DFU SURVIVES eLBJ LIBRARY, LOVES BUSH LIBRARY

dfu | 10-27-03 | Doug from Upland

[doug from upland]

Vacation in Texas ends tomorrow, and I head back to a devastated S. California. Thank goodness my home is okay. We visited the Riverwalk in San Antonio, which was outstanding, Mrs. DFU's cousins in Uvalde, and my brother and his wife in wonderful Georgetown, above the liberal bastion of Austin.

While in enemy territory in Austin, we stopped by the eLBJ Library at the U of T. It had some interesting exhibits, but overall I was not very impressed. I've been to the Nixon and Reagan libraries, which were much more impressive. It is a good thing that the eLBJ Library was free.

Then we had a choice. Make the drive to Crawford to see how close we could get to the Bush ranch without being arrested by the Secret Service or checking out the Bush Library two hours away in College Station. I am pleased that we chose the Bush Library.

If you have the chance, it is a must see. It kicked the eLBJ free library's butt big time. The Bush library had many outstanding exhibits, including the story of his being shot down as a WWII hero pilot and nearly dying, the Gulf War, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was nothing but first class all the way.

The only thing impressive about the eLBJ Library was that it had a traveling exhibition of one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence. The relatives in Uvalde, by the way, are convinced that eLBJ has Kennedy whacked. Johnson seems to have been an amazingly vile man.

Having now seen 4 presidential libraries, I have the urge to see how many I can visit around the country. Please share your experiences with some of them on this thread.

[JulieRNR21]

I've been to Ike's, Truman's, Nixon's and Reagan's.

Have purposely boycotted JFK's, Carter's & Johnson's.

I found Reagan's to be the best of all....in the setting, content and details.

[jocon307]

"Having now seen 4 presidential libraries, I have the urge to see how many I can visit around the country."

Doug, I had to reply to this, because I've been thinking about california, and I'm glad to hear you are ok. I've never visited any Pres. Libraries, but I've been to Teddy Roosevelt's birthplace (on east 20th str. in Manhattan), and also to his bigger house in Oyster Bay, Long Island. I'd actually love to re-visit Oyster Bay. Great victorian house, filled with TR's hunting trophys.

I have also been to the Wm. Floyd estate in Mastic Beach, Suffolk County, Long Island. One of his descendants is a very recent gov. of Mass, who's name is eluding me at this very moment.

I have a great time going to these places, they are always staffed by the park service rangers, with their wild & crazy hats.

I'm glad you are safe. I hope you might make it back to the NYC area sometime soon. If you do, we can do the TR birthplace easily, and hit the Old Town again!

Good Luck Cali! Pulling for you all.

jocon

[doug from upland]

Thanks.

[doug from upland]

I would like to see Truman's and Ike's. Reagan's was incredibly uplifting. I would really like to see JFK's. Being strong on national defense and a big tax cutter, he may very well fit into our party today. His party would never nominate him today.

[doug from upland]

This is about 300K in Georgetown, North of Austin in a nice golfing community. In California, depending on the area, it is 750K to a couple million.

[doug from upland]

Bush Presidential Library, College Station, TX