Happy President’s Day!
Happy President’s Day everyone!
Hope you’ve taken a few moments today to reflect on the Presidents of the United States. No, not the band! Just yesterday, Greg was organizing his library and realized he has no fewer than 15 presidential biographies! We thought it might be nice to share some presidential history/library stories.
Presidential libraries are pretty interesting beasts. They aren’t exactly public, but most are at least accessible to the public. These archives and libraries aren’t just about memorializing an administration, although most tend to frame their subjects in the most favorable light possible. The collection and preservation of presidential materials are important for establishing a clear view and record of each presidency. What is saved - and by whom - matters, as recent headlines have shown.
If you find yourself nearby a presidential library, why not stop in!
Greg’s Choice:
One of my first jobs was as a Park Ranger at the JFK Birthplace in Coolidge Corner, Brookline. I read A LOT of JFK bios at that time. It also got me into presidential histories in general. Since then, I’ve read bios of Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant, Andrew Johnson, Garfield, Teddy Roosevelt, Taft, FDR, Truman, JFK, LBJ, Nixon, and the Bush presidents. A lot of gaps in there! I wonder who I’ll read about next!
I’m a little embarrassed to say I’ve only been to two presidential libraries, the Kennedy Library in Boston, and the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri with Adam during our eclipse trip of 2017.
I think my favorite president is probably Grant. He’s one of the most maligned and misunderstood. He was a man who learned from his mistakes and went to lengths to correct them. Certainly, General Orders No. 11, in which he expelled all Jews from parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky, was a terrible injustice. It was something he attempted to make amends for throughout the rest of his career. (NOTE from Adam: Isn’t it a little too late to make reparations and “amends” for that one once the order has been placed?)
His Civil War performance - and ultimate victory - were exemplary (no matter what Lost Cause historians would have you believe). During his presidency, his efforts to crush the KKK were also pretty good, even if they ultimately failed. His personal memoirs are one of my favorite works of history.
Adam’s choice for the day:
I’m not going to celebrate the best/most influential or even most scandal-ridden. I’m not even going to share my favorite President. I thought about today - and this post - as a way to think back on a President with a connection to my past … in name only.
Back in 1986, I was entered into a housing lottery as a junior at Syracuse University. Several friends and I entered our “numbers” and first selections at the same time. Wherever we landed would be our home for the next academic year.
The summer mailing arrived - I opened the envelope, and (you know where is going, right?) … Grover Cleveland Hall!
For many reasons, I will never forget that year. It was our first year together in modified “apartment” living - our own room, bathroom with shower, kitchen area. It was a blast having several friends on the same floor … lots of TV gatherings (“Miami Vice” was our TV show), dance parties (someday, I may be able to explain a four-person progressive dance, not unlike a Maypole Dance to Pink Floyd, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.).
I can’t share a lot of details about Grover Cleveland. I believe he may be the only President to have a term, lose the next Election, and then regain the presidency - 22nd and 24th. He served from 1885 to 1889 and then again from 1893 to 1897. I’m not sure what happened during his time in office - or if his decisions still influence or have sway in our Nation. I’m guessing he was a decent enough guy that first term, that later on, enough people decided he should be President again.
Happy Presidents Day … we hope you get some meaning out of this day and we’ll see you in library land soon.