The Richard Nixon Library & Museum

Reviews 4

TH

Thomas Chee

Israels Golda Meir to Egypts Anwar Sadats, opening the bridge to China with Chairman Mao, Henry Kissinger, and the original letters, documents, classified CIA documents that turned the wars upside down. I was surprised to see the exhibit with Winston Churchill and Charles De Gaulle. The unexpected surprises were enthusiastic to embrace, because there is only so much taken from the life of Richard Nixon. Sadly, most of the books focus on his crimes, films highlight his scandals; Whereas this library opens us, the audience of walkers throughout the building, to so much more about what Nixon faced in his life. But more importantly, Richard Nixons tiny, little house with his mother taking care of five children. Not only did I learn a lot, but by studying the way Richard Nixon grew, how he became a public servant, what he learned from his mother, I really came away with a great understanding, a profound understanding, of the kind of leader Richard Nixon was away from Watergate. Watergate is a dark shadow, small in size is the shadow compared to the shining light of what Richard Nixon faced in his life, especially in foreign affairs, world government, decision making, all from that small, tiny, little house with no air conditioning, seldom heat, in the center of Yorba Linda. Richard Nixon was quite extraordinary. I do have to share one observation; Henry Kissinger; There was little to no mention of Henry Kissinger until I studied the exhibit in the Chinese area dedicated to Richard Nixon and Henry Kissingers meeting with Chinas Chairman Mao. I am a big fan of Kissingers foreign diplomacy, even the fiction novels from Harvard in the book Class by Erich Segal. Erich is the famous author notably for his book, Love Story. Erich Segal also wrote a fictional account of Henry Kissinger for when Kissinger taught at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where I visited once a year. As a young student, Nixon and Kissinger always walked hand in hand throughout the chapters of history, but the relationship was rarely, if ever, mentioned inside Richard Nixons museum. Why is that? I thought I would learn as much about Henry Kissinger as the President he served as Secretary of State inside. My father used to tell me that if Kissinger had been born in American, he would have become himself President of the United States. Yes, I grew up with my father telling many stories of Kissinger, Nixon, Mao, Vietnam. He was a prisoner of war in the Korean War before Bell Helicopter put him in Texas Christian University where he studied to earn his MBA International Business. His favorite book, the book that was always beside my fathers place on the sofa was Bob Woodwards boo, All the Presidents Men. I grew up on stories about the Watergate investigative reporting as well as The Cold War, Cuban Missile Crisis, Mao, CIA, and continue to read every book printed by Bob Woodward. The irony is that the famous FBI agent who brought down Nixon named Mark Felt - My Friend aka M.F. in Bob Woodwards All the Presidents Men book, well, Mark Felt retired where I studied from elementary school to high school in Sonoma Wine Country. I dont believe my father knew Mark Felt lived in town. FBI directors responsible for bringing shame upon the White House probably keep quiet for a reason. Santa Rosa is small. Still FBIs Mark Felt hid in plan sight. Talk about sight, there was a gorgeous girl getting married at the Nixon Library when I was inside. I had to imagine that Richard and Pat Nixon would have enjoyed loving couples committing to marriage at a wedding in the Presidential rose garden. The couple added to the impressive enthusiasm of the entire day surrounding a history lesson about the President and his adventures through life.

---

BR

Bruce

This was on our "bucket list" of things to do in the Los Angeles area.  The museum is actually situated within a residential neighborhood, which is actually his birthplace and where he was laid to rest. Upon our arrival, the former presidents helicopter, "Marine One" is on display at one end of the parking lot.  We were told it was on loan from another museum. This is the actual helicopter that was used to fly four of our presidents; Nixon, Ford, Johnson, and Kennedy. The cabin itself was cramped but was equipped with a presidential toilet! Upon entering the library is a huge picture of the former president with the "Presidential Seal" in front of Nixons portrait. Of course there is nominal fee for access into this historical museum.  The place doesnt really have an "actual library of books" but is told in murals and other static display, which is well presented.  From actual calls between Nixon and our astronauts to letters written to the former first lady is on display. There is also a short movie of Nixons early life and his rise to the highest office in the land. The rose garden is beautifully decorated with the hundreds of roses and the final resting place of the former president and first lady. We paid our respects and continued our tour. We took a guided tour of Nixons original 990 square foot home where he was raised with his "four brothers" and about some of his hardship to his rise to the presidency. We were told that Ohio Govenor, John Richard Kasich was arriving in town to pay a visit. Overall the price of admission was well worth the tour.

---

JI

Jim Jamison

An interesting visit. . .but be prepared. The Nixon administration (RMN) , while causing irreparable damage to the Presidency and our election process (Watergate) did some remarkable good in the fields of social & environmental welfare, let alone the far sightedness to begin talks with China. RMN began the negative income tax to support the working poor, he established both OSHA (Occupational, Safety & Health Admin), the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and the Endangered Species Act. Sadly, the Nixon Library remains transfixed on reforming RMN (a Republican that was more rooted in the needs of the individual without rewarding the excesses of corporate interests and equally concerned about trying negotiation before bombs - China policy) as a modern Reagan style Republican (who are deeply interested in tearing down environmental policies and Governmental policies promoting the greater good and promoting large corporate interests and producing pre-emptive wars to prevent wars). More time would be better spent by the Library staff in giving equal exposure to all sides of this very complex man. But, by doing so, by presenting RMNs social concerns and actions, RMN would likely come across as a liberal by the standards post Reagan and GW Bush. So, history takes a back seat at this Library to the needs of politics. A pity and a shame.

---

DE

Dennis Kruse

My wife and I visited the library/museum today and we felt that it was a great library/museum. There was just one problem, the air-conditioning temperature was set so cold that we were thoroughly chilled by the time we left the facility. I am not sure exactly why they had it set to be so cold but it was almost unbearable. We have been in many other temperature controlled museums and they did not have the temperature set to be so cold...Please warm it up a few degrees so us folks from the desert of Arizona can enjoy it more and not have to shiver all the way through the museum. It was a very education facility and very well done. A couple of things we did notice was the putting of green print on a green background made it difficult to read. Also, having print directly under glass was also very difficult to read. All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. After all, we spent nearly four and a half hours perusing all of the material that was on display. On the down side though, it was unfortunate that the helicopter was not open for viewing today as they were short one docent and did not have enough staff to handle opening of the helicopter. Very disappointing. Overall a very good museum.

---

---

Other organizations