In the classic movie History of the World Part II, actor/writer/producer Mel Brooks, playing French “Sun King” Louis XIV, looks toward the audience and remarks: “It’s Good to be the King.” Well, at least where visiting national parks is concerned, “It’s Good to be the President.”
Consider the special treatment that President George W. Bush received during his Friday, September 5, afternoon tour of Gettysburg National Military Park.
You and I will have to wait until the grand opening on September 26 before we can finally tour the park’s new Museum and Visitor Center. But you just don’t keep the prez waiting. He saw it all – the restored Gettysburg Cyclorama, the galleries and artifacts, the Gettysburg film, the whole shebang -- and he didn’t pay that noxious admission fee we’ve been threatened with, either.
You and I have to dig down deep for the $55 needed to hire a licensed guide for our battlefield tour. No such problem for the prez (who never carries cash or credit cards, anyway), because he was supplied with the no-charge guide services of Gabor Boritt, the Robert Fluhrer Professor of Civil War Studies and Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College. (Professor Boritt, who has written 16 books about Lincoln and the Civil War, knows a thing or two about Gettysburg, you betcha; if he ever offered to give me a personal tour of Gettysburg, I’d ask him if it would be OK to bring along 500 of my closest friends.)
When you or I visit Gettysburg, nobody gives a