Lou Cannon Dies At 92

Above, President Reagan with Lou Cannon and his wife, Mary Cannon, in 1985. 

It has been reported that journalist and Ronald Reagan biographer Lou Cannon has passed away.

He reportedly died yesterday at a hospice facility in Santa Barbara, California due to a stroke. He was 92.

I have an autographed book by Cannon that I bought some years ago at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Here is the cover:

Here is the autograph: 

Trigger, Bullet and Buttercup Headed To The Reagan Library

Above, Trigger and Bullet at John Wayne: An American Experience in 2021. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since its opening in 2020, the John Wayne: An American Experience museum at the Fort Worth Stockyards has featured in the main lobby Trigger and Bullet, Roy Rogers horse and dog. Later, Dale Evans's horse, Buttercup was added to the display.

They will be having a "going away" party this coming Saturday as they are to be sent to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan with Roy Rogers.

I visited the John Wayne: An American Experience in January 2021. Upon entering, visitors immediately saw the animals on display. 

For details on the going away party, go here.

China Sanctions Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Above, yours truly at the doorway of Air Force One (SAM 27000) at the Reagan Library.

This is downright silly.

China is imposing sanctions on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California for hosting a meeting between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

According to the Daily Mail (U.K.):

China is imposing sanctions against the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and other US and Asian based organizations in retaliation for the this week's closely watched meeting between the US House Speaker and Taiwan's president.

The Reagan library in Simi Valley, California, was the site of the rare high-level, bipartisan meeting Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted this week for talks with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

The sanctions effectively are a travel ban on the individuals in charge of the library and other groups involved in the meeting. They're also banned from working with Chinese organizations.

To read more, go here. 

Air Force One: 20 Years At The Reagan Library

Above, Air Force One on Father's Day 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is hard to believe that 20 years have passed since the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library took possession of Air Force One 27000.

I have visited Air Force One at the Reagan Library at least four times over the years.

Above, after a job interview in Thousand Oaks, I stopped in at the Reagan Library.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute posted the following on Facebook:

This September 8th marks the 20th anniversary of the Reagan Foundation taking ownership (via permanent loan) of Air Force One 27000, which now proudly sits on display in the Reagan Library’s Air Force One Pavilion. Join us virtually on September 8th for a panel discussion as we commemorate this historic day. The panel includes Jim Hooley, President Reagan’s Director of Advance, LtCol Steve Chealander, one of President Reagan’s Military Aides, and Jim Robinson, the Air Force One Pilot who flew 27000 on September 8, 2001.

https://www.reaganfoundation.org/.../online-at-the.../

The program promises to be an interesting one.

Donald Trump Bobble-head

Above, Donald Trump bobble-heads at Greta's Guns in Simi Valley. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today was spent shopping at gun stores in the San Fernando and Simi Valleys.

I was looking for a holster and ammo. After a couple of stops, I found what I wanted.

While at Greta's Guns (named for a dog, by the way) in Simi Valley, I spotted an item for sale on display: Donald Trump bobble-head figures.

They are about $20 each. I thought about getting one for my political memorabilia collection, but I already have enough clutter in my apartment. So I passed.

No, they don't have any Hillary bobble-heads (in case you were wondering).

Father's Day At The Reagan Library, Part Two

Above, Amber and I waiting for the library to open.

When Amber and I visited the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Air Force One in Simi Valley during Father's Day yesterday, I must have taken over 40 photographs.

I posted 13 of them yesterday, but here are some more:

Above, a GOP elephant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Ronald Reagan statue at the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the library pay station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Air Force One with the Father's Day banquet set up below. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the tail. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a nice setting for a luncheon banquet. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, visitors boarding Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a view from the Air Force One Pavilion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, looking towards the Reagan tomb. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the book section of the gift shop. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Father's Day At The Reagan Library

Above, the statue of Ronald Reagan at the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For Father's day, Amber too me to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Air Force One in Simi Valley, California.

We wanted to the the special exhibit of artifacts from the Vatican.

We got to see all that and the rest of the library and toured the inside of Air Force One (SAM 27000).

This was the busiest we've seen the library. A special Father's Day luncheon is to take place below Air Force One. We decided to skip that.

Here's some more photos of our time:

Above, the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the replica Oval Office. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the forward section of Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the aft section of Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the luncheon set-up below Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Amber enjoying the view outside of the Air Force One Pavilion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a chunk of the Berlin Wall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a visit to the tomb of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the headstone. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, our souvenir photo. Photo by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Above, while waiting for the library to open.

Above, at the Air Force One Pavilion.

Father's Day and Summer

Above, got my Trump hat!

Tomorrow is Father's Day. Monday is the Summer Solstice.

Amber and I are planning to visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Air Force One tomorrow in Simi Valley for Father's Day. They currently have a temporary exhibit, "Treasures of the Vatican", which, although I am not a Catholic, I think will be interesting to see. This will be our first visit there since former First Lady Nancy Reagan passed away. She is entombed at the library with her husband.

