Best Places for … “Acting Presidential”

One of the unofficial duties of an ex-president is to break ground for his own library and museum. More than just an ego trip, these sites are great sources of historical information that recreate the times in which these leaders served their country.

In addition to being great sources for facts, figures and historical artifacts, each of the following Presidential libraries and museums reflects the unique personality of each president himself. A visit to any one of these libraries presents a perspective on world events, wars, popular culture and moments of national pride that only a president could provide.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library and Museum. Boston

The John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library and Museum was dedicated to the 35th President in 1979, in a large complex in Boston’s Columbia Point. The library has archived documents, photos and memorabilia from Kennedy’s time in office and boasts some 1,200 oral histories and thousands of feet of motion picture film for visitors to view.

The 115-foot high glass pavilion houses the annual Profile in Courage Award. Just outside the pavilion, the president’s boat, Victura, rests on the lawn. Inside the complex, visitors will find recreations of the 1960 Democratic National Convention hall and the Kennedy-Nixon debate studio.

The library and museum includes all of President Kennedy’s important documents, including briefings and correspondence that reflect the issues of that period, from top-secret reports about the space program, the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the civil rights struggle.

Lining the walls of the museum are framed, hand-written excerpts of President Kennedy’s most famous speeches, including his 1961 inaugural address and the 1963 “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech.

The Kennedy Library and Museum also features exhibits on Jacqueline Kennedy and Robert Kennedy.

The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum Web site (http://www.cs.umb.edu/jfklibrary/index.htm) includes directions to the museum; a list of documents, photos and recordings available for review; and a link to the National Archives search engine.

Jimmy Carter Library and Museum. Atlanta

The Jimmy Carter Library and Museum was opened in 1984. The complex sits on a 30-acre plot of land near downtown Atlanta-- land that was designated for a highway project that was stopped by then-Governor Carter.

The library’s collection includes unique photographs of historic events during President Carter’s tenure, such as the Camp David Accords, and oral histories recorded by the Carters’ family, friends and advisors. Also on display is the president’s daily diary, which includes appointments and conversations from 1977-1981.

The complex also includes The Carter Center of Emory University, which reflects the Carters’ commitment to human rights. The Center works to provide preventive health care and to end war, disease and famine across the globe.

The Jimmy Carter Library Web site (http://carterlibrary.galileo.peachnet.edu/) has a brief biography of President and Rosalynn Carter, digitized documents and photos from the museum’s collection, a gift shop catalog and a special “Kid’s Corner.” Hours of operation, directions to the library and admission fees are also located on the Web site.The Carter Library Web site also has a link to the National Archive search engine.

The Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. Simi Valley, California

The Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum was dedicated to the 40th President in 1991, with a historic gathering of five U.S. presidents and six first ladies in attendance. The 153,000 square-foot library and museum complex sits on a 100-acre plot in Simi Valley, California, approximately 50 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

The Reagan Library and Museum includes an exact replica of the Oval Office, a piece of the Berlin Wall covered with graffiti, a nuclear missile and movie memorabilia such as movie posters and jelly bean jars. Also on display is a large sampling of gifts presented to the Reagans by other world leaders; this rotating display includes some 2,000 gifts in the museum’s collection.

President Reagan’s pre-White House life is recalled in a number of temporary and permanent exhibits, from his early years in Dixon, Illinois, to his career as a Hollywood actor and president of the Screen Actors Guild, to his governorship of the state of California. A “Road to the White House” exhibit recreates the crisis atmosphere at home and abroad that confronted the nation in 1980. The exhibit includes archival footage of the 1980 and 1984 election campaigns as well as news footage from March 30, 1981, the day President Reagan was shot.

The museum also includes an exhibit featuring the accomplishments of first lady Nancy Reagan.

The Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (http://www.reaganlibrary.net) includes a list of permanent and temporary exhibits and a quick tour of the library. It lists the museum’s holdings, Reagan trivia and a collection of recent news stories about the Reagans and their library.