Now That's More Like It!

YIPPEE!


At long last, a favorable front page story in a major newspaper about President Nixon. Praise the Press. Hip, Hip, Hooray. Take that you archivist nattering nabobs of negativisms.

The Los Angeles Times on Thursday, January 14, 2010 had a front page picture and story about the December 21, 1970 Oval Office meeting between President Nixon and Elvis Presley. Faye Fiore, reporting from Washington, says, "The king wanted to meet the president. A famous photo was snapped and the rest is history. But wait, there's more."

That's an intriguing tease. It's a fun read, check it out on TheNewNixon.org.

Working as a volunteer in the Museum Store at the Library, I knew that any mementos with pictures of the president and Elvis are big sellers. We have shot glasses, breath mint boxes, playing cards, post cards, coffee mugs, etc. I have often marveled that copies of the photo that shows the president in a suit and the king of rock and roll in his white pointed collar shirt and purple velvet cape are requested more often that just about any other treasures in the National archives, including the Constitution.

To honor Elvis' 75th birthday, Nixon White House staffer Bud Krogh and Presley's friend, Jerry Schilling met for the first time in almost 40 years at the National Archives in Washington. They reminisced about the day "Elvis Met Nixon," the title of Bud Krogh's book. Schilling also wrote a book, "Me and a Guy Named Elvis."

Bud wasn't our only long-time pal involved with this event. Dwight Chapin is probably the one who was most instrumental in getting the meeting to take place in the first place. Elvis and Schilling dropped off a letter requesting a meeting with the President in the middle of the night. They gave it to a White House security guard. It was on Dwight's desk when he came to work the next morning. Dwight sends a quick memo to Krogh, who actually thinks it is a joke. Dwight always did love a good joke, so Bud acted just like most of us would have under those circumstances. Elvis wants to meet with the President. Yea, sure. But Bud decides to play along and call the Washington Hotel, for Jon Burrows in room 505, as Dwight suggested. He is actually quite impressed that Dwight found some one so good at impersonating an Elvis Presley gopher. But as he listens, he becomes convinced it is for real. He fires off a memo to chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, who also thinks they are kidding, but approves the meeting.

What did Elvis want? Why did he request a meeting with the President? The 5 page letter he wrote on American Airlines stationery, reportedly only the fourth letter he wrote in his whole life, states that he wanted to help fight the war on drugs. Mostly he wanted a great, big badge to add to his badge collection. He wanted a badge that identified him as a federal agent-at-large for the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. When the President finally says, "get him the badge," Elvis is so excited that he hugs the President. They exchange gifts. Elvis gets presidential trinkets and then the secret service realizes they have a problem. Elvis has brought a gun to give to the President. He presents it to him. The meeting is over.

Elvis spends more time in the White House. He has lunch in the White House Mess. (Wish I could ask another pal, Ron Jackson, who ran the White House Mess for years, what he remembers about that day.) Incredibly, the meeting remained a secret for thirteen months. Can you imagine that happening today?

The letter to the President has been released from the National Archives. The gun is on display in our Library. The badge, with Elvis' name on it, is on display at Graceland.

Elvis registered at the Washington Hotel using the name Jon Burrows. That was supposedly a name he used in one of his movies. Anyone know which movie? Bud Krogh probably does. He is quoted as saying he is a big Elvis fan and "never went on a date without him."

Oh, and of course the reporter did have to get in a few negatives in her epilogue. You know, the usual stuff; the resignation, who went to jail and for how long, and the fact that Elvis died from an overdose. Fourteen prescription drugs were found in his system. (Wish Michael Jackson had learned something besides cool moves from Elvis.) The President later noted that his friend Elvis did not have any illegal drugs in his system.

Thanks Dwight, Bud and Bob for what had to be a fun and exciting day in the Nixon White House.

Nixon Legacy Lecture

President Nixon's son-in-law and grandson did him proud on his 97th birthday weekend. Christoper Cox introduced is father, Ed, this year's keynoter at the Nixon Legacy Lecture. Ed Cox, who from certain angles looks a great deal like George Herbert Walker Bush, talked about the President's discipline and intellect. He talked about personal experiences they shared. It was interesting to gain insight into the personality of the 37th President from someone who was a part of the family inner circle.

