Thursday, August 2
Arriving
in Dubuque around 4:30 am and figuring it wasn't worth getting a motel for
such a short time, we thought we'd catch a few winks in the car before we
headed out again...oh around 8:00 or so. Long story short... that didn't work
out so well and we ended up on the road again by 5:00 or so- don't ask. We
were on our way to the Field of Dreams site that Andy has wanted to see for
years, only to be obstructed by a pretty fierce thunderstorm. While
waiting with lightning striking all around us, we figured the Field of Dreams
was probably not an option. By 6:30 we realized that if we left right then,
we would make it to the Herbert Hoover library by opening time at 9:00 in
West Branch, Iowa. So, basically Andy and I got about a half-hour sleep in
all with Vienna getting maybe an hour. We made it to Hoover though with a
half-hour to spare and Vienna asleep again in the back.
It turns out that West Branch is the epitome of the quaint small town, even planning a sesquicentennial celebration and parade for the coming days. Herbert Hoover's birth home and early childhood neighborhood have been refurbished to make a place most would love to remember as their own. The library was very interesting and I learned a lot about the 31st president. It turns out that he was a remarkable humanitarian and that during the First World War, he helped to feed many starving children with "Hoover meals." He carried this quality to the White House. Unfortunately, according to the information at the library, he did most of his helping behind the scenes and didn't brag about it to the press so that most people didn't know he was doing anything when the Great Depression hit. They all felt he didn't care at all and he was not re-elected for a second term. Vienna even learned some things about him. In the gift shop, we found a miniature bust of Hoover to add to my miniature collection.
Once
we were "Hoovered Out", we headed south to Independence, MO to the Harry Truman
Museum. I was fortunate to get a couple of hours of zzzs and Vienna dozed
off, too but Andy stayed awake driving and writing (not at the same time).
The Truman museum was also very educational but not quite as much fun as Hoover.
The library is under renovation so their main Truman exhibit was closed. We
watched a very educational film about him and his presidency and saw his burial
site. Truman also seemed like a good president who didn't get the credit he
deserved. Bad things kept happening in his time at the White House. He had
to drop the bombs on Japan. The Soviet Union was going back on their deals
and then McCarthyism and the Korean War. His presidency basically ended with
him having to relieve a great war hero, General McArthur, of his duties because
he was going against the president. Truman didn't run for another term. The
evening was nice with dinner at Steak and Ale, a dip in the motel pool and
a relaxing time in our room. Once we get a good night's sleep, we will feel
much better and be ready to go for an 11-hour drive and a hair museum, tomorrow.