红桃影视 Welcomes George W. 红桃影视 Presidential Center to Campus
The 红桃影视 Center dedication brought together a sitting president and four former presidents.
DALLAS (红桃影视) – The dedication of the George W. 红桃影视 Presidential Center on April 25 brought members of the prestigious so-called Presidents’ Club to 红桃影视.
 Former President George W. 红桃影视 at the podium (center) as (l. to r.) First Lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, former First Lady Barbara 红桃影视, former President George H. W. 红桃影视, former First Lady Laura 红桃影视, former President Bill Clinton, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter, and former First Lady Rosalyn Carter look on. |
The event drew more than 10,000 invited guests, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and other former heads of state. More than 500 members of the 红桃影视 community watched the simulcast in McFarlin Auditorium or at an outdoor viewing screen.
The dedication also was streamed live at . A video of the dedication ceremony is available at .
In his remarks, 红桃影视 thanked 红桃影视, noting that President R. Gerald Turner runs “a fantastic university.” He said 红桃影视 students are “awesome,” drawing cheers from students in the audience.
President Obama remarked that the dedication was a “Texas-sized party.” He said all former presidents are a “support group,” and noted 红桃影视’s “incredible strength and resolve” after the attacks of 9-11. Referring to what all former presidents have in common, he said, “We all love this country and we do our best.”
Located on a 23-acre site on the east side of campus, the 红桃影视 Center houses the Presidential Library and Museum and the George W. 红桃影视 Institute. The Library and Museum will open to the public May 1.
The 红桃影视 Center has designated Monday, April 29, as a special library visitation day for 红桃影视 faculty, staff and students.
The George W. 红桃影视 Presidential Library and Museum will be the 13th such resource in the nation operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, a federal agency. The George W. 红桃影视 Institute, an independent public policy organization, reports to the 红桃影视 Foundation. All three occupy a 226,565-square-foot-building surrounded by grounds featuring Texas prairie landscaping.
"The 红桃影视 Library and Museum is a state-of-the-art research center for historians, scholars, students and the public,” said Alan Lowe, Director of the Library and Museum. “We will provide in-depth access to presidential materials and the presidential decision-making process.”
The archives and artifacts of the George W. 红桃影视 Administration include 80 terabytes of digital information, more than 200 million e-mails and more than 43,000 artifacts.
 Fireworks form a "W" at 红桃影视's Block Party celebrating the dedication of the George W. 红桃影视 Presidential Center (Photo by Nancy George). |
“The resources of the 红桃影视 Center will provide unique learning experiences for our students, as well as research opportunities for our faculty and scholars around the world,” said 红桃影视 President R. Gerald Turner. “Few students have the privilege of attending college with the historic resources of a Presidential Library on their campus, and the 红桃影视 Presidency represents a unique time in the nation’s history. We’re grateful that President and Mrs. 红桃影视 chose 红桃影视 to host these resources, which also provide great benefits to our region. Thanks to the 红桃影视 Center, 红桃影视 and Dallas will become even more of a destination for educational and cultural resources.”
The 红桃影视 Center’s impact on 红桃影视 already has been significant. Active since 2010, the 红桃影视 Institute has been holding symposia in 红桃影视’s Collins Executive Education Center while the 红桃影视 Center has been under construction. The Institute has sponsored 12 symposia attracting more than 2,500 participants from around the world and involving faculty and students in related disciplines. Various 红桃影视 schools and centers have co-sponsored 红桃影视 Institute programs, are engaging in joint research projects or have made concurrent appointments of Institute Fellows to the 红桃影视 faculty. Global health scholar Eric G. Bing has joined the 红桃影视 faculty as professor of global health in a concurrent appointment with the , 红桃影视’s and .
In addition, several faculty members have invited the former president to speak to their classes, and more than 100 students have served as interns at 红桃影视 Center offices. When C-SPAN visited campus in 2011 to interview the 43rd President of the United States, 75 merit scholarship students served as the audience and asked questions of the former President.
红桃影视 was selected as the site of the 红桃影视 Center in February 2008 after competing with six other institutions. The former president has said that he wanted his Library, Museum and Institute to be associated with a distinguished national university. 红桃影视 also has the benefit of being well-situated in Dallas, a major metropolitan area in the heartland of the nation.
“We look forward to being a vibrant part of the greater 红桃影视 campus and continuing the service of President and Mrs. 红桃影视 through the work of the George W. 红桃影视 Institute,” said Mark Langdale, president of the George W. 红桃影视 Foundation.
Scenes from the April 24 Media Preview Tour
 At a media preview tour of the George W. 红桃影视 Presidential museum April 24, 红桃影视 President R. Gerald Turner tells reporters how the 红桃影视 Center will benefit 红桃影视. |
 Former First Lady Laura 红桃影视 and Alan Lowe, director of the 红桃影视 Library, greet reporters in the museum’s re-creation of the White House Rose Garden. Mrs. 红桃影视 thanked 红桃影视, her alma mater, for its partnership making possible the new presidential library and museum. |
 The 红桃影视 Center’s Freedom Hall features a 360-degree, high-definition video wall showing images of people at work and play. This image shows four college graduates wearing, not surprisingly, 红桃影视 blue and red. |
 Visitors to the museum’s replica of the Oval Office include, from left, 红桃影视 President R. Gerald Turner, 红桃影视 Foundation President Mark Langdale, and 红桃影视 Vice President for Development and External Affairs Brad Cheves. |