a little bit of Little Rock

President Clinton grew up in Hot Springs, but spent many years in Little Rock, some as its Governor. So his library was built in Little Rock instead of Hot Springs. I went to see what a presidential library was like. I didn't think I saw one before, but I might have seen FDR's library in Hyde Park. I remember seeing Eleanor Roosevelt's place and museum, and FDR's house, but not his presidential library.

Anyway, the libraries are not libraries full of books, etc. They are "museums" showing things each president donates to it, including personal belongings, gifts, as well as documents from his presidency. The presidents choose how to showcase his accomplishments and dealings with world events. Clinton made a mock-up of the Oval office because he loved working in it and all the windows that brightened up the room. He also loved the meeting room where people had their say about the issue of the day, so he made a likeness of that and put computer screens on the table, allowing the public to have a seat and weigh in on their opinions of various issues! Clinton made 8 different alcoves in a big room and displayed or explained what happened each year of his presidency.

I bought the audio tour - Clinton narrates at each of the 42 stations in his library. He talks about how he designed the building and that critics likened it to a big mobile home or trailer. Bill didn't mind that because he considers himself a simple man and "regular" person from the country, so an elaborate building wouldn't portray his persona.

I spent a couple of hours in the library and could have spent a lot more time if I had listened to all the audio spiels and read all the things in the alcoves and looked at all the gifts given him, etc. I was impressed with this library!

Now, the Capitol was built in the likeness of the U.S. Capitol and there are statues and memorials all around the grounds of important things to Arkansas. I didn't know that 9 black school kids tried to attend Little Rock Central High School in 1957 but were blocked by the National Guard! Governor Faubus didn't want the school integrated, so he called in the Guard to block blacks "for their own safety" but the students were harassed on their way to and from the school by angry white parents, forming a mob. A Federal court said the National Guard couldn't be called out by a state's orders and recalled them, saying that the local police had to give protection to the students of the school. The police couldn't maintain order when the kids entered the school the next day, and they had to leave in police cars from a side exit. Black and white journalists began to be beaten by the mob and the issue gained national attention. Eisenhower was forced to send the Arkansas National Guard to escort the students into the school. Faubus then declared "the state is now an occupied territory" and the National Guard left in November. The kids go to school the whole year but are harassed physically and verbally. One of them became the first black to graduate from that high school. The school was closed the next year by popular vote so as not to integrate it, but the Federal court declares closings of schools unconstitutional forcing the state to open it the next year. 3 black kids attend that year, including 2 or the original 9. Wow - what a story! The school is still active but it is also a National Historic Site with a visitor center! Only organized groups can enter escorted by a ranger of the NPS.

Oct 23, 2009

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