Obama’s Presidential Library Plans Slammed
“President Obama, is that how you want to be remembered? As the healthy-eating and meditation-advocating president?”
I had a wonderful experience touring the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan presidential libraries in 2015, where I savored history and celebrated American culture.
The plans for the Barack H. Obama presidential library seem to be taking a less scholarly turn, as they appeared to be geared to turning the facility into a progressive activity center:
The architectural centerpiece of the Obama campus—a 100-plus-foot-tall stone-clad tower—could also see its final look evolve. Though the designers confirmed the completion of 30 different studies for the structure, they would not elaborate on any changes. As far as programming is concerned, the tower’s top level will include an observation space open to the public while the museum itself would be accessible only by paying ticket holders.
Unlike traditional presidential libraries which house thousands of physical documents, the Jackson Park facility will provide digital access to President Obama’s archives, freeing up space for civic use including activities like basketball, dance recitals, and yoga classes. A community garden and test kitchen focused on nutritious foods (a cause championed by former First Lady Michelle Obama) could also be in the cards for Jackson Park.
Those interested in being serious about the Obama legacy are less than pleased at the plans:
…Chicago Tribune columnist Ron Grossman trashed the “test kitchen” idea as not worthy of the ideals and history for which the presidential center is supposed to stand.
“Mr. President, I’ve got to tell you: The renderings for your museum are ‘little plans,’ more likely to congeal than stir blood,” he wrote.
The problem, Grossman wrote, isn’t the design but the add-ons.
“What brought me up short was a space in the adjoining Forum building labeled ‘test kitchen.’ Presumably that reflects Michelle Obama’s war on junk food. The museum’s champions similarly suggest it could host yoga classes,” he wrote. “President Obama, is that how you want to be remembered? As the healthy-eating and meditation-advocating president?”
He added, “That’s not how I want the story to come down to my grandchildren’s children.”
The trouble that Grossman and other admirers of Obama will find is that by the time President Trump finishes his two terms, there won’t be much left to commemorate:
If one thing has defined President Trump’s approach to policy in his first year in office, it is his extraordinary zeal in trying to erase the accomplishments of his predecessor, Barack Obama.
From the petty (axing the White House bike-sharing station) to the profound (the Affordable Care Act), Trump has sought to roll back Obama achievements across the waterfront.
…And he has had some real successes: Through executive actions, regulatory rollbacks, and personnel appointments — especially to the judiciary — Trump has made serious headway toward his goal, even as some of his own major legislative intitiatives [sic] have languished.
And let’s not forget that President Trump’s team is slowly undoing Michelle Obama’s school lunch fiasco!
I might suggest that the first item placed in the Donald J. Trump presidential library is his giant eraser.
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Yeah, that happens when you haven’t done a thing worth remembering.
Oddly enough, I don’t remember Obama ever actually eating healthy. His wife would talk a big game, but every time I ever saw a picture of Obama eating, he was shoving a hamburger or something in his mouth. And I certainly don’t remember him advocating meditation. So even those things he wants remembered for are lies.
Rules and guidelines are for the little people.
Can’t he just eat his waffle?
Exactly. A big nothingburger, devoid of any major accomplishments (though they could have an annex bunker with all of the illegal EOs and questionable policy decisions–those that were actually documented–could reside.
How about and outside smoking area? Just add one of those big Chinese made windmills for some power. There’s plenty of them sitting dormant in the nearby plains just west of there.
*Note: Digital records are needed because they burned the originals in case of a subpoena.
They need a reeding room with bongs and how to videos.
Eric Holder can hold the ‘fast and furious’ chair, while awaiting congressional misconduct investigation.
How about a showcase with the great ones Nobel Award for spreading arms to MS13 ?
Don’t forget that special Chicago-style back room too!
Why does that building look like a …….”plug?”
“Unlike traditional presidential libraries which house thousands of physical documents, the Jackson Park facility will provide digital access to President Obama’s archives…”
Who wants to bet the digital copies are less than complete? And that certain digital copies are later edited to tell a different version of things?
Also, who needs that monstrosity of a building to just look at edited digital copies?
We can do that, if we wanted to (I don’t), from home or from our phones or from wherever we have access to internet.
The building isn’t necessary for the digital documents, it’s necessary for his ego. You can bet it will have Greek columns (or the equivalent).
Obama want’s a giant …… “plug” for his ego?
living history – if you don’t like it rewrite it.
Oh, and according to Breitbart, Obama’s library is being challenged because it likely violates national monument rules.
Yeah, but the Obamas don’t actually care about Chicago.
Will a pack of Kools be on display?
doobies, more likely.
His “library” would be more fitting in a better location- Havana, Cuba.
the designers confirmed the completion of 30 different studies for the structure
Somehow I thought they’d all look like mosques.
Well, it probably doesn’t matter … the important thing is that the gift shop has DVDs of Bami’s speeches.
Anything would be better than that monstrosity pictured at the top! My first impression is that it’s meant to look like some bizarre giant jungle hut, in stone.
Reminds me of a rock climbing wall or is he trying to copy Mayan temples?
Maybe the Queen of England will donate her copy back to the library?
…and Obama’s two coloring books also!
Actually this construction, I’m sure, is going to be much more than a mere presidential library. I’m thinking it might actually have been designed to be his mausoleum after he meets his reward. It will probably have a statue on top of Obama riding his bike, helmet and all. Very iconic!