Monday marks the Summer Solstice, which (for the unsophisticated) is the first day of the summer season. It is already hot in the San Fernando Valley. According to my Weather Channel app on my phone, it is 95 degrees Fahrenheit outside in Tarzana.

The summer will bring to television views the political conventions and the general election campaign will begin. It will probably be a rough campaign. I have my campaign paraphernalia for Donald Trump (including the famous "Let's Make America Great Again" baseball cap). Trump may not be a polished or anywhere near the "perfect" candidate, but he alternative of electing Hillary Clinton to the White House is unthinkable, especially after the disasterous eight years of Obama.

Amber and I are planning on heading up the California coast in The Beast to the Monterey-Carmel area for this year's vacation. We have yet to decide when to go. We'll have to decide soon so that reservations can be made for campgrounds and RV parks.

The Reagan Tomb

Above, the Reagan tomb at the Reagan Library. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Not too long after former President Ronald Reagan was entombed at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, my mom, daughter Amber and I paid a visit to the Library and tomb.

While there, my mom and I had a "vigorous discussion" on how the President was interred (much to the amusement of Amber). I had a good idea on how by looking at the tomb's construction. Turns out I was right.

An article appeared by a worker involved in the interment of Reagan and gave details on how the tomb was designed. It is an interesting design.

What you see is the top portion of the tomb. Most of it is below it at about seven feet. To access the tomb's door, a concrete walkway has to be torn out and ground has to be excavated away.

When Reagan was entombed, his casket was placed in an oversized burial vault. It was oversized not because Reagan was a big man, it was due to the very ornate casket. The vault with the casket inside was difficult to move into the tomb due to the weight. But, the workers came up with a method of getting the vault inside and positioned: ice. They covered the floor with crushed ice and it made it easier to move the vault in and position it. It was pushed on top of the ice.

After this was done, the door was re-sealed and the earth was bulldozed back to cover it up and a new concrete walkway was installed.

There's room inside the tomb for two, as Nancy Reagan will be entombed inside later this week. 

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan Dies At 94

Above, Ronald and Nancy Reagan at LAX in 1980. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan has passed away this morning.

"I am saddened by the passing of my step mother Nancy Reagan...She is once again with the man she loved. God Bless," Michael Reagan said.

According to KTLA News:

Former First Lady Nancy Reagan has died at the age of 94 at her home in Los Angeles, the Reagan Foundation announced on Sunday. 

Reagan was born Anne Frances Robbins in New York City on July 6, 1921.

She will be buried with her husband at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. Funeral arrangements are to be announced.

Above, the burial site at the Reagan Library. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was introduced to Mrs. Reagan during the 1976 presidential campaign. The California Republican Party was having a convention in Fresno, California during the primary campaign and Mrs. Reagan made a special stop there. I was introduced to her (and obtained her autograph) by Elsa Sandstrom, with whom I worked with in the Reagan campaign.

She's back with Ronnie again.

For more, go here.

A Visit To The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Part 2

Above, an alternate shot at the doorway of Air Force One. Photo by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Above, the first version of the Air Force One doorway photo, but cropped. Photo by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

Here's a few more photos I took today at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California:

Above, the Oval Office replica. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the tail section of Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the underside of Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the 1966 Bat-Cycle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Visiting The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Above, before entering Air Force One (SAM 27000), a photo or two is taken of 
each guest at the plane's door. Photo by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

This morning, I had some business to attend to in Newbury Park (near Thousand Oaks). Since I was in the area, I thought I would go to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in nearby Simi Valley for lunch and look over the changes to the Library.

The Reagan Library made a lot of changes to the exhibits and the gift store. This was the first time visiting the Library since 2006.

As my visit was a spur-of-the-moment thing, I didn't have my camera with me, so I had to use the camera of my cell phone.

I made my way through the exhibits. They ranged from Reagan's days as a Hollywood actor, as governor of California, his campaigns for the presidency, ending the Cold War and his funeral.

After going through the galleries, I made my way to the Air Force One Pavilion. There, I had my picture taken at the entry doors to Air Force One and a Marine One helicopter (last used during the Lyndon Johnson presidency). I didn't like how the Marine One photos turned out, so I didn't buy any.

There was one surprise, the 1966 Bat-Cycle used in the Batman television show starring Adam West and Burt Ward was on display at the Library.

Here's some of the highlights in pictures:

Above, the replica of the Oval Office as it looked during Reagan's presidency. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Ronald Reagan Irish pub in the Air Force One Pavilion. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the forward section of Air Force One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the 1966 Bat-Cycle used in the Batman television show. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, another view of the Bat-Cycle. It was made from a '66 Yamaha. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, President Reagan's tomb. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For more information on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, go here.