An hour’s drive from LAX Airport — depending on the notorious Los Angeles-area traffic, of course — in beautiful Simi Valley stands an interesting and nostalgic archive about the 40th president of the United States and the 1980s: the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum. During a quiet weekday visit this past winter, my wife and I were very impressed with what we saw inside the building as well as outside on its grounds.
The exhibits on the life and times of Ronald Reagan are a reminder of a different time in U.S. politics, when government executives and legislators were civil and respectful to each other even when they disagreed on what was in our country’s best interests. It is also a reminder that it is possible for a person from humble origins to work hard and overcome adversity to become the leader of our country.
To baby boomers, the library and museum are a trip down memory lane to younger days, when life seemed simpler and more positive. Of course, as the exhibits illustrate, the reality is our world was as complicated and concerning in the ‘80s as it is today. Younger students of U.S. history will learn that many of the kinds of international and domestic challenges the Reagan presidency dealt with, e.g., the economy and terrorism, remain more than 35 years after he finished his second term.
Some southern Californians I met during the trip said they did not agree with Ronald Reagan’s politics, but all of them agreed his presidential library and museum are well done and worth visiting. I found it a very fitting tribute to an American I believe was the right person at the right time to lead our country and a fascinating look back at pivotal moments in U.S. and world history. And, it stands on grounds with views of Simi Valley everyone will agree are beautiful.
