William Jefferson Clinton (#42)

William Jefferson Clinton (1993-2001)

Thursday July 7th, 2005 was dedicated to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum. We drove into Little Rock and started at the River Market complex which houses food counters and produce stands. The special of the day at one of the BBQ places was the Big Willie Plate.

BBQ Shredded Beef Sandwich with coleslaw, baked beans and peach cobbler with Vanilla ice cream.

The River Market is about a half mile west of the Clinton Museum. Peter and I walked to the Museum.

The Clinton Library as viewed from the western approach.

Looking north across the Arkansas River from the ground floor lobby.

The view looking east from the 3rd (top) floor.

The Museum on the left and Library on the right.

About one-third of the building sits on the riverbank. The remaining two-thirds is suspended over the marshy banks of the Arkansas River and supported by one beam. Truly an architectural and engineering feat. Originally, Clinton wanted the building to be suspended over the river, with the supporting beam coming out of the water. However, the Secret Service determined that it was impossible to ensure preventing a terrorist to float right up under the building and set off and explosion. The metaphor for having the building reach halfway across the river was to represent a "bridge to the 21st century."

For those residents of Little Rock who deride Clinton himself or the building have come to call the museum, "the double wide."

So what about the contents within the museum? I will say that I found the modern presentation (read more video and less reading) kept me much more engaged and for a longer period of time. My favorite activity in the museum was the decision room.

Visitors sitting around the Cabinet Table learning about how some decisions were made in the Clinton White House.

I sat in the chair designate for the Secretary of the Treasury and learned about how Clinton brought about Welfare Reform, the budget showdown and actions taken in Kosovo. I must have spent a solid 45 minutes glued to the console.

The natural flow of movement lead us to the main gallery where each year of Clinton's presidency is summarized and outlined. In addition, there were displays on sixteen different themes, such as environmental conservation. I learned that on February 5th, 1993, within the first couple weeks of his presidency, Clinton signed into law the Family and Medical Leave Act.

The first bill that Clinton signed into law.

Peter, with great patience, reads nearly everything presented.

So I know that many of you are wondering whether or not Monica Lewinsky is mentioned. No, she isn't. However, there is mention of impeachment displayed quite prominantly in the chronology of his tenure as President.

In comparison to the Truman Museum, this one felt much more like propoganda. I went through the museum with this sense that we weren't being provided the entire story. Unlike Truman, who allowed dissenting opinions and generated dialogue, the Clinton Library had a very sanitized feel.

I do, however, have to give great kudos to having the gift shop down by the River Market. Separating the retail portion of the museum from the museum itself reduced the feel of commercialism. At least it did for me.

I enjoyed the Clinton museum and all the musems Peter and I visited. After we left the museum, we got in the car and just drove through the city of Little Rock. At one point, we saw a sign pointing us to Little Rock Central High School.

Front entrance to Little Rock Central High School

Why does this ring a bell? On these steps in the 1950's, the first African-American students walked into a public school and the desegregation of schools commenced.

Peter, being a huge fan of architecture, directed us through the historic Quapaw district which has many beautifully renovated homes.

Dinner was at Doe's Eat Place. It was a regular dining location for Clinton during his years in Little Rock.

Doe's Eat Place on West Markham Street

Peter and I split a two pound piece of Porterhouse steak. It was great. This last night before I flew home, I spent at the Holiday Inn Express out by the Little Rock Airport. Alas, the string of Motel 6 stays was finally broken.