A Charge to Keep

The White House years of George W, Bush is well detailed in his Presidential Library and Museum.

After a restful sleep at the Westin Dallas Park Central Hotel, I had the buffet breakfast at the lobby's Urban South Restaurant. From there, I headed off to Southern Methodist University in order to visit the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, arriving on campus shortly after the center's opening hour of 9:00 AM. The 207,000-square-foot facility opened in 2013 and features historical documents and artifacts from the Bush Presidency, as well as his time as Governor of Texas. The center is a complex comprised of the Presidential Library and Museum, the George W. Bush Policy Institute and the offices of the George W. Bush Foundation. It's operated and maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration and gives visitors an opportunity to explore the life, legacy and impact of the 43rd President of the United States.

Lovely "Gifts From the American People" were on prominent display in the Main Hall exhibit area.

The library and museum are enormous repositories of American history covering nearly all of the first decade of the 21st Century. Upon entering through security, the lobby area is highlighted by a large information and ticket kiosk adorned with an eagle medallion flying above. The library houses some 43,000 artifacts from the Bush Administration and the first exhibit on either side of the kiosk in the main entrance hall showed just a fraction of the many gifts given to the President and First Lady during their time in the White House. When a President accepts a gift from a foreign Head of State, it becomes the property of the American people and the Bushes received plenty of them. Three well-sized, multi-shelved glass display cases on either side of the hall included just a sampling of the multitude of presents they accepted from countries around the world. The exhibit was arranged geographically, including gifts received from nations in Europe and Russia, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Among mementoes from the 2000 presidential campaign, George Bush outlines his philosophy.

Before entering the main exhibit area, I was greeted by President and Mrs. Bush on a 20-foot high, 360 degree video wall followed by a five-category descriptive photo montage of what they considered to be their most important themes. Those included The Spirit of Texas, The Strength of Family, The Power of Faith, The Call to Service and A Campaign of Character. This led into a small theatre showing a brief orientation film titled “A Charge to Keep,” narrated by both George and Laura who discussed the events that defined their time in the White House. This was also the title of his 1999 campaign-focused political memoir co-written with Karen Hughes, which offered a personal yet carefully curated look at his life, family, and "compassionate conservative" philosophy published in late 1999 as a precursor to his 2000 presidential campaign.

A somber reminder of the destruction and loss of life from the terror attacks of September 11 2001.

“Empowering Americans” was the next section of the museum, which included a look at the President’s domestic agenda. It covered the creation of his Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and The No Child Left Behind Act, which was the most impactful change in education policy in a generation. As I turned a corner, I was confronted with 22-foot tall piece of twisted steel recovered from one of the World Trade Center towers. The triple beam and crossbeam section weighs 185

tons and stands in the center of a circular exhibit featuring videos of the events of September 11, 2001 and the names of those who lost their lives on that fateful day. “The Nation Under Attack” was an emotional exhibit to tour and a respectful and solemn hush was evident amongst all visitors. In this regard, kudos to the docents who requested the school children kindly settle down and remain silent while visiting the exhibit.

Visitors choose the course of action to take when confronted by issues the administration faced.

By now, it was lunchtime and I was pleased to discover that the center had two dining choices, Café 43, a full-service restaurant, and the Courtyard Café, a grab-and-go option. I elected to eat at the former where I very much enjoyed having the opportunity to be seated. The Turkey Panini with Fontina, Fig Preserves and Arugula hit the spot. After lunch, I visited the Decision Points Theater, which is an immersive, interactive exhibit that puts visitors in the President's shoes during major crises, letting us experience the pressures and choices of the Bush Administration, featuring scenarios like the Iraq War, Hurricane Katrina, the 2007 troop surge, and the 2008 financial crisis. Participants gather advice from different administration advisors who appear on video when selected. After votes are cast on the action to be taken, President Bush appears on screen explaining the actual decisions he made and the rationale behind them. I was the only person in the theater at that time and found it to be a thought-provoking and educational manner in which to learn more about the challenges the nation’s chief executive faced during those years. 

The popular Oval Office exhibit is a life-size recreation with meticulous attention to detail.

The next exhibit is always among my favorites whoever visiting a Presidential Library. It’s the Oval Office display. This one features a popular, full-size replica of the Oval Office as it appeared during the George W. Bush Presidency. They even permit visitors to sit at a replica of the iconic Resolute Desk, to have their photo taken, and experience the "seat of power," complete with accurate furnishings like the fireplace and presidential artifacts, which made it a highlight of the center's interactive exhibits. The office includes ornate details like a replica of the elaborate fireplace, carved by stone artisans to match the White House original. The paintings in this Oval Office replica primarily feature Texas landscapes by Texas artists, chosen by President Bush as "heartwarming reminders of home.” Works like Tom Lea's "Rio Grande" and Julian Onderdonk's "Near San Antonio" (a bluebonnet scene) are displayed, alongside the classic George Washington portrait over the fireplace, offering a personal touch to the historical setting. 

With inscriptions from several of the President's speeches. the Colonnade begs introspection.

One of the exits from the Oval Office led to a mini version of the the West Wing Colonnade, the iconic, open-air, columned walkway that connects the actual White House Executive Residence to the West Wing. Famous for being the President's quick "45-second commute" to the Oval Office, it’s historically been used by staff and presidents for quiet reflection and as a backdrop for formal events. The museum’s colonnade flanks an outdoor Texas Rose Garden and includes an area for George and Laura Bush’s final resting place. The final special exhibit I visited before my departure was titled Game Changer: United by Sports and it explores how sports are interwoven with American history, shaping national identity, and bringing people together. It features over 50 artifacts and memorabilia, some never before seen by the public. Key items include: two of Jesse Owens' four gold medals from the 1936 Olympics, Jackie Robinson's glove and the bat he used to hit an iconic home run during the 1952 MLB All-Star Game, and items related to President Bush's first pitch at the World Series after 9/11, symbolizing national healing.

Like all the Presidential Libraries I’ve had the pleasure of touring, this one does an excellent job in chronicling an eventful period in American history and the man who led the nation during those days. I spent one additional day in Dallas to visit a place I’ve wanted to see for decades. I’ll tell you all about it in a future post. 

Until next time…safe travels.