(no subject)
I was in Austin, Texas this weekend on what I dubbed my "LBJ" weekend - visits to the LBJ birthplace, LBJ's ranch in the gorgeous Texas Hill Country and then a visit to the LBJ Library and Museum on the University of Texas campus. Since reading the first three volumes of the Caro biography of LBJ (in my view, some of the greatest political biographies ever written) I have been fascinated with LBJ's character, background, etc. So the trip was very enjoyable.
At one point in the tour of the LBJ Library and Museum, you walk down a corridor dubbed "The Hall of Presidents", which has replicas of the official portraits of all of the former occupants of the White House. As I passed down the hallway, just glancing at all of these pictures, I was struck by how all of the Presidents bore the same general facial expression - a very dour expression, perhaps in some cases breaking into an ever so slight smile. Nixon just looks conniving.
And then, after passing these 39 portraits of relatively glum looking individuals, I stopped at Reagan. Unlike all of his predecessors (and, in fact, his two immediate successors - GWB will not have an official portrait painted until after he leaves office), Reagan was beaming that classic broad Reagan smile that was so infectious and warm. For him, as well, there was no background of some austere office, but blue skies. It was the only one of the 42 portraits which looked natural and it struck me that it reflected Reagan's eternal optimism. The belief, I think adaptable to all countries in the world and not just the US, that provided we work hard, persevere and think positively, our best and brightest days are still ahead of us. It conveyed his message perfectly - I am sure that the portrait was planned that way but maybe, just maybe, it reflects the way that Reagan thought. It was extremely refreshing and enlightening.
At one point in the tour of the LBJ Library and Museum, you walk down a corridor dubbed "The Hall of Presidents", which has replicas of the official portraits of all of the former occupants of the White House. As I passed down the hallway, just glancing at all of these pictures, I was struck by how all of the Presidents bore the same general facial expression - a very dour expression, perhaps in some cases breaking into an ever so slight smile. Nixon just looks conniving.
And then, after passing these 39 portraits of relatively glum looking individuals, I stopped at Reagan. Unlike all of his predecessors (and, in fact, his two immediate successors - GWB will not have an official portrait painted until after he leaves office), Reagan was beaming that classic broad Reagan smile that was so infectious and warm. For him, as well, there was no background of some austere office, but blue skies. It was the only one of the 42 portraits which looked natural and it struck me that it reflected Reagan's eternal optimism. The belief, I think adaptable to all countries in the world and not just the US, that provided we work hard, persevere and think positively, our best and brightest days are still ahead of us. It conveyed his message perfectly - I am sure that the portrait was planned that way but maybe, just maybe, it reflects the way that Reagan thought. It was extremely refreshing and enlightening.