Duncan Forster

Review of Ronald Reagan Presidential Lib...

I have only been to two, but I would have to assum...

I have only been to two, but I would have to assume this is the most family-friendly of Presidential Libraries. There is Air Force One displayed in a magnificent setting, and you can board and tour it. There is a pretend-presidential podium you can take great photos while standing in. There is a mock-up of the Oval Office that looks very authentic, and there is a repro of the Berlin Wall complete with holes and tunnels that your little ones can crawl through if they are so inclined. There are stirring videos, memorable quotes, glancing summaries of Ronald Reagan's life and times, and an enormous amount of focus on the time he survided an assination attempt by John Hinckley. Nancy's dresses and gowns are devine. A video about communism-and-the-second-half-of-the-20th-Century is terrifying. AIDS is not mentioned anywhere, an omission faithful to the man's legacy of total inaction in the face of that particular crisis. The Library is dedicated to promoting the myth of Reagan. Fans of Reagan will love this place, but critics of his life and legacy should visit here also - not to become fans, but to gain a better understanding of the symbol that is Ronald Reagan. You'll have to get your understanding of the man from a different resource.