Before the William J Clinton Presidential Center opened this morning, we had time to see a few more sights in Little Rock, AR.
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| Butterfly Mural (2020, by Youri Cansell aka Mantra) includes nine butterflies in tribute to the Little Rock Nine |
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| Love is Life (1975, after Peter Toth) (a Roadside America attraction) |
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| Who is this? Casimir Pulaski (1961, by Sacha S Schnittmann) was originally located in the lobby of the Pulaski Federal Savings and Loan Association office in Little Rock; Little Rock, AR is in Pulaski County |
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| An impressive wisteria arbor in Ottenheimer Plaza |
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| Junction Bridge (1884, by the Choctaw ad Memphis Railroad) is now a pedestrian bridge (2008) over the Arkansas River; because it is a lift-span bridge, a stairway and elevator to the raised span had to be built |
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| A stone wall delineates the Quapaw Line, the western survey line of the land the Quapaw Nation could retain after ceding ancestral land to the US government in 1818; then in 1830 the Indian Removal Act forced indigenous tribes to relocate to Oklahoma, with several of the forced migration routes passing through Arkansas |
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| The Little Rock, from which the city took its name, was supposedly 18-feet above the river as a landmark identified in 1722 by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe; in 1818 it was used as a survey marker for the Quapaw Line |
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| Native Knowlege (2012, by Denny Haskew) is a tribute to the Caddo, Osage, and Quapaw Nations from Arkansas |
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| Over at the William J Clinton Presidential Center, we first looked for the Anne Frank Sapling, which did not make it in the spot marked with a quote from Anne Frank about moments of happiness and hope when seeing the branches of a chestnut tree |
Another tree was to be planted at the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, one of 11 sites in the United States chosen because they represent social justice and freedom, and promote tolerance. There is no news on what happened to the Central High School tree.
The Clinton Presidential Library is the thirteenth such library completed in the US, and is the eleventh to be operated by the National Archives and Records Administration. It is the third to comply with the Presidential Records Act of 1978, which was enacted after Richard Nixon sought to destroy his records in 1974. After 1981, it is mandated that official records of Presidents and Vice Presidents must be preserved, and they become "public" property.
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| One of the Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for A Cooler Planet, each decorated by a different artist, will be on exhibit through the end of this year; the project originated in 2005 and premiered in 2006 in Chicago, and has since been displayed around the world |
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| The focus on the environment is also seen at this storm drain |
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| William J Clinton Presidential Library and Museum (2001-2004, by James Polshek and Richard Olcott) |
It is noted that Bill Clinton wanted to include references to scandals during his presidency, but by depicting the attacks as a scheme to "delegitimize" Clinton's administration. Does any presidential library include the bad and the ugly?
It was interesting that a flight of a half-dozen steps led to the escalators which accessed the rest of the museum (there were also elevators). On the second floor was first the Orientation Theater with a 12-minute film narrated by Bill Clinton.
Down the center of the main exhibit area, the Presidential Timeline was presented in sections for each year of Clinton's presidency, all jam-packed with information including daily schedules and correspondence from famous individuals.
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| The Presidential Limousine (1993), a Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham that can be dusted on the outside, but to open the doors requires contacting the regional Secret Service office; later models are destroyed by the Secret Service to bury the secrets of its manufacture |
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| Exhibit: Campaign for the Future |
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| A replica of the White House Cabinet Room |
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| Looking down at the Presidential Timeline, with exhibit alcoves to both sides on the floor below |
To either side were alcoves addressing the many issues Clinton addressed (despite a Republican majority for 3/4 of his presidency). Subjects (with an example) included:
Putting People First: 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act enabling workers to take time off to care for newborns or sick family members.
Restoring the Economy: 1993 Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act that would cut the deficit by $500 billion over five years by reducing $255 billion of spending and raising taxes on the wealthiest 1.2% of Americans. By the end of Clinton's two terms as president, there were record-high surpluses and the record-low poverty rates, the economy could boast the longest economic expansion in history; the lowest unemployment since the early 1970s; and the lowest poverty rates for single mothers, Black Americans, and the aged.
Building One America: 1993 AmeriCorps helped young people gain work experience and pay for college through community service.
Making Communities Safer: 1993 Brady Law was a comprehensive gun control law that was reported to result in falling crime rates every year Clinton was in office.
Science and Technology: 1996 Telecommunications Act was to open up local phone markets, and increase competition in long distance communication.
Preparing for New Threats: 1997 ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention, an international ban on the development and stockpiling of chemical weapons.
Confronting Conflicts: 1998 Good Friday Accords to end the conflict between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Learning Across a Lifetime: 1998 21st Century Community Learning Initiative provided afterschool programming in at-risk communities.
Protecting the Earth: 1999 Clean Air Initiative for cleaner fuels and reduced auto and truck emissions, reduced emissions from power plants, and reducing other air toxics.
Expanding Our Shared Prosperity: 1999 Debt Relief for Poverty Reduction was to forgive debt owed by poor countries if those countries spent the savings on health, education, and poverty reduction.
Little Rock Nine: 1999 presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to each of the Little Rock Nine.
State Gifts:
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| Cloisonné Egg from Boris Yeltsin, President of the Russian Federation |
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| Bronze sculpture of "Shawu," a renowned elephant in Kruger National Park, from Nelson Mandela, President of the Republic of South Africa |
Nelson Mandela was quite the fan of Bill Clinton.
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| The Archives are contained in thousands of blue boxes |
On the third floor the exhibits included:
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| Replica of the Oval Office |
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| It was President Eisenhower who decided that the Presidential Seal (on the floor of the entrance hall to the White House) should not be trod upon, so it was afterward placed on the plaster ceiling of the Oval Office |
The Early Years: Clinton's childhood, his education, his political career in Arkansas, and Hilary Rodham Clinton.
Making the White House a Home: The White House was the only home of the Clintons during his presidency.
State Events:
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| Table setting for a White House state dinner |
Celebrations at the White House:
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| One of two of the Crystal Trees of Light (1999, by Dale Chihuly) created for the White House Millennium on New Year's Eve |
People's Gifts:
Next: Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.
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| Cross Stitch Map of Arkansas from Lola Frans |
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| The Clinton Presidential Center includes the former Choctaw Railway or Route Station (1899), now Sturgis Hall of the Clinton School of Public Service |
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| A car in the Clinton Presidential Center parking lot had a variety of stickers, and may belong to a female Vietnam Vet |
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