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Clinton Library Attendance Disappointing
Newsmax.com ^ | Jan. 17, 2005 | Carl Limbacher + Staff

Posted on 01/17/2005 7:00:17 PM PST by kromike

Clinton Library Attendance Disappointing

When it opened two months ago, Bill Clinton's presidential library was supposed to draw so many visitors that the city of Little Rock would become a tourist mecca.

However early reports claiming that over 100,000 had visited in just the first six weeks have turned out to be bogus.

The National Archives and Records Administration, which operates the facility, tells U.S. News & World Report that only 42,054 paid to enter. The rest were guests of the former president and freebies to VIPs. Despite wall-to-wall television coverage of its opening, and a deluge of favorable press, attendance figures for the $162 million compound are even less than the attendance at the Reagan and Bush 41 libraries immediately after they opened.

"I thought it would be better," a disappointed Clinton told the magazine.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: arkansas; clinton; clintonlibrary; impeachedx42; libary
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1 posted on 01/17/2005 7:00:21 PM PST by kromike
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To: kromike

Hahaha.


2 posted on 01/17/2005 7:01:55 PM PST by Peach (The Cl intons pardoned more terrorists than they ever captured or killed.)
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To: kromike

Maybe they should put the wheels back on the mobile home to the 21st century it and move it to New York or California where Clinton is "loved".


3 posted on 01/17/2005 7:02:08 PM PST by isthisnickcool (What do they do in the mosque on days when the guys in the front row have gas?)
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To: kromike

ROFLOL!!!


4 posted on 01/17/2005 7:02:41 PM PST by kcvl
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To: kromike

Put the blue dress on display, and your attendance will quadruple.


5 posted on 01/17/2005 7:03:18 PM PST by Brilliant
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To: isthisnickcool
Maybe they should put the wheels back on the mobile home to the 21st century it and move it to New York or California where Clinton is "loved".

BTTT

6 posted on 01/17/2005 7:03:35 PM PST by kcvl
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: kromike

Is anyone surprised? Self-obsessed, spoiled, big babies are not interesting people. Precious few people care about the Billster, anymore. Breaks my heart.


8 posted on 01/17/2005 7:03:47 PM PST by Irene Adler
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To: kromike
42,054 paid to enter

Paid to enter a libray, funded in entirely by donations? Why would anyone pay to enter a library?

9 posted on 01/17/2005 7:04:13 PM PST by Hodar (With Rights, comes Responsibilities. Don't assume one, without assuming the other.)
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To: kromike

Is anyone surprised? Self-obsessed, spoiled, big babies are not interesting people. Precious few people care about the Billster, anymore. Breaks my heart.


10 posted on 01/17/2005 7:04:21 PM PST by Irene Adler
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To: isthisnickcool

It would cost our family $40 to visit said mobile home.

That being said, we could visit a number of national monuments for that price, plus actually see something worthwhile and honest.

By the way, love your tagline.


11 posted on 01/17/2005 7:05:53 PM PST by andie74 (Proud Resident of Fly-Over Country)
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Comment #12 Removed by Moderator

To: kromike

I drove through Little Rock on the day after Christmas, a Sunday, on my way to Texas. Decided to stop at the Clinton Library just for a lark. Got there at noon, and it didn't open till 1. When I returned at opening time, there was a huge line to get in, and I didn't bother. So at least for that day, it was busy.

For that matter, at least in the nice midday sunshine of that day, I thought it looked fine, and didn't evoke thoughts of a double-wide.


13 posted on 01/17/2005 7:06:49 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest (Watching the Today Show since 2002 so you don't have to.)
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To: kromike
Presidential libraries generally aren't big tourist draws. They are considered great assets to universities, because the presidential papers are stored there. However, with the Internet making much of this available on-line, I'm not sure how much interest there will be in even that. Also, all presidential libraries tend to sanitize the president in question. I've been to the LBJ library, and while it has some interesting displays, access to the actual documents that would be of interest is limited. I guess they're afraid Sandy Berger might show up.

Clinton's library also suffers because his presidency was pretty unremarkable. Although the war on terror was on the horizon, he didn't really deal with it. Like Eisenhower, times were pretty good during his presidency, and he will most likely be remembered much like Ike is, with the exception that many of his personal peccadilloes will be remembered and joked about for years.

Reagan and Bush II's libraries will be tourist draws because they are remarkable men, and they presided over remarkable terms.

14 posted on 01/17/2005 7:14:28 PM PST by Richard Kimball (We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men are ready to do violence on our behalf)
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To: kromike
Excellent.


15 posted on 01/17/2005 7:14:50 PM PST by rcocean
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"I thought it looked fine, and didn't evoke thoughts of a double-wide."

I'm glad you said that because I think a very important principle is defined ...

Up close, most lives can not be clearly seen and understood, but the long shot shows the overall picture.

You were waaaaayyyy too close, friend.

16 posted on 01/17/2005 7:15:04 PM PST by knarf (A place where anyone can learn anything ... especially that which promotes clear thinking.)
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To: kromike

How's the massage parlor doing?


17 posted on 01/17/2005 7:15:34 PM PST by Navy Patriot (I'm gonna hear it for this.)
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To: Hodar

Correct me if I am wrong, but the library was built by donations, but it is operated/maintained by the American Taxpayer. Why should you pay to get in at all?

(I couldn't resist) Do they gouge you for the soap so you don't leave there "feeling dirty"?


18 posted on 01/17/2005 7:16:18 PM PST by RangerM (Perhaps he was comfortable within his skin)
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To: kromike
Not enough parking!


19 posted on 01/17/2005 7:16:48 PM PST by wagglebee (Memo to sKerry: the only thing Bush F'ed up was your career)
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To: Peach

all his support is in the coastal states like NY and CA, and those people are not going to make a trip to Arkansas. to be honest, Clinton should have built the library in NY, it would have been very well attended (not that I care, its just an observation).


20 posted on 01/17/2005 7:17:25 PM PST by oceanview
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