Museum Makeover! 
Nigeria’s Comeback Kid, former military dictator and elected president Olusegun Obasanjo continues scheming to gussy up his Presidential Library.
His efforts to scam a major cultural archive away from Nigeria’s Osun State have now attracted a lawsuit fronted by Nobel Laurette Wole Soyinka.
Obasanjo’s place opened earlier this year, but he’s now bringing in the godfather of presidential librarying, Ralph Appelbaum Associates, for a re-do.
The Applebaumers have done all the greats, from the Holocaust Museum to Bill Clinton. But what may serve them best with the Obasanjo account is Applebaum’s work on the “Deng Xiaoping Former Residence Conservation Area.”
Here the dark presidential arts are mobilized to cutesy up Mao’s successor, the father of China’s lurch into capitalism with fascist characteristics. The museum promises to
“vividly and roundly represent the glorious and legendary life of Deng Xiaoping and revive the true history before visitors by reproducing one important historical event after another.“
Climaxing in something called “Howdy, Xiaoping!” 
And the inevitable touchstone, some old car loosely associated with the deceased. 
Propaganda Of The Victors? 
Who was Richard Nixon’s doctor?
Controversy has flared in Whittier California, where Nixon’s Alma Mater hopes to destroy a local home despite it’s newly asserted historic significance.
A grandson of the owner has surfaced, claiming his grandfather was Nixon’s personal physician, and that this somehow demands saving the house.
His story contradicts the glorious legend of Dr. John Lungren, father of US Representative Dan Lungren and usually described as filling the role with Nixon.
Where’s His Wedding Ring?  
Not content with periodic sightings of “New Reagans, ” Michael Reagan has pronounced victory in the search for Ronald Reagan’s Celestial Soul-mate.
Overcome with excitement at John McCain’s fresh faced choice Sarah Palin announcement, the Reagan offspring rounded up the usual icons:
“Now we’ve got our Maggie Thatcher.“
Little Professor 
Presidential Memorializing continues spinning backwards in time, with the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library the latest fatuous exercise.
Wilson was born in Staunton Virginia, but his parents left town when he was four. From these slender roots the town has metastasized a Presidential Library, now to receive federal funding.
The Library represents double or triple dipping for Wilson. The Wilson Center was created four decades ago as a “living memorial” to Wilson. South of Washington lies a Wilson Bridge. 
It’s opening happened to fall during his centennial year, so he got the slot, despite having no known ties to the region or river.
Staunton needs the money, ’cause they got nothing. He spent more of his childhood elsewhere, his papers are elsewhere [“The archives microfilm collection includes the Wilson holdings at the Library of Congress and the National Archives. “]
What’s the answer? Showmanship!
“Rather than a timeline of facts and dates, the museum aims to turn history into a visceral experience. ”
The magic begins on their web page, where a lovely photo of black children is adorned with a lofty Wilson quote. His real feelings about black people were rather different, as reflected in his plug for “Birth of a Nation”. 
Seeking Judgement 
They lost the delegate vote at a Methodist regional conference, but Bush Library opponents have another shot at trying to block the tribute: Activist Judges!
Library opponents have launched an appeal to the Methodist Judicial Council, seeking a ruling that the Bush Institute attached to the Bush Library would violate Southern Methodist University’s charter, the rules of the church’s regional body, or the United Methodist Church’s ominously named Book of Discipline . Or all three!
Alternatively, caring Methodists may wait for SMU’s report to the next regional conference on the Bush institute’s impact on the University.
See you in 2012!