He said that President Nixon often met important visitors in the Cox's New York City apartment. Tricia often was called upon to be her father's hostess and help with the entertaining. Her father had a study there and spent a lot of time with the Coxes.

Ed has recently assumed the leadership of the New York State Republican party. His first recruit to run for office is his son Christoper. Young Christoper Cox will be successful, it is in his DNA.

I won't try to duplicate everything that was said at this years Nixon Legacy Lecture. My daughter Marja reminded me that is not my job. The Nixon web site will handle that. Whew! The pressure is off. Go to "TNN: thenewnixon.org" to get the complete run down.

Past Nixon Lecture keynoters have been the President's brother, Ed Nixon (who John Whitaker calls Eddie), Herb Klein, former Senator Alan Simpson, former Congressman Jim Rogan, and former executive director, now turned Episcopal priest, John Taylor. Seeing this list reminded me what a total treasure Alan Simpson is. He's proud member of the American Humorist Hall of Fame. One year, on Lynne Cheney's birthday, a few of us visited the Wild Bill Buffalo Museum in Cody, Wyoming. Senator Simpson is a member of the Museum Board and greeted us upon arrival. When we were leaving, he told us he needed to ask our opinion about something. We gathered around, honored to be asked to opine by the likes of the good senator. He bent his lanky, tall-self down, gathered us close, and asked, "When the chips are down, does it mean the buffalo is empty?"

I would have loved to have been on hand when Alan Simpson gave his Nixon Legacy Lecture. It would be great if he'd bring his wonderful wife Anne and come to the library again, and very soon.

Celebrating 97!

President Nixon would have been 97 years old today. We are celebrating his Legacy in Yorba Linda.

Yesterday the Richard Nixon Foundation, and the folks at the National Archives co-sponsored a panel discussion "Domestic Policy Initiatives of the Nixon Years: Bringing Innovation and Progress to the American People." It was great.


Geoff Shepard set the stage by explaining how the model of the National Security Council was used to form the Domestic Council. This became the way policy was discussed, massaged and ranked. Eventually the ideas took on the form of a "White Paper" that went to the President. President Nixon preferred being able to study options in the form of a document, rather than having advisers presenting their views in person. He set aside time to review these papers in his small White House study. The model of how the National Security Council operated is a very interesting way to get things done. A policy would be introduced, and if the Congress did not reject it within 60 days, it was considered enacted. That';s what the Domestic Council put in place for their policies. A brilliant strategy that produced results.

James Cavanaugh talked about the health care initiatives of the Nixon administration. Such a timely topic right now, but even more amazing to realize is what could have been then. The "Family Assistance Program" was almost a done deal until the ever powerful Unions persuaded Senator Ted Kennedy that they were happy with their health care plan and didn't want it messed up. The Senator stopped his support of the Nixon program and the idea was defeated. What if indeed . . . . even Kennedy later expressed regret that it wasn't enacted in the early 1970's.

John Whitaker talked about the environment. The first "Earth Day" and the establishing of the Environmental Protection Agency. "White Papers" on the subjects of clean air and clean water resulted in the Acts that bear those names. President Nixon was responsible for those major initiatives and it is disturbing that he isn't given more credit for the many good things that were done.

Dick Fairbanks talked about energy, the Alaska pipeline, and many other exciting energy-related projects that most people had forgotten were started during the Nixon years.

For me, a young mother of three at the time, focused on our girls and running a household with a husband who traveled extensively, it was quite a learning experience to sit in the audience and hear the panel talk about the accomplishments of those years. In our home, the conversations were more often about the President's travel plans than about his policies. You can imagine, the major issues of the day were things like, Dad can't go to Lisa's parent-teacher conference because the President will be going to Whitney Young's funeral in Lexington, Kentucky. Or, Dad won't be at Marja's school play because the President will be giving a speech in Chicago. Or, Dad won't be able to make Lynne's track meet because the President will be at the Lincoln Day dinner in New York. That's the kind of stuff the Walker family talked about. I'll bet the four Whitaker boys and their Mom, Betty, talked about Environmental issues around their dinner table, when they had finished talking about sports, of course.

