Latest Bush Library Article- Houston Chronicle
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 2:14 pmSept. 12, 2005, 8:30AM
Vying for the presidential library
Texas schools hurry to finish bids touting why they should house Bush's archives
By MATTHEW TRESAUGUE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
RESOURCES
ECONOMIC BOOST
Baylor University economics teacher Tom Kelly studied the issue for the university's proposal:
• $367 million: Amount Bill Clinton's presidential library helped generate for downtown Little Rock, Ark.
His academic sensibilities tell Tom Kelly that Baylor University should be the home of George W. Bush's presidential library and museum, and all of the reasons have to do with location.
Baylor has purchased more than 100 acres on the banks of the Brazos River near downtown Waco and Interstate 35 as a potential site for the library. The spot also is close to the president's ranch in Crawford, and is centrally located between Dallas and Austin.
"We've got a chance on location alone," said Kelly, who teaches economics at Baylor.
But location may not be enough. No doubt money, politics and prestige also will come into play as cities and universities across Texas scramble to complete bids for the library before Thursday's deadline.
In addition to Baylor, institutions competing for the library may include Midland College, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the University of Dallas and the University of Texas System.
The city of Arlington also is offering land beside the home of the Texas Rangers baseball team, for which Bush served as managing partner in the early 1990s.
Not since the demise of the Southwest Conference have so many Texas universities vied for the same prize.
"I haven't seen anything like we're involved in now," said Peter Flawn, former president of UT-Austin and co-chairman of the committee that drafted the UT System's proposal.
The universities want the library because of its potential for attracting top scholars, tourists and national and international political figures. Plus, it could be an economic catalyst for a community.
As the deadline nears, most substantive details are closely guarded secrets.
The UT System's governing board signed off on a proposal last week without saying much beyond the claim that no property would be taken by eminent domain for the library — an indirect shot at landlocked SMU, which is the perceived favorite.
'Pursuing it with vigor'
However, officials at SMU, which is located in affluent University Park near Dallas, said land is available. The university also counts first lady Laura Bush as an alumna and trustee. What's more, the Bushes are Methodist and are expected to buy a home in Dallas after leaving the White House.
But SMU, which began developing its proposal shortly after Bush's inauguration in 2001, does not consider itself the team to beat.
"We have never chosen to assume anything," said Brad Cheves, vice president for development and external affairs at SMU. "We consider this to be a serious process, and we're pursuing it with vigor."
As for details, SMU is mum, much like its rivals. But there are some obvious strengths and weaknesses to each bid. Texas A&M, for example, already houses the first President Bush's library, which university officials consider an asset. But would the son want his library next door to his father's?
Would Bush prefer to split his library among several locations, like Gerald Ford did and the UT System is proposing?
The public universities probably could raise the estimated $200 million to build and endow the library at a faster pace than the private schools, but would those dollars be worth the extra red tape?
Would the library be more visible as the centerpiece of a small town or as a piece of a metropolis?
Adding to the intrigue are the players involved. Donald Evans, who will help the president and his wife evaluate the proposals, is a former chairman of the UT System's governing board.
Baylor hired the former director of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Center and the former director of the Presidential Library System at the National Archives to shepherd its proposal.
Many good options
And then there are the ties that SMU has to the first lady, and Texas A&M to the president's father.
The wooers have not been told what to expect after Thursday's deadline. A decision could come as early as January, but with more than three years remaining in Bush's presidency, there is time.
"The thing that is clear is that President Bush and the first lady will have excellent proposals to consider," said Larry Brumley, associate vice president for external affairs at Baylor. "This is a highly treasured asset."
[email protected]
Vying for the presidential library
Texas schools hurry to finish bids touting why they should house Bush's archives
By MATTHEW TRESAUGUE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle
RESOURCES
ECONOMIC BOOST
Baylor University economics teacher Tom Kelly studied the issue for the university's proposal:
• $367 million: Amount Bill Clinton's presidential library helped generate for downtown Little Rock, Ark.
His academic sensibilities tell Tom Kelly that Baylor University should be the home of George W. Bush's presidential library and museum, and all of the reasons have to do with location.
Baylor has purchased more than 100 acres on the banks of the Brazos River near downtown Waco and Interstate 35 as a potential site for the library. The spot also is close to the president's ranch in Crawford, and is centrally located between Dallas and Austin.
"We've got a chance on location alone," said Kelly, who teaches economics at Baylor.
But location may not be enough. No doubt money, politics and prestige also will come into play as cities and universities across Texas scramble to complete bids for the library before Thursday's deadline.
In addition to Baylor, institutions competing for the library may include Midland College, Southern Methodist University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, the University of Dallas and the University of Texas System.
The city of Arlington also is offering land beside the home of the Texas Rangers baseball team, for which Bush served as managing partner in the early 1990s.
Not since the demise of the Southwest Conference have so many Texas universities vied for the same prize.
"I haven't seen anything like we're involved in now," said Peter Flawn, former president of UT-Austin and co-chairman of the committee that drafted the UT System's proposal.
The universities want the library because of its potential for attracting top scholars, tourists and national and international political figures. Plus, it could be an economic catalyst for a community.
As the deadline nears, most substantive details are closely guarded secrets.
The UT System's governing board signed off on a proposal last week without saying much beyond the claim that no property would be taken by eminent domain for the library — an indirect shot at landlocked SMU, which is the perceived favorite.
'Pursuing it with vigor'
However, officials at SMU, which is located in affluent University Park near Dallas, said land is available. The university also counts first lady Laura Bush as an alumna and trustee. What's more, the Bushes are Methodist and are expected to buy a home in Dallas after leaving the White House.
But SMU, which began developing its proposal shortly after Bush's inauguration in 2001, does not consider itself the team to beat.
"We have never chosen to assume anything," said Brad Cheves, vice president for development and external affairs at SMU. "We consider this to be a serious process, and we're pursuing it with vigor."
As for details, SMU is mum, much like its rivals. But there are some obvious strengths and weaknesses to each bid. Texas A&M, for example, already houses the first President Bush's library, which university officials consider an asset. But would the son want his library next door to his father's?
Would Bush prefer to split his library among several locations, like Gerald Ford did and the UT System is proposing?
The public universities probably could raise the estimated $200 million to build and endow the library at a faster pace than the private schools, but would those dollars be worth the extra red tape?
Would the library be more visible as the centerpiece of a small town or as a piece of a metropolis?
Adding to the intrigue are the players involved. Donald Evans, who will help the president and his wife evaluate the proposals, is a former chairman of the UT System's governing board.
Baylor hired the former director of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Center and the former director of the Presidential Library System at the National Archives to shepherd its proposal.
Many good options
And then there are the ties that SMU has to the first lady, and Texas A&M to the president's father.
The wooers have not been told what to expect after Thursday's deadline. A decision could come as early as January, but with more than three years remaining in Bush's presidency, there is time.
"The thing that is clear is that President Bush and the first lady will have excellent proposals to consider," said Larry Brumley, associate vice president for external affairs at Baylor. "This is a highly treasured asset."
[email protected]