Hi everybody!

...couldn't get internet service laqst nite...so we get two trips tonite!

Got to the LBJ Library/Museum yesterday...in Austin, Texas ..on huge sprawling campus of
University of Texas...Lyndon wanted it in Johnson City about 60 miles away, near where he gaduated Teachers college..but LadyBird was stronger...;and insisted that it be in Austin, the Capitol and her Alma Mater!....She also did most of the groundwork..with architects etc.....and she has to be commended since it turned out so well....The only erro0r however hyappens to be the selection of the tan pitted marble used on the exterior as well as the floor surfaces..The crevices retain dirt..and tend to crack, so the entire front of the building is entirely scaffolded for pressure cleaning..so I was not able to photograph the exterior...but I made up for it inside!
The building is rather square extending up for ten stories...the tenth floor contains his replica of the Oval Office of the White House..but is about 94% of the true size since it was not originally planned for...and not sufficient space was allotted..The office was utilized by him frequently post-presidency...and since he refused to come in the front door and go up the elevator..he insistede on having a Heliport on the roof and thereby able to go down privately one floor to enter!!...We observed the room and the key difference from other replicas we have seen previously, is that there is a bank of TV screens next to each other in cabinetry to provide him to watch the 3 stations simultaneously..he evidently was an avid observer of the news produced...
There is also an Autorobotic figure of him in an alcove on the 4th floor..dressed in farming like clothes, with cowboy boots and 10 gallon hat that moves life-like with hand, arm, head and eye movements while he is leaning on a white barnyard fence and telling humorous "downhome" jokes and stories to assist in better explaining of some of his political maneuvers...It actually provoked out-loud laughter from both of us...and confirmed his apparent strong sense of humor... About the perimeter of the room in what appeared to be a gigantic open lobby were displayed a host of the personal gifts he had received over the term of his office from many important personages from foreign lands.
From this open area you can look up to the tenth floor on a facade of glass windows in one huge panel exposing all the documents and papers of his Presidency filed away neatly in individual book-like containers...It is impressive and certainly enhances the significance of the purpose for the research library...

On the 3rd floor which is the level of the entrance most of the public museum is observed...It displays in several sections most of the efforts he expended in getting Congressional Approval of many of his statutes..particularly relating to Poverty, Care of the Elerly and Poor, Educational opportunities for the young and Civil Right programs, among the white and black races,, Daras remarked after witnessing much of this that she felt "she owed him an apology" since much of this information wasn't previously understood by us...I agreed...However, the negative press he received in relation to the War in Vietnam was his undoing....It was noted that this dilemma was inherited by him from his predecessors and waqs not initiated by him..We learned how the trauma of this inheritance plagued him..and understood the reason for instituting a military draft and increasing the soldiers and Marines to battle....resulting in Anti war protests..draft card burning, rioting in the streets, civil rights battles aqnd culminating in the assassination of Martin Luther AKing and Bobby Kennedy..they were rough times and the USA paid the penalty...Despite these tubulent times he was able to initiate Medicare and Medicaid...Initiate HeadStart..Student loan programs..Gi Bill of Rights etc...He evidentlyt appreciated the need of these programs and many, many more since his childhood stemmed from a background of poverty as well...That explained why he decided " to not seek or accept the nomination for President"realizing that the time necessary to campaign would detract him from his continuing
efforts to accomplish those goals....The sad story was that he died just 3 days prior to the negotiated settlement of the Vietnam war! I have so much more material and insight in his Presidency based on him as an individual, that I think will prove to be rather startling when I write of it!...Hang in!

We were exhasuted after leaving the Library, but were satisfied of how much we accomplished...It was gratifying...

Monday morning very early..6AM found us in the hotel van being whisked to the Austin Airport for the flight to Los Angeles...the Airport was...as is most of them...a calamity...shoes and all parcels and bags searched..a few times...we barely had time for coffee and a bun..and we took off...The flight of about 3 hours was uneventful and we disembarked in another very busy airport...arranging for a car rental with a GPS took some doing..but soon we were on our way to the Reagan Library in Simi Valley....It was "rush hour"...and each and every Freeway demonstrated it...The LIbrary is way up in the mountainous area north of LA..It is typical desert and the vistas visualized were awesome..you could see in the valleys communities miles away...breathtaking...and not easy driving at the pace most autos were travelling! The Library was about 50 miles from tha eairport and is situated directly on the summit of the highest mountain peak in the area..and is reached by driving upward for a few miles on a winding canyon-like road. The multiple connected building are California/Spanish in design with rough crude beams, red tile roofs and arches...all delightfully lqandscaped with very colorful desert blossomong flowers...It is a beautiful sight.. We were told that this Library is the VERY LARGEST of the 12 Archive supported museums..and after a few hours of inspection we were in agreement! Most of the displays, instead of being the customary posters and printed material were actual photographs, some blown up in size that truly identified the event that affected nhis governing and the direction it was taking our country...It is extremely well done...and could be described as affording a very"comfortable and satisfying" experience. There were also several rather small and somewhat intimate alcoves where very significant documentary videos were shown..all contributing to the very positive effect of validating his Presidency...Much homage was paid to Nancy, as well. A Highlight of the Museum is the ahnger space on the lower level where the entire Boeing 707 which had been used by Reagan and other Presidents is suspending from the ceiling...and you are permitted a walk thru while docents explain each chamber of the interior to you...culminating receiving a photo of you as you enter the plane as a souvineer,,,for $10.75!! The final act was to walk thru a simulated east wing garden laqwn to the burial site of the President...It is awesome...providing a view almost to infinity to the opposite mountain range over the huge valley below! A few books were purchased and we returned to our rental car...set the GPS for Nixon's Library in Yorba Linda, near Anaheim and wormed our way in adifferent direction for about another 40 miles or so thru traffic and found it...Reaching Anaheim was a pleasaqnt repreive from the fast moving freeway traffic...we drove by the museum which was already closed..found a suitable lodging...and I am now going to literally "drop into bed"!...See you tomorrow!