Needless to say, I learned so much from that panel discussion and urge you to watch for it to appear on C-span.

Tricia Nixon Cox, her husband Ed, and son Christoper flew out from New York to join us for the events of the week-end. On Saturday, Tricia laid a wreath at the grave-site of her parents. It was a moving ceremony, made even more special and Presidential, by the participation of the Sea Cadets, Troy High School Junior ROTC, our military leadership of tomorrow. Robbie Britt, a man with an amazing voice, wowed the crowd when he sang, "God Bless America," and then asked the large crowd to join him in singing that wonderful song again. Sandy Quinn, always the masterful master of ceremonies, worked his usual magic. It would have been perfect, if the Eisenhower family had been able to join us, too. They were missed.

Tricia also met with all of the wonderful docents and had a group photo taken. The docents, in their red, white and blue uniforms, as far as I am concerned, are the heart and soul of this Presidential Library. They are dedicated and well informed. As Ron said recently, "the docents know everything about this place." He was right. They really do. I still haven't figured out why they are no longer allowed to conduct the school tours. Such a waste of their vast knowledge and their twenty years of experience. Perhaps it is because they are TOO COMPLIMENTARY of the President when they talk about him and his family. Certainly we have now learned that archivist prefer to talk about mistakes and mis-steps. The very first work-day after we celebrated the President's birthday and talked about his legacy in positive terms, we were once again bombarded in the press by the latest release of documents. Not one news item was positive. As much as they want everyone to read and hear about the negatives, we can take heart because we know that is really not the way it was. Not completely. We celebrated that fact on the President's 97th birthday.

We also saluted a great American Hero on Saturday. Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr., the longest held POW in Vietnam, received the First, "Great American Hero" award from the Richard Nixon Presidential Foundation. Ron and I have proudly called Everett and Tammy Ilyas Alvarez dear friends for many years. Ron was at the bottom of the airplane ramp when Everett and the other POW's arrived home to freedom. What an emotional moment that was, the day when the American Heros finally came home. Everett had been a "Chained Eagle", the title of his book, for eight and a half years.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. A Happy 97th Birthday party that brought almost four thousand people to the grounds of the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace.

We'll keep plodding away here in Yorba Linda. Thanks for your support.

Happy New Year

How does that song go? "What a difference a day makes, twenty four little hours . . . "


I can't believe what a difference a year makes. Last Christmas we were happily retired and visiting Lynne and Barry in GeorgeTown, Kentucky. We rented "Carol the Christmas Cruiser" from Cruise America. Ron, Marja, Kodai, Lulubelle, and I picked up Lisa and the boys and left Tucson on a cold, rainy and very dark mid-December morning. Luckily, departure morning was the only time we experienced bad weather on the whole trip. The ice and storms hit when we were safely in Kentucky, warm inside Muddy Ford. On the night that Stephen Hart flew in to join us, Lisa and the boys went to the Blue Grass airport to pick him up while icy rain was pelting down. On the drive back to Muddy Ford, they were stopped by Kentucky troopers and they ended up walking the rest of the way home. Quite an exciting adventure for people who live in the Sonoran desert.

If anyone had said we'd be spending the 2009 Christmas at Coyote Base in California, unretired and camping, we would have said, HUH Are you crazy? Have you noticed how the word retired ends? That's us.


Tired, yes, but making a difference. That's what counts.

Ron has assumed the leadership at the Richard Nixon Presidential Foundation with his usual determination and great ideas. With the help of Sandy Quinn, Frank Gannon, Dwight Chapin, Anthony Curtis, Jonathan Movroydis, and many others, this year is shaping up to be an exciting twentieth anniversary celebration of the opening of the Library celebration.


This weekend we will celebrate RN's 97th Birthday. Everett Alvarez will receive the first American Hero Award from Tricia Nixon Cox. Ed Cox will give an East Room talk about the President's legacy after he is introduced by Christopher, the President's grandson.


