Simi Valley, California
Yesterday when I was at the KOA office, in the rack of tourist brochures I noticed the brochure for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. I had no idea it was so close and since I was just going to spent the day chilling I decided to go see what a Presidential Library looks like. It was a really interesting experience. I’m not sure if I’d have chosen Reagan’s Library if I was given the choice of which President’s library to visit, but I’m glad in the end that I did decide to take the opportunity today.
I traveled from the valley where I’m staying near Santa Paula, through a canyon and into the Simi Valley. It was a short but beautiful drive with twists and turns and great views of each valley from the top. Each valley is beautiful and green with some kind of agriculture or another, all needing irrigation, of course.
Just as an aside, it is beyond me why a State with so many water problems continues to develop new agricultural land. On one hand, they have someone going around checking our water connections at each camping spot to be sure there are no leaks, and on the other they’re continuing to expand fields as far up the hillsides as possible.
The location was impressive enough. Perched high on the hills on the north side of Simi Valley, north-west of Los Angeles, and on a peak that allowed for a view through the Santa Monica Mountains to the Pacific, stands the Reagan Presidential Library. The courtyard at the front of the building is a beautiful entry point and the last chance to breath fresh air for a while. I didn’t read everything or push every button and didn’t dawdle long anywhere, but it still took me almost 3 hours to go through all of the exhibits.
For those interested in the social life of the President, they had Nancy’s gowns from various special events, and pictures of Diana dancing with John Travolta at a State Dinner, gifts which Reagan had received from various world leaders, etc. which was all very interesting. They had a display on the various world threats over the tenure of Reagan and other Presidents. Air Force One, used by 7 Presidents, in it’s imposing huge building, was really fun to see. What struck me was the old technology on board – a fax machine, no less. And a mock up of the Oval Office as it was when he was there felt like I’d been there already given how many times we’ve seen it portrayed on TV. The display about the assassination attempt was really well done and you learn a lot about his character from it. But being a political animal, of course, I was interested in both the campaign and administration displays. Amazing how “old fashioned” and corny they all seem now.
Throughout the Library are examples of why he’s considered one of the Great Communicators of our time. His speeches, even back to when he worked for GE, were inspiring and showed he had a great grasp of what people were thinking. You might not agree with his politics, but you had to admit that he was able to get across what he was thinking and the themes seemed to always be “on message” and clear.
One clip they gave star billing to was a televised campaign address Reagan made for Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater in 1964 entitled, “A Time for Choosing”. It is suggested this was the first time people started to see him in a political context.
One of my favourite of his quotes is, ” Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem”
And then there is, ” Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” June 12, 1987 Berlin
Displayed outside was a chunk of the Berlin Wall. Surely one of his most memorable accomplishments was when the wall came down.
Also outside on the crest of the hill is the “Rose Garden” replica of the one outside the Oval Office, and his final resting place. Probably the saddest part of his death was the horrible disease that he succumbed to, Alzheimer’s. For someone who had so many amazing memories, it is so sad he was robbed of them slowly over nearly 10 years. It must have been so frustrating for Nancy as it is for all loved ones of anyone with Alzheimer’s. In a letter to the American people advising them of his disease, his final sentence was:
“I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead.”
Upon his death, his body was displayed at the Presidential Library for two days and then flown to Washington where he lay in state for 34 hours. On June 11th a state funeral service was held in Washington and his body was returned to the Presidential Library where he was buried, poetically, at sunset.
All in all, an interesting experience.
Lois' Adventures 