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All presidents should be allowed to build their own library using private funds.
But all presidents ( Obama, Bush, Clinton and so on) should maintain their own libraries using private funds, donations and entrance fees.
They can charge whatever entrance fees they want. If it is reasonable and the exhibits worthwhile, people will visit and pay. If not, it will wither and die, like it should.
The libraries also serve the role as the legally required archive for records from an administration. Which is why they are partially run by the National Archives.
FWIW: The only one I have visited was the Kennedy library outside Boston and it was well worth the trip and the cost of admission.
"t isn't always clear where the government's work begins and where that of the foundation — the nonprofit group whose mission is to ensure that the president's vision for his library is carried out — ends.
The relationship varies from library to library. In most cases, the foundation continues to occupy offices and other space in the library even after the building is deeded to the National Archives. While the federal government covers most staffing, maintenance and operational costs, foundations often pay for programs and exhibits. The government pays for building repairs, but major exhibit renovations generally are handled by foundations.
It is a complex relationship that makes some taxpayers uncomfortable.
"The public is sometimes confused by this private-public partnership," said Benjamin Hufbauer, a presidential library scholar and associate professor at the University of Louisville. "They are basically museums of spin established by the presidents … but they want the federal government to run them and give them legitimacy." Taxes go to operation of presidential libraries - Chicago Tribune
"t isn't always clear where the government's work begins and where that of the foundation — the nonprofit group whose mission is to ensure that the president's vision for his library is carried out — ends.
The relationship varies from library to library. In most cases, the foundation continues to occupy offices and other space in the library even after the building is deeded to the National Archives. While the federal government covers most staffing, maintenance and operational costs, foundations often pay for programs and exhibits. The government pays for building repairs, but major exhibit renovations generally are handled by foundations.
It is a complex relationship that makes some taxpayers uncomfortable.
"The public is sometimes confused by this private-public partnership," said Benjamin Hufbauer, a presidential library scholar and associate professor at the University of Louisville. "They are basically museums of spin established by the presidents … but they want the federal government to run them and give them legitimacy." Taxes go to operation of presidential libraries - Chicago Tribune
Yep!
ALL presidential libraries are operated with tax dollars.
Been that way for decades.
They're all built with private funds.
All of 'em.
But Obama's gets your knickers in a knot for some reason.
Historians will have their perspective and then we have the men themselves that will show what their truth was. Kind of makes you miss the fact that Jefferson, Lincoln, etc. don't have them.
It would be so fascinating to really see their perspective.
I never thought about that. It think Monticello and the UVA campus can act as de facto centers for Jefferson. He really left a complete body of work and accomplishments to study.
"t isn't always clear where the government's work begins and where that of the foundation — the nonprofit group whose mission is to ensure that the president's vision for his library is carried out — ends.
The relationship varies from library to library. In most cases, the foundation continues to occupy offices and other space in the library even after the building is deeded to the National Archives. While the federal government covers most staffing, maintenance and operational costs, foundations often pay for programs and exhibits. The government pays for building repairs, but major exhibit renovations generally are handled by foundations.
It is a complex relationship that makes some taxpayers uncomfortable.
"The public is sometimes confused by this private-public partnership," said Benjamin Hufbauer, a presidential library scholar and associate professor at the University of Louisville. "They are basically museums of spin established by the presidents … but they want the federal government to run them and give them legitimacy." Taxes go to operation of presidential libraries - Chicago Tribune
Seems to me what the article is saying is that the National Archives pays for maintaining the legally required archive and the private foundations pay for the rest. Seems reasonable to me.
I have realized a mature back and forth conversation can not be had with some of you.
You attack, you act as if you know some posters and make accusations, and you are hypocritical.
And you make fun of some posters.
Your ability to agree to disagree is non existent thru a mature conversation.
You clump together in a gang mentality to hide your lack of a well rounded social conversation abilities.
This is rich.
Your OP was exactly an attack on Obama. And not on the idea of presidential libraries.
OP the libraries are perfect places to house historic items and document the history of a particular president. Otherwise where would these things be located? The fees charged are such that they should cover maintenance expenses plus whatever their foundations raise. I would love to go to the Reagan library but cannot get my husband to go back to CA.
Maybe in one building going forward.
Less on tax payers
I think that cost would be much more than the current cost as was posted earlier about the National Archive requirements.
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