As we witness a leadership lapse from the White House these days, we naturally stop and ask, "What would Nixon do?" The library will be holding talks and reflecting on that question in the year ahead. We welcome your opinions. Check out "thenewnixon.org" and let us hear from you.

The first in a series of RN Legacy Forums will focus on the Domestic Policy Initiatives of the Nixon years. It is so exciting to be welcoming those people who were the leaders of those policies during the Nixon administration. The first panel will be moderated by Geoff Shepard and will include James Cavanaugh, Dick Fairbanks, John Whitaker and Fred Malek. The important permanent archival record these panels will create is very important and long over due. Ron and I will host a dinner here at Coyote Base on Thursday night. The panel will kick off on Friday the 8th and Ambassador George Argyros and his wife Julia will host a dinner at the Library that evening. On Saturday, it's free admission day in honor of the President's 97th. Tricia will lay a wreath at the grave site. Those of you in the area, please come and join us.


Yep, we've come a long way since we took Carol the Christmas Cruiser to Kentucky. Literally. Both in miles and mission. But, we learned many good things from the experience.


Here's some lessons from a Cruiser:
When riding the road, hang on to the fun. Brace for the unexpected bump in the road. Look out for the ups and downs. You can have fun anywhere if you really want to. Thank God each night for the blessings of the day.

And perhaps these can apply to "Lessons from a Presidential Library" too.
And I'll add:
Be grateful for the opportunity have been a part of it.
Cherish the friendships of those with whom you made history.
Honor the memory.
Preserve the history and don't let others re-write it.
Stay involved.

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERY ONE!


If you are watching your mail box or front door for our cards and gifts this year, we respectfully request that you enjoy the realization that a donation has been made, in lieu of our annual cards, to the Docent Guild at the Richard Nixon Presidential Foundation. They are an amazing, dedicated and knowledgeable group of volunteers that make the RN Library and Birthplace a very special place.

MAY YOUR HOLIDAY BE FULL OF LOVE, LAUGHTER

and all the

SPECIAL BLESSINGS OF THE SEASON

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, all around Coyote Base. We've decorated our tree, it's red white and blue. Full of flags, some that I quilted, and patriotic ornaments all about the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace. The "Birthplace Ornament" holds a special place of honor.

Tricia Nixon Cox, her husband Ed and son Christoper sent us, Christmas at the White House by Jennifer B. Pickens. It's a beautiful coffee table book with reflections from the Kennedy to the Bush 43 White House Christmases. Mrs. Nixon adored Christmas and was known for the beautiful decorations during the Christmases she was in the White House.

Writing in 1969, a Time magazine reporter observed: "Few presidential couples . . . have gone at the Christmastime merrymaking with quite the gusto of Richard and Pat Nixon. For the holidays they have peopled the place with choirs, Bob Hope, the Apollo 12 astronauts and more than 6,000 other Americans, renowned and unknown."

The Walker family proudly numbered 5 unknowns among the 6,000 invited guests. In anticipation of this memorable party, I made our three little girls, then 8,7,and 6, blue velvet dresses with white, lace trimmed collars. Their outfits were complemented by white tights and brand new, shiny maryjane patent leather shoes. When we were about ready to drive to the White House, they looked so adorable, that Ron insisted they have their pictures taken outside with the pine trees as a festive backdrop. During the process of posing, Marja took time out to climb an inviting tree limb, cut herself, and then proceeded to bleed all over her white collar. So much for a motherly vision of precious, angelic little girls going to a White House Christmas party.

Mrs. Nixon is credited with introducing more holiday customs than any of the first ladies preceding her. In 1969 she started the holiday tradition of candlelight evening tours. She said she wanted sightseers to see the mansions beautiful public rooms, "so filled with history, and now aglow with the magic and spirit of Christmas." White House candlelight tours are still very popular. Another anticipated event is the unveiling of the gingerbread house in the State Dining Room. The White House chef creates a new, completely edible one each year.

