The George W. Bush Library Museum: What to Expect

Presidential libraries come in all shapes and sizes, from the magnificent Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois (featuring high-tech museum shows and an impressive in-door White House facade) to the Bill Clinton Library in Little Rock, Arkansas (which visitors describe as looking like a very large double-wide trailer).

This week we learned that George W. Bush's library will be built on the campus of Southern Methodist University. The announcement has been met with predictable jokes (e.g., "the nation's largest collection of picture books"), but it is also leading to speculation: What will the library be like? Or, more importantly to most people, what will the museum that accompanies the library be like?

President Bush has been lampooned in the media for the past few years, primarily due to the public's changing attitude about the Iraq War, and his approval rating is currently reported to be at 19%, an all-time low for any U.S. President.

But history will be kinder to George W. than the current media (it could scarcely be less kind), and the Bush library and museum will undoubtedly be designed with the President's historical significance in mind.

I predict the following features of the Bush library's museum:

1. Prominent portrayal of the 9/11 terrorist strike. September 11, 2001 defined President Bush's Presidency more than any other event. Most of the decisions for which he is currently criticized were made in response to the tragedy (e.g., domestic spying, the war in Iraq). At the time of the attacks, most Americans were glad Bush was in office. In fact, I remember a staunch Democrat friend commenting, "Thank goodness Bush is in the White House -- at least we know he will go get those guys."

2. Even-handed portrayal of the Iraq War. The most striking feature of Richard Nixon's Presidential library is the museum's unflinching portrayal of Nixon's downfall. It does not attempt to smooth over his misdeeds. The result is a more sympathetic portrayal of the President than would otherwise be possible. I hope and believe that a similar approach will be taken with the Bush museum. Mistakes were made in the Iraq War, and the displays should acknowledge those mistakes openly. Then people can appreciate the tough choices Bush had to make, as well as the political and social climate in which he made them.

3. Exhibit dedicated to the Bush Dynasty. When George W. was first elected, the idea of a Bush family dynasty caught the public imagination and probably helped Bush win. Historically, it is significant, and the story should be told in the museum.

4. Laura Bush's contribution displayed prominently. Despite the vicious criticism of the President, who can doubt that Laura Bush has been an exemplary First Lady? Entering the White House on the heels of Hillary Clinton (perhaps our most aggressively political First Lady), Laura recast the role by behaving in both traditional ways (i.e., primarily acting as a support for her husband) and progressive ways (e.g., exhibiting a casual openness in interviews and promoting literacy and other programs).

5. High-tech features. I cannot say enough good things about the Lincoln Museum. Its special effects and unconventional displays were criticized when the museum first opened, but they have been hugely successful. The Bush museum should follow this trend and introduce the sort of entertaining technology that draws tourist crowds.

As a lame duck President, George W. Bush sees his time on history's stage drawing to a close. With the announcement of his Presidential library, however, he can rest assured that the events of his presidency will be remembered for a very long time.