Winter was enjoyed on South Padre Island, Texas. As I have already dealt with South Padre in slutigrams (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), I’ll just say that we did many of
the same things. Anne and Elaine’s
brother Richard, his wife Cody and grandson A.J. stayed with us for part of
the time there.
While in Dallas, we were treated to “high tea” at the Adolphus
Hotel by Richard and Cody. The hotel was
founded by Adolphus Busch, founder of Budwieser Beer. Budweiser may soon be renamed America to end
a long battle with Budvar Beer of the Czech Republic (which country may soon be
renamed Cechia.) High Tea consisted of three
courses of tea served with sweets and savories.
A sad location was also visited in Dallas, the grassy knoll
with the Texas School Book Depository building in the background. Both of which were made famous “(infamous?)
on November 22, 1963 when President John F Kennedy was assassinated here.
On our way home we made a 4 day detour to Arkansas. It rained heavily for 3 days. Our main purposes were to see the Bill
Clinton Presidential Museum in Little Rock and to visit friends in Bella Vista,
Arkansas. I’ll focus on the museum in
this slutigram.
William Blythe IV was born on August 19, 1946 in Hope,
Arkansas. So what, you say. Young Blythe’s father was killed in an auto
accident 3 months before he was born.
His mother remarried 4 years later to Roger Clinton. Thus, we now have future president Bill
Clinton.
As an aside, it amazed me how many presidents came from families where one or both of the parents died while the future prez was a child. How many come to your mind? James A. Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton. There may be others.
In 1963, when he was in high
school, he represented Arkansas as a delegate to The American Legion’s Boy’s
Nation in Washington, D.C.. While there
he met JFK and in a now famous photo, he is seen shaking JFK’s hand only a few
months prior to JFK’s death.
It was this meeting
that set him on a path of public service, which led to his becoming the USA’s
youngest governor in 1978
and in 1992 becoming the USA’s 42nd president
rather than a jazz musician.
Elaine and I have recounted several of the presidential
museums that we have visited. They all
are interesting. This one would be in
our top 5, as it has both the good and the bad included. Plus one learns a lot about the man that is
not common knowledge. Bill and Hilary
have a 30-minute comedy video that they put together and it is hilarious. I don’t claim to be a supporter of his, but
it was a fun day and a very good video..
The museum covers all periods of his life and treats, in
detail, each of his 8 years in the presidency.
A replica of the oval office and dinner-ware used in the
White House is on display. Looks a lot like our living room and kitchen settings.
He does not ignore Socks the cat either; which makes me look
more favorably upon him.
There are several displays of the gifts received while in
office (well, the ones that are acknowledged)
All in all, a day well spent.
While visiting friends in Bella Vista, we toured the Museum
of American Art in Bentonville, home of Sam Walton, founder of Wal Mart. His Daughter, Alice, put up some of her
billions to create this collection of art from colonial America up to modern
day. Photos were not allowed, so I’ll
leave it up to you to put this on your must see list.
A very short slutigram; the next one will be much
longer.