Another of Mrs. Nixon's holiday innovations was to showcase Christmas cards and artifacts from past presidencies. A 1866 edition of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," that President Franklin Roosevelt always read aloud to his family on Christmas eve. Another was a small fire engine that President Hoover gave to his secretary's son, as a memento of a fire in the West Wing the year before. Another artifact on display was a large dollhouse, made for ten year old Fanny Hays, daughter of President Rutherford Hays, by the White House carpenter in 1877. Mrs. Nixon liked it so much that it was on display all year and today it can be seen at the Hays Presidential Center.

In 1971 it was Mrs. Nixon's request that disabled workers be given the opportunity to make the Christmas ornaments. "State balls" were made for each of the 50 states. First ladies have continued the tradition of the state balls, and Laura Bush took the tradition a wonderful step further, by highlighting each of our National Parks as part of the state balls collection. Even in years when the state balls were left packed away, the First Lady will often commission new ornaments to represent all fifty states, continuing the tradition inspired by Mrs. Nixon. In 1971 she told an interviewer, "I suppose of all the places we've spent Christmas, the White House must be our favorite."

Thank you Tricia, Ed and Christoper for a thoughtful and beautiful gift.

When President Nixon appointed Ron to be the Eighth Director of the National Park Service, I made a special request. It had bothered me to see that the National Christmas Tree on the mall was one that was cut down and trucked to Washington each year. I thought it would be a grand idea to plant one on the mall. A permanent National Christmas tree. Secretary of the Interior, Rogers C. B. Morton thought it was such a good idea that he took full credit for the innovation. I'm OK with that, because our permanent National Christmas Tree came to be. I'm proud of "my beautiful Christmas tree" on the National mall and delight in watching the "Pageant of Peace" tree lighting ceremony each year on live television. The Walker family attended the event one year when Ron was Director. It was a freezing, but festive ceremony. Another year I was on hand when First Lady Barbara Bush rode a cherry picker basket to put the finishing decorations on the top of the tree. One great and gutsy girl, that "Bar."

In 1972, Mrs. Nixon chose the theme "Nature's Bounty" and the White House decorations were done in Della Robbia style. She told reporters that she had always liked Della Robbia wreaths, in which real fruits are mixed with greenery and pine cones, and for years had given them to friends as Christmas gifts. My mother did the very same thing. We always had Della Robbia wreaths in our home at Christmas, and we gave them as gifts, perhaps it was originally a California thing.

As 2009 comes to an end, we pray for our country. We pray for the current President and his family as they prepare for their first White House Christmas. Carved in the mantel of the State Dining Room fireplace, surely decked in festive holiday tradition as I write this, is the inscription written by John Adams: "I pray Heaven to Bestow the Best of Blessings on THIS HOUSE and on All that shall hereafter Inhabit it. May none but honest and Wise Men rule under this roof."

Let us all add an AMEN to the prayer of President John Adams.

Presidential Libraries

QUESTION: What city is a small stone?

ANSWER: Little Rock.
QUESTION: Who threw a little rock in the Arkansas River and the ripples caused a multi-million dollar downtown economic development to erupt?
ANSWER: Bill Clinton.

Ron and I were in Little Rock to attend a meeting of Presidential Library leaders at the Clinton Presidential Center. It is located in the downtown River Market District. The Presidential Library and Museum, within the Clinton Presidential Center and Park, includes the Clinton Foundation (Little Rock office) and the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service. They also have a Great Hall which seats 250 that can be used for special events. The surrounding 30 acre park replaced an industrial site of old, run-down warehouses. Hearing that, reminded me that the JFK Library site was once a landfill-dump that huge rats called home. Today it is a beautiful and dramatic ocean side site.

Thirteen libraries are part of the organization and only two were not represented at the meeting, due to scheduling conflicts, Reagan and Carter. The exchange of information was both interesting and helpful.

You may remember that President Clinton announced that his Library would be a "bridge to the 21st century". It does resemble a classic covered bridge, only it is made of steel and glass. The top floor, overlooking the river, is an elegant, two-bedroom apartment. The first evening, we had an amazing five course dinner in the apartments library. Actually a library within a library. We were told that the President stays there on an average of twice a month. His may be the only Presidential Library with an in-house award winning chef. Jacob Peck, executive chef to Forty-two, recently won the Arkansas Iron Chef competition. There is also a restaurant, "Forty-two," with an outside dining area on the river. It is only open for lunch and Sunday brunch.

