That was probably when the new wing featuring the East Room was being added.
However, sad times have befallen the Nixon Library. The private Nixon Foundation, which ran the library until 2007 foolishly decided that year to make the library a part of the Presidential Library system administered by the National Archives. They did this to get President Nixon's presidential papers which, by law, are held by the National Archivesand Records Administration (NARA).
However, this move proved to be a Faustian bargain. When the government took over, a new director was installed who turned out to be a Nixon-hating leftist who is doing all he can to trash President Nixon's legacy. Nonetheless, the Nixon Foundation still maintains its headquarters in the building and administers part of the facility, including the president's birthplace, while NARA maintains the galleries and the archives. The Foundation continues to sponsor programs at the library, including the Troopathon.
Both NARA and the Nixon Foundation maintain offices under the galleries. The two sides are as different as East and West Berlin. Nixon pictures and signs greet visitors to the Foundation side, while a portrait of President Obama welcomes visitors to the NARA offices. Except for perfunctory greetings and shop talk, NARA and Foundation personnel rarely socialize or converse with one another.
Thanks for that. Interesting. I’d read about the “mistake”, and it’s interesting to read about the results.
Wondering if the gardens are still maintained. They were a reason to return, and time and again return of which my wife and I have stated multiple times we will, but haven’t yet.
We go past Yorba Linda several times a year as we travel from our home in Riverside to Harbor City to have any of our 3 SAAB cars serviced at S.C.C.. We like to stop, shop, or visit say the Nixon Library on the return part of the trip. Makes for a nice day trip.