Don’t forget his ‘mom’ jeans, the Boystown bath house, the shrine of Rev. Jerry Wright, and Obama’s unwavering support to kill any child before and after birth.
Just another thing Chicago will offer that really makes me not want to go there 🙂
The trouble that Grossman and other admirers of Obama will find is that by the time President Trump finishes his two terms, there won’t be much left to commemorate
Love it..
I think, under glass, in the Trump Presidential Library should be the device (keyboard?)on which he tweeted… and a facsimile of: a taco bowl, and two ice cream scoops.
snap, italics failed for that quote…
Just pictures of Obama’s sons.
especially the ice cream with a note that anyone who wants 2 scoops may also have them.
“The plans for the Barack H. Obama presidential library seem to be taking a less scholarly turn, as they appeared to be geared to turning the facility into a progressive activity center:”
Just what do you think a “community organizer” does? In fact, this is the PERFECT description of his administration, if you know how to read between the lines.
Where are the minarets?
Test Kitchen? Yoga classes? For Obama?
It seems to me that a pot garden and coca trees would be FAR more appropriate.
Will his college transcripts and foreign student financial aid forms be in the digital records? Articles he authored for the Harvard Law Review? Scans of the original manuscripts for his two books, in his own handwriting? /s
Inquiring minds still want to know …
Just another temple of Satan.
“President Obama, is that how you want to be remembered? As the healthy-eating and meditation-advocating president?”
Yes! That’s exactly how I want the pinnacle of his administration’s accomplishments to be enshrined.
Don’t forget to park some older gas hog cars around for a tribute to his cash for clunkers.
Why not consider building a giant Empty Suit instead? Adorned with a hammer and sickle.
I was thinking a pen and a phone.
Or and empty chair.
But, where’s the bathhouse and the Reggie Tunnel of Love?
The illustration reminds me a lo of Star War bldgs – where do you park your tie fighters ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=88Akuxnlp5E
sort of like an apocalyptic-future remnant of the base of the Washington Monument?
There should be a wing devoted to his brilliant “reset” with Russia, and one glorifying his world-changing embrace of Iran.
a pathetic design for a pathetic Presentdent…
how appropriate.
The thing of it is — there are still actually physical records that will have to go somewhere. Right now, those records are being processed in a converted furniture store in a northwest Chicago suburb. The National Archives is not going to destroy the paper records in favor of digitized copies, in all likelihood. So taxpayers will foot the bill for those records to housed somewhere. (And probably the cost to move them again — and build space for them.)
If you’ve ever visited a Presidential Library, they all tend to follow the same basic sets of themes — you have the museum, which walks you through the life history of the President, contains the collection of artifacts that were gifted to the President, features a replica Oval Office, and empties into the gift shop. The “Library” portion has the records and generally is seldom visited, except by scholars and researchers. Some Presidents have maintained offices in the facility.
As the volume of records has gotten bigger, the facilities have grown as well. Both in terms of records capacity and in terms of ego gratification / tourism attractions. Reagan’s has the Air Force One hanger, which is interesting. Several are the final resting places for the President and First Lady.
Obama is clearly taking a somewhat different approach, although I would suggest that it is placing more direct (and perhaps honest) focus on the “tourism” and museum aspects of the facility than others may have done. That said, the library aspect should not be shortchanged as this is where the real historical legacy of the President will be created. The precedent of not having the physical records in the Library is a mistake. It also raises the issue for future Presidents and the National Archives about locating the physical records in an appropriate place — and paying for that space. Remember, the Presidential Libraries, while administered by the National Archives, are funded privately. (There’s no question that a pile of taxpayer dollars are involved, but the buildings go up with private money.)
“you have the museum, which walks you through the life history of the President”
I wouldn’t walk on the same side of the street with Obama. I’m glad he is history 🙂
I believe it’s been acknowledged that this isn’t to be his official library.
They probably anticipate building multiple ones like this around the country while his official records are sealed deep in an underground limestone mine
Donald Trump’s “giant eraser” Leslie Eastman says should be the first exhibit in his presidential library is already on display, and has been for years, in the sculpture garden across from the National Archives and was designed by the artist Claes Oldenburg.
This actually sounds pretty darn smart. A fancy event space where you can go and have fun is going to be vastly more popular than a library. Libraries are for us nerds, and I think we know that nobody likes nerds.
Obama is building a monument to himself on the taxpayer dime, and it will probably be a popular place to hang out.
We need to recognize when we’re being outsmarted. Nobody woke up when Hart-Cellar passed nor for 50 years afterwards. There’s nothing smart about letting Obama leave the mis leading legacy of being the fun guy, while we paint ourselves as the old folks who would rather be cooped up in a taxi when there’s a bike share ‘cept oops we threw it out cuz people under 30 might show up at our tour group or Early bird discount dinner.
Marketing just to the old leads you to no sales after a while. Cadilac found that out and was only saved by the Escalade. They now make some pretty good, sporty driving cars, but nobody buys them because of the brand. Obama may be no intellectual but he is clever, 100000x more than RNC.
Chicago Shooting Range?
Should have just designed it to look like Cabrini Green.
Might even beat that 20-years-from-opening-to-demolition record
Just when can I even think about expecting to hear NOTHING about Obama again???
“I might suggest that the first item placed in the Donald J. Trump presidential library is his giant eraser.”
Excellent Leslie!
I remember the jokes about it being nice to have a President again who reads and appreciates books.
Please- MSM- replay those videos of Obama supporters trashing Bush as a moron.