Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Initially, the Reagan Library was planned to be built at Stanford University . The building permit was obtained in 1984. Later, in 1987, it was decided to transfer the construction of the library to the city of Symi Valley. Construction began in 1988. The opening took place on November 4, 1991. For the first time in the history of the United States of America, 5 US presidents gathered in one place. Among them were: Richard Nixon , Gerald Ford , Jimmy Carter , Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush . The first ladies were also present at the opening: Lady Bird Johnson , Pat Nixon , Betty Ford , Rosalynne Carter , Nancy Reagan and Barbara Bush . The opening was not attended only by former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis .

At the time of opening, the Reagan library was the largest of all presidential libraries. Its area is approximately 14,200 m ² . She held first place until November 18, 2004 when the Clinton Presidential Center and a park in Little Rock, Arkansas were opened. With the opening of the Bort Pavilion number one with an area of ​​8400 m ² in October 2005, the Reagan Library again became the largest in area. Nevertheless, Clinton's library remained the largest in the number of materials stored there (documents, photographs, etc.). Like other presidential libraries since Franklin Roosevelt, the Reagan library was built on private donations of $ 60 million. The main sponsors were Walter Annenberg, Leo Wasserman, Lodwick Cook, Joe Albrightton, Rupert Murdoch , Richard Sills, John McGovern. In 2007, over 305 thousand people visited the Reagan library, which makes it the second most visited library after the Lincoln library, which was visited by over 440 thousand people in 2006.

The Reagan Presidential Library is managed by the National Archives and Records Office and is a repository of records for the Reagan presidential administration. The fund includes 50 million pages of presidential documents, more than 1.6 million photographs, one and a half million feet of film and tens of thousands of audio and video tapes. The library also contains Reagan's personal documents, dating back to the time he served as governor of California.

A permanent exhibition spans President Reagan's entire life, from his childhood in Dixon, Illinois, to his film and military career, his marriage to Nancy Reagan, and his political career. Reagan’s speech “A Time for Choosing” is presented at Citizen Governor, which reflects his eight-year term as governor. The exhibition includes a 1965 Ford Mustang used by Reagan during the first governor’s campaign, an inaugural costume, and a table at which he served as governor. The exhibition contains information about the presidential companies of 1980 and 1984, materials related to the assassination of 1981. Like other presidential libraries, the Reagan library houses a one-to-one copy of the oval office. Another part of the exhibition is dedicated to the Reagan Ranch, Camp David's presidential residence, White House life and First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Missing exhibits

On November 8, 2007, officials at the Reagan Library’s National Archive reported a shortage of exhibits. About 80,000 exhibits were stolen or lost in the walls of a huge museum complex. Museum guards could not cope with their duties, which made exhibits vulnerable to theft. Many presidential libraries lacked funds. The National Archives department in charge of the Reagan Library had the most serious problems with the library stock. The library has launched a large-scale inventory project.

The 8400 m ² exhibition hangar serves as the venue for the permanent exhibition of Boeing 707 aircraft used as the number one aircraft during the Reagan presidency. The SAM 27000 was also used by six other presidents from 1973 to 2001, including Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In 1990, it became a backup aircraft after it was replaced by the Boeing 747. The Boeing 707 was retired in 2001. The plane was delivered to the San Bernardino International Airport in September 2001, where it was transferred to the Reagan Foundation. Aircraft maker Boeing transported the aircraft to the library in parts. After the construction of the pavilion, the aircraft was again assembled as a museum exhibit and put on a pedestal with a height of 7.6 m.

The pavilion was opened on October 24, 2005 by US President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan. SAM 27000 is part of the exhibition where the vehicles used by Reagan are presented. The exhibition includes a Sikorsky VH-3 Sea King helicopter with the call sign Marine One, a presidential limousine, a Los Angeles police car (as well as two 1980 police cops), a secret service vehicle used in one of President Reagan’s motorcade Los Angeles

The exhibition also features exhibits telling about the Cold War and the many travels of Reagan aboard Air Force One. On June 9, 2008, Education Secretary Margaret Spelling, along with Nancy Reagan, opened the Reagan exhibition located in Board One's booth. The center is an interactive exhibition in which children from fifth to eighth grade participate in role-playing games based on the events of the Reagan presidency. The pavilion has been used several times as the venue for the Republican Party's television debates.

The Reagan Library was the venue for a large number of events, including Ronald Reagan's funeral in June 2004, the first Republican presidential election debate in 2008. On May 23, 2007, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer held a press conference. On July 17, 2007, Ronald Reagan received the highest award of Poland, the Order of the White Eagle. Polish President Lech Kaczynski presented the order to Mrs. Reagan.

Ronald Reagan's funeral

After death, Reagan's body was transported to the Reagan library on June 7, 2004. Many people lined the streets to take their president on their last journey. The requiem was held in the library. It was attended by Nancy Reagan, Reagan's children, close relatives and friends. From June 7 to 9, Reagan's body lay in the library lobby. Came to say goodbye to the president came 105,000 people.

The body was then transported to Washington, DC, where the farewell to the Capitol rotunda and the memorial service at the Washington National Cathedral took place, after which the coffin with Reagan's body was returned to the library in California for burial. The library’s construction plan included graves for the possible burial of Reagan and his wife. Early in the morning of June 12, 2004, Reagan was buried in an underground vault.

• The ronald reagan library
• The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library
• The ronald reagan centennial celebration
• Video of the dedication of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 1991
• Video of the Gravesite of Ronald Reagan at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
• Video of the Replica of the Oval Office at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
• US National Archives and Records Administration