99% Invisible Yankee Pyramids
Sep 21, 2021
Elizabeth Joh, a law professor and co-host of What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law, dives deep into the complex world of presidential libraries. She illuminates their role as dual monuments—celebrating accomplishments while concealing blemishes. The conversation ponders what a Trump presidential library might look like and how it could shape historical narratives. The discussion also touches on the U.S. Supreme Court's shadow docket and its implications for abortion rights, revealing crucial intersections between law, politics, and public perception.
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Pre-Library Chaos
- Before presidential libraries, presidential papers were often destroyed, lost, or selectively curated.
- This created an incomplete and often overly positive historical record.
FDR's Library
- FDR built the first presidential library in Hyde Park, funded by supporters' donations.
- Despite criticism, it became the model for future libraries.
LBJ's Oval Office Replica
- LBJ insisted on a replica of the Oval Office in his library, interrupting his architect's dinner to convey the demand.
- This demonstrates the presidential ego often displayed in these projects.