The next morning we began a full day of meetings. Bruce Lindsey, Chairman and CEO of the Clinton Library, graciously invited me to be a part of the gathering. I had been very hopeful I would be able to attend the meeting. Years of having to do "separate spouse tours" really bugged me. I always wanted to be a part of the real thing, not off shopping and touring while the good stuff, the reason we were there in the first place, was happening. So, thanks Bruce Lindsey, for allowing me to sit in on the good stuff. Stephanie Streett is the Clinton Foundation executive director and she was President Clinton's scheduler for eight years.

We stayed at the Capital Hotel. That's not a mis-spelling, it was named because it was a "capital idea" for the capitol city. It recently went through a major renovation and it's a beautiful property. Four stories high, with marble columns, wide staircases and lots of lovely and inviting areas to sit and read, or just enjoy the ambiance. The stained glass ceiling in the atrium has the Arkansas State Capitol, a replica of our nation's Capitol, in the center of the design. The rich, elegant Christmas decorations made the hotel look and smell even more amazing. The elevator has a fascinating story to tell. The car itself is at least three times the width of a normal elevator. The story told is that it was built to accommodate Ulysses S. Grant and his horse, Cincinnati, during his 1880 visit. In a space to the left of the elevator is a boutique, but it was originally the ladies entrance to the Capital Hotel. Wishing to avoid the lobby, ladies of the 19th century could discreetly enter and make their way to the parlor and balcony on the Mezzanine to enjoy tea with their friends.

Now that the Nixon Library has become part of the National Archives, after 17 years of independence, it was interesting to hear the other libraries share their experiences. The federal government owns the documents, so the archivist controls them and that part of the library that houses them. Foundations want to further their President's legacy. The archivists want to present the administrations total picture for all to see and study. Here-in lies the basic conflict, sometimes adversarial, often more on the cordial side, but always interesting. Each institution expressed dedication to strive for collegiality with their on-site government employees. And each is proud to be playing the role of financial support group to NARA.

I think it can be assumed that libraries with still living ex-presidents get a little more flexibility from the government than do those whose presidents are gone. It may not be true in all cases, but it seems to be pretty apparent. Modern day Presidents raise the funds to build their own buildings. Without these efforts the libraries would not have been built across America, and their individual records and archives would most likely be housed in huge warehouses in a central location. Think College Park, Maryland. The ability to raise funds for older libraries dries up with time and when their constituencies aren't around to maintain the condition of the aging buildings. Lack of federal funding is of great concern to many historical buildings and collections.

The Foundations would really like to see an organized Presidential Library Congressional Caucus to advocate for additional legislation and funding for the changing nature of records management in the preservation and accessibility of presidential records and American history.

The National Archives was established in 1934 and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The new head archivist, nominated by President Obama in July and confirmed by the Senate on November 6, is David S. Ferriero (rhymes with stereo), the first librarian to hold the post. He says he has 10 billion things to worry about. His objects of worry include the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and of course, all the Presidential papers. Ron was one of the first library foundation heads to reach out for him and they will soon be meeting face to face.

The proliferation of electronic government records and how they should be preserved is a big issue that the new head archivist faces. It is estimated that President Obama's presidential papers will be 80 percent electronic, something that the Nixon Presidential papers-people did not have to worry about. But, one can not help but wonder if we would have had more access to them in that format, instead of them being secreted away in College Park, guarded and hidden from the president and the other people who created them. The only access to papers was when the archives were about to release some of them. At that time, the archives would notify members of the administration whose names were about to be made public.

Now that is all about to change at the Nixon library. A wing has been built to house the papers, and truck loads of documents are scheduled to begin arriving any day now. The archivist are preparing to be overwhelmed by the load that is coming. Their aim is to have them all available on the internet at some later date. No small task, obviously. At the JFK library, AT&T offered to scan all of their documents and provide internet access to them. They are working feverishly, but the endeavor has proved to be more daunting than anyone envisioned.

