Day Eighteen – September 26, 2018
Another lovely sunny California day! A very nice hot breakfast and we are off to the Reagan Library. Our hotel is only 2 miles away and we are filled with intrigue and wonder at what we will see.
The long and winding driveway into the Library has lamp posts with placards. Each placard represents one of the American Presidents along with the dates he served in office. Quite impressive as we make our way up the mountain.
There are not many cars in the driveway as we are early – then open at 10am. We take some photos and are instantly struck by how serene this location is. Quiet, calm, and beautiful.
If you look closely you can see the elephant topiary.
We listen in as a docent is speaking with a small group of people – she worked in the Pentagon during the Reagan years but regrets not ever meeting the President. She talks about all the people she did meet and the places she worked but keeps coming back to the fact she never met President Reagan. There is a small line now waiting to purchase tickets and then the door opens and we are in!
A young woman asks if we would like to become members of the Library and we say no, until she explains the benefits – which include visiting any Presidential Library for free for the next year plus other discounts. We sign up knowing we are traveling through Texas and might have an opportunity to visit three other libraries.
We receive all sorts of paperwork and special stickers and are off on a self-guided tour.
There is a room fully equipped with a teleprompter and I tried to read it but the prompter was running very slowly.
There is a replica of the oval office which includes President Reagan’s desk and photos and art work and even the secret door!
There are docents in some of the areas to answer any questions. We are told they rotate every 30 minutes so they don’t get tired of saying the same things about that particular area. Rotating also keeps them on their toes about the information they are disseminating.
As we move on to the next area there is more to view.
As we walk through the rooms we are experiencing somber moments, happy memories, and the magic of Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s love for each other.
There are so many times we silently contemplate “what if he were still alive today”; “what differences would he still be making”; “what would he do”?
I have been reading his book “In His Hand,” for a while. It is a phenomenal glimpse into his thought process and his ideals. But it is also a lot to process – perhaps I will be able to finish reading it soon. There are several spots where those handwritten index cards he was so fond of writing are posted.
The Secret Service display:
November 1, 1950 an attempted assassination of President Truman while he was staying at Blair House during White House renovations.
Air Force One – the real one! A Boeing 707 that was used by 7 Presidents starting with Nixon, Ford, Carter, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, and George W. Bush (who flew only once on this plane – then came the 747 plane). The artifacts on board are the actual ones President Reagan used.
As we exit there is a small display of vehicles used by the President and security.
One last look at Air Force One!
Then there is Marine One! The one President Reagan used is still in service but this is still very cool!
No sign of the gift shop yet, we are sure there is one though. But you can get a pint at the Reagan Lounge! There is also a small grill/restaurant for lunch. We are not ready to eat yet but we check it out!
As we continue our tour there are many more exhibits: the Middle East, Economics, the Berlin Wall, the Cold War, and a 9/11 tribute.
A small room contains some of the Reagan’s personal items including saddles and riding gloves and other memorabilia.
And then the last room – the funeral. Can’t really talk about that yet. Maybe someday.
The Gift Shop – the docent at the door sees we are emotional after seeing all the videos of the funeral. She is very understanding and says there used to be a docent stationed in that area but it was too difficult watching the funeral over and over again and all the people’s reactions.
Grounds – so quiet. We see an actual piece of the Berlin Wall! The side that is painted is the free side – the other side is bare. The docent tells us if citizens approached the wall on that side they were shot immediately.
The views are stunning. Today is a bit cloudy so we cannot see the ocean. But it is very obvious why President Reagan loved it here so much.
We walk through a replica of the White House South Lawn made possible by Merv Griffin. We remember Merv was a close friend of the Reagans and this is beautiful.
As we approach the Burial Site we wonder if it is respectful to take photos? So, we reverently take a few pictures for a memory of that special final resting spot.
There is something about this place that makes you feel like you never want to leave.
We wander some more through the grounds, sit in the sun, and the Gift Shop. We wander back out to the grounds and think about all we have seen and read and felt. There is no need to buy anything from the gift shop – being here is more than enough.
As we leave the parking lot we see the backside of those placards on the lamp poles. All the way down the driveway they display some bit of Americana – leaving room to be replaced by the next Presidents. Impressive.
We stop for a very late lunch – order a pizza – but don’t really feel like eating or talking. So, we barely eat and slowly make our way to our hotel.
Back in our room we are emotionally spent and hoping to nap – but unable to turn off our heads.
We try to work on the blog and do some photo and file management but we are tired.
Perhaps a few loads of laundry would help – loaded up with quarters, Tide pods, and two bags of dirty clothes and we are off in search of the guest laundry facility. It looks pretty up-to-date and we get started. Dale sets his phone timer for 26 minutes and back we go to our room. The wash cycle is done – the next load in and the dryer time reads 45 minutes. Back to our room – and we repeat this process.
Clothes are dry and folded. Time for dinner.
What might we have tonight? How about leftovers? Works for us.
We decide to spend another day here to do some writing and just unwind a bit.