THE CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
We spent our last full day at the President Clinton Library and Museum in Little Rock. I have only visited two other Presidential Libraries, so my perspective is limited. But I found this Library to be informative, interesting and a fair representation of the Clinton Presidency. The Library was built in an old railroad yard in a dilapidated part of Little Rock. They have done a great job or restoring the area to its natural beauty.
A particularly interesting aspect of this Library, for me, is that it is my first "living President" library. This allowed for Clinton's personal perspective of his Presidency. It is his voice, his words, that are on the self-guided audio tour. He takes us through a time-line of his Presidency, describing major accomplishments - including NAFTA, FMLA, State Children's Health Insurance programs, Don't Ask, Don't Tell (while surely not the answer, it began to open doors), increased funding for NIH and education programs. He also talked about his failures - unsuccessful attempts to negotiate the Arab-Israeli conflict, and an honest (albeit brief) perspective of Kenneth Starr, Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky. Let me emphasize the brevity of his discussion on Lewinsky.
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A very pleasant surprise for me was the Chihuly Glass Exhibition at the Library. As some of you know, I love glass art, in all it forms. Chihuly is the absolute best glass artist anywhere, and I felt priveleged to be able to view his work.