The National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) Presidential Libraries include: Herbert Hoover Library, West Branch, IA, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY, Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, MO, Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene,KS, John Fitzgerald Kennedy Library, Boston, MA, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library, Austin, TX, Richard Nixon Library and Foundation, Yorba Linda, CA, Gerald R Ford Library and Museum, Ann Arbor, MI and Grand Rapids, MI, Jimmy Carter Library, Atlanta, GA, Ronald Reagan Library, Simi Valley, CA, George Bush Library, College Station, TX, and William J. Clinton Library in Little Rock, AR. Soon to be added to the system is the George W. Bush Library on the campus of Southern Methodist University. Mark Langdale, the GWB Foundation President, is working on the fundraising and plans for that Library.

Locations of other Presidential papers include collections in the Library of Congress and various libraries and historical societies around the nation. I was very interested to learn that numerous collections of presidential papers are in the Huntington Library in Pasadena, California, an almost annual field trip destination during my school days. If anyone told our classes about the Presidential papers, I've long forgotten they were there, but I do remember the beautiful gardens, the peacocks and Thomas Gainsborough's paintings of Blue Boy and Pinkie. The Huntington also has a Chinese garden, something we hope to do at the Nixon Library. I want to go and see it. My brother, Rob, said he'd meet me there. He lives in Simi Valley, near the Reagan Presidential Library. A visit to the Huntington Library, near where we grew up, is on the to-do list right after the holidays.

On a more personal note, it is fun to report that Lynne and Barry are here with their two dachshunds, Jackson Hole and Teton Spirit. Kodai and Lulubelle are excited to have their "cousins" visiting again. Now, there is a herd of dachshunds running around Coyote Base, doing "puppy burns" up the front staircase, down the long hall way to Marja's suite, and down the back stairs, and then skidding across the marble floors in the "state rooms." It's hilarious and keeps us all laughing. They bark at the bunnies on the back hill, neighbors walking on Winners Circle, cars going around the circle, and the owl that sits on the peak of our roof and salivates at the sight of them. We look forward to having our grandsons and Lisa join us on Lynne's birthday, December 26th. They will not be bringing their two Rhodesian ridgebacks.

Our luminaries light up the front yard beside the American flag, white lights twinkle on the balcony, the tree is waiting to be decorated. It will be a red, white and blue Christmas tree and theme for us here in Yorba Linda. We salute President Nixon and his legacy with all things patriotic. God Bless all of you during this wonderful time of year, God Bless the President, and may God continue to Bless America.

BLESSINGS!

Lulubelle enjoying the view aboard "Moss One."

During this special holiday, dedicated to blessings, we are reminded to think about them. We count the many ways that we are blessed. A good and generous God, our faith and grace, family members to love and cherish, dear and special friends, pets that love us unconditionally, wonderful memories that make us smile, medical miracles that heal us, and beautiful places that re-charge our batteries.

My Blessings overwhelm me. My Blessings bury me in goodness. I love the song that reminds us to count our blessings instead of sheep and "you'll fall asleep, counting your blessings. That's a good thing and something we should remember to do every single night when we crawl into bed.

We received an amazing, unexpected, never-even-dreamed about, blessing at the beginning of Thanksgiving week. We got an e-mail from dear friends, Dianne and Bill Moss. They suggested we might like to use their jet-share and go to Jackson Hole for a few days. We were surprised, overjoyed, excited, and mostly blessed by their thoughtful and most generous kindness.

We hadn't seen our little cowboy cabin, dubbed "The Director's Cabin" since mid-summer. It was here that Ron talked to Kris Elftmann, Nixon Foundation Chairmen, multiple times each day about the process of doing a search. Then when Kris began to ask Ron about the possibility of him assuming the Presidency of the Foundation, we talked about how we better "bank some rest" if we were going to prepare to take on such a daunting task.

Dianne and Bill Moss have visited the Director's Cabin many times. They knew how much we love being in the shadow of the Grand Tetons. To sit and watch the sun light and shadows dance across the jagged peaks, chasing wisps of clouds in an endless, changing tapestry is a most relaxing way to spend time.

