one huge section of the library where they have an actual 707 that you can walk through, and a gift shop where one can load up on Air Force One coffee mugs, hats and tee shirts. Bizarre.
The second half of the museum was a little more relevant, the best parts being the life size replica of the Oval Office, and the large display of the Regan's ranch in Santa Barbara. They did a good job conveying how much He and Nancy loved that ranch; savoring their time riding horses, clearing brush and splitting cords of wood. Reagan loved horses and had a strong affinity for the American west.
At one point, walking through the museum, the light bulb went off for me and I think I got it. Reagan did not appear to be a deep thinker. He was not a person of books and letters, he was no Jefferson. But he was the right man at the right time. Experts will argue if Reaganomics, or supply side economics was really the reason for the economy doing well in the 80's. Were his famous words "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall" the fait compli for the Soviet Union, or was it's demise the result of a failed system ready to implode of it's own accord. Regan was a confident, positive, uplifting force in the national consciousness; much needed after the weak and ineffectual term of Carter. He gave America hope and belief that we are strong and will prevail and that everything would be OK. I learned that although I did not agree with his politics, I do respect and admire him.
Reagan was president for most of the 80's, so I did know a little bit about him. He fired all the air traffic controllers, loved jelly beans, and survived an assassination attempt. Having been politically disconnected during that time I had a hard time placing him in the pantheon of American presidents. After the disastrous presidency of George W, it seemed as if Reagan is being held up as the shinning example of what the Republican party can and should be. I wanted to at least get an education of what he had accomplished.
The museum is surrounded by nothing but green hills and wind; the normally brown landscape replaced with color from the recent rains. The library is housed in a very simple, nondescript, one story ranch style building. The courtyard is full of oak trees. The walk through the library takes a chronological look through his life. From growing up in Illinois through his long carer in Hollywood, Regan had a much longer career in the arts than I had realized. His 26 years in Hollywood included a term as president of the screen actors guild. His desire to get into politics as SAG president caused the end of his first marriage to Jane Wyman, making Reagan the only divorced president.
The thing that left the most powerful impression after walking through the museum was the lack of anything of real substance. Sure there are displays on the shooting and the firing of the controllers, and a curious slew of exhibits on Air Force One. I began to wonder if American presidents flew coach before Reagan, and he came up with the idea for a presidential jet. There is even one huge section of the library where they have an actual 707 that you can walk through, and a gift shop where one can load up on Air Force One coffee mugs, hats and tee shirts. Bizarre.
The second half of the museum was a little more relevant, the best parts being the life size replica of the Oval Office, and the large display of the Regan's ranch in Santa Barbara. They did a good job conveying how much He and Nancy loved that ranch; savoring their time riding horses, clearing brush and splitting cords of wood. Reagan loved horses and had a strong affinity for the American west.
At one point, walking through the museum, the light bulb went off for me and I think I got it. Reagan did not appear to be a deep thinker. He was not a person of books and letters, he was no Jefferson. But he was the right man at the right time. Experts will argue if Reaganomics, or supply side economics was really the reason for the economy doing well in the 80's. Were his famous words "Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall" the fait compli for the Soviet Union, or was it's demise the result of a failed system ready to implode of it's own accord. Regan was a confident, positive, uplifting force in the national consciousness; much needed after the weak and ineffectual term of Carter. He gave America hope and belief that we are strong and will prevail and that everything would be OK. I learned that although I did not agree with his politics, I do respect and admire him.
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2:36 PM
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