April 7, 2017 - Clinton Presidential Library
Little Rock, Arkansas
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| We drove west on Interstate 40 for a good part of our road trip. Here we are, after just driving through Memphis, crossing the mighty Mississippi River into Arkansas. |
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I-40 goes right by Little Rock, capital and largest city in Arkansas. It's also home to the Clinton Presidential Library. I'm not a big Clinton fan but for some reason I felt like seeing it. So we stopped by.
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Groundbreaking for the complex occurred on December 5, 2001. The entire project ended up costing $165 million in private funding, with an additional $11.5 million of land given by the City of Little Rock (which used eminent domain to get some of the land). The Clinton Presidential Center was dedicated on November 18, 2004.
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I must say I was impressed with the Library's architecture.
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| The Library is on the south bank of the Arkansas River. The old railroad bridge over the river is now a park trail. |
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| Don standing by The Beast -- Clinton's presidential limousine. |
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Don attending a meeting in a replica of the Cabinet Room.
At right is our tour guide, a retired Army officer who went to West Point. He and I had a lot in common and hit it off; I enjoyed talking with him during the tour. But we didn't discuss politics.
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| The most interesting part of the Library for me was the replica of the Oval Office. Here is how I would look if I were President, sitting behind the Resolute Desk! |
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The main gallery is modeled after the Library of Trinity College in Dublin. I was very impressed with the Library when I visited it five years ago, and could see the resemblance with this. |
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The actual Library of Trinity College in Dublin. It is on anybody's list of most beautiful libraries in the world.
Photo by Diliff, downloaded from Wikipedia.
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| At center, chronologically displayed, is a 110-foot timeline, with a large panel for each of Clinton's years as president (1993 to 2001) and his presidency's history and "accomplishments". Some things were left out. |
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A typical setting at a State Dinner in the White House.
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| Clinton liked the glass art of Dale Chihuly so here is some. |
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| Overlooking the Clinton Presidential Park with the Little Rock skyline in the background. This area was formerly a run-down warehouse district. |
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We had lunch downstairs at Forty Two -- Clinton was the 42nd president -- which is a full-service restaurant. We weren't really dressed appropriately but they said it was OK. The food was excellent.
Clinton has a 2,000-square-foot private penthouse on the top (fifth) floor. When he's there, he can have food sent up from this restaurant. Sweet.
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| One last look at the Presidential Library. Again, not a Clinton fan, but I'm glad I stopped by; it was interesting and well-done. |
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| Back on the Interstate, Don and I later stopped by a Pilot to get gas and snacks. |
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| I got this great cowboy hat! |
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