When the first rays of the morning sun hit the top of the Grand, it shines bright pink and gradually changes to softer golds and yellows as it moves down the range. It usually spends the day in shades of gray with white and evergreen highlights, but sometimes the hand of the howling wind snatches it away completely. When we first started coming here, I liked to say that I was going to get a Doctorate in Teton Viewing. The plan was to spend the hours needed to earn an advanced degree, quietly sitting and staring at its beauty. I think I've done it. Dianne and Bill thought, but more likely knew, we might like to have a quick visit to re-charge ourselves again. What a gift. What a blessing.

Marja, Kodai and Lulubelle, Ron and I, took off Thanksgiving morning from John Wayne airport's Atlantic Terminal in a seven-seater jet. Kodai, did the classic double-take, when he looked out the window and realized the ground was way down below him. Lulubell found the view mesmerizing. What a way to travel. We all agreed, we could sure get used to that!

As the Teton's came into view, plane side, we all took pictures. Even the pilots.

The old reliables, Michelle and Bill Arnold, had our car waiting at the airport for us. Keys under the floor mat. It only takes an e-mail, and the old reliables get the job done, even on a holiday morning. On-site manager, Ron, had turned up the heat and made sure the water heater switch was flipped. Our on-call, as needed, housekeeper, JoAnne had popped in to see if dusting or cobweb getting was needed. More blessings from special people.

We talked about the ways we could have Thanksgiving Dinner the evening of our arrival, but our little Golf and Tennis Club was closed until early December. Even the good old stand-by Dornan's in Moose was going to be closed. Then another Blessing came our way. Pat and Homer Luther invited us to join their family for a Thanksgiving Feast. Those of you that have experienced Homer and Pat's culinary expertise know how great an opportunity this was. Great home-made bloody marys, wine before the wine (Homer's description), and THE wine with a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Pat's family favorite, chocolate fudge pecan pie was the perfect cap-stone to a delicious holiday dinner with pals whose friendships go back to the days of our children's childhoods. The view from their work-of-art house, atop Riva Ridge is always a treat to see again.

We cooked our traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday and also feasted on lots of football, especially seeing Arizona win the Territorial Cup from rival Arizona State. (I spent college-day Thanksgiving weekends as a pom-pom girl at that very game.) It was sunny and cold outside, and cozy inside with delicious smells warming the little cabin. A beautiful fox came trotting down the road Sunday morning, hunting his breakfast, as Ron was cooking bacon, eggs and toast for us.

Somehow I missed mentioning a blessing on my Nixon Connection blog. Perhaps because it was really meant to be a part of my Blessings blog. Our friendship with Shelley Scarney and Pat Buchanan go back to early Nixon days. We went to their wedding. During Geoff Shepard's Domestic council gathering, they had a dinner party for at least 80 of the faithful. It was such a huge event, they had to tent their back yard so everyone could have a place at the table. Ron and I sat with Lynne and Dick Cheney and had a good chance to get caught up with them. Too many wonderful, long-time friends were there. I wish I could name them all, but I decided to not even try. Comraderie and a delicious dinner were enjoyed by everyone.

The long-time, Buchanan McLean home is a beautiful, charming house, amid the trees. Their grounds are adjacent to the CIA. Kristine and Gordon Strachan got turned around and found themselves inside the fence at the CIA. Really a no-no, evidently. They said it was easy to get in, but a real hassle to get back out. Since they now live in Utah, they were driving their god-daughter's car. Oops. Sure hope that being in the CIA data bank doesn't cause her heartburn every time she shops in Tyson's Corner.

Now we prepare to head back to Coyote Base tomorrow, Monday. "Moss One" will depart Jackson Hole at ten am. We HAVE re-charged our batteries, thanks to the thoughtfulness of Dianne and Bill. Thank you's are not enough, but heartfelt in every way.

Tuesday morning early we will fly to the Clinton Library in Little Rock. You can see why we get tired keeping up such a pace. Ron will join his counterparts from the other Presidential Libraries for a meeting. It should be an interesting get together, and the subject of my next blog. Stay tuned.