Picto Diary - 28, 29 October 2024 - Three US Presidents
Above: Wilbon Kennels, Cabot, Arkansas. 28 October 2024.
Bonnie and Bill Bennett with TIMDT and their charge for the last two days, Freddie.
Above: William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas. 28 October 2024.
The most impressive aspect of this museum was the building itself. It sits on beautiful grounds adjacent to the Arkansas River. Had we had more time I would have walked the various paths around the museum and along the river.
TIMDT stands just to the left of our Sprinter as seen in the above image.
Above: William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas. 28 October 2024.
Main gallery. The design was inspired by the Long Room of the Trinity College library in Dublin, Ireland which we visited six years ago.
Above: William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Little Rock, Arkansas. 28 October 2024.
Impeachment Exhibit. The only single coverage of Clinton's impeachment at the Clinton Museum. Monica Lewinski is not explicitly mentioned. The display portrays the White House scandals as a "fight for power" and an exercise in the politics of persecution. This in marked contrast to the significant room sized exhibit on the Watergate scandal at the Nixon Museum in Yorba Linda, California.
History will judge the impact of Clinton's scandalous behavior. Broadly speaking, however, the Clinton period, from 1993 to 2001 was notable for its sustained economic growth, low unemployment, low crime stats, reduced welfare rolls and reduced teen birth rates.
In March of 1999, during the Clinton presidency, the United States launched Operation Allied Force against strategic positions in Serbia. The bombing campaign ultimately ended the ethnic cleansing unleashed by Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in Kosovo.
Clinton's bombing campaign, though seen as successful at the time, raises questions in latter days about the efficacy of subsequent US/CIA interventionism around the world (Ukraine anyone?) and whether US intervention is doing any good, or just leading to increased world instability.
Above: The George W. Bush Presidential Museum and Library, Dallas, TX. 29 October 2024.
Image: 9/11 Exhibit. A thrilling, poignant, multi-media exhibit. Center of image is spar from one of the World Trade Center towers. There was a flock of school kids following us. I can't think of a better way for them, than this exhibit, to learn about 9/11, seemingly so close in history to us, but an event which occurred long before the kids were born.
Above: The George W. Bush Presidential Museum and Library, Dallas, TX. 29 October 2024.
Selected National Humanities medals awarded by George W. Bush.
I noted the award to Bill Cosby and thought how much the worm turns during the course of history.
Above: The George W. Bush Presidential Museum and Library, Dallas, TX. 29 October 2024.
The Bush Doctrine Exhibit.
This (see image) doesn't seem to be the doctrine today under Biden/Harris. Is Iran not a nation state enemy that harbors terrorists? The Biden/Harris doctrine in this regard seems to be not to confront the threat, but delay, delay, delay and hope the threat goes away. W's presidency will be tied to wars in the fight against terrorism. Bush no doubt felt he was following this doctrine when he launched retaliatory strikes for 9/11 on Iraq and Afghanistan. Results of those efforts are ambiguous as to their legitimacy and efficacy. Trump's drone assassination of Iran terrorist 2IC Qasem Soleimani in 2020 seems to be solidly in keeping with the Bush Doctrine.
The George W. Bush administration was notable for cutting federal taxes, introducing education reform (No Child Left Behind), and funding fixes to the AIDs crisis in Africa. Bush was a free markets president and a strong advocate for creating a climate where personal responsibility and accountability were valued. In retirement, George W. Bush has taken to painting. He stays out of the limelight, but he did recently make known his refusal to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024. His daughter, Barbara Bush, endorsed Kamala Harris for president.
The Bush library and museum is located on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. TIMDT and Mwah (sic) thought that of the two museums we had seen yesterday and today, the Bush Museum did a better job telling Bush's story than did Clinton's museum telling his. These are subjective comments. Both museums are well worth visiting.
Above: Dealy Plaza. Dallas, TX. 29 October 2024.
TIMDT at JFK assassination site. Lee Harvey Oswald's bullet was shot from the Texas Book Depository building at right to hit JFK in the head on the street just in front of where TIMDT is standing. JFK was assassinated on22 November 1963. I was a nineteen-year-old student at American University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. I learned of the assassination from my mother on return from basketball practice at the Gezira Sporting Club to our apartment in Garden City, Cairo, Egypt.
The Warren Commission confirmed that the assassination was a one-off shooting by Lee Harvey Oswald, though much controversy exists around this conclusion sixty years later.
John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories - Wikipedia
Above: Dealy Plaza. Dallas, TX. 29 October 2024.
Mwah (sic) standing in front of the Texas School Book Depository building, near site of where US President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1963. The assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, shot his history making bullet from the top floor, second window section from right.
Addendum:
Sure he will enjoy 😉
Thanks, Mark,
La Quinta, CA
I realize how much I am missing not knowing the US as well as other places. Great pics. Covid comment copied.
V,
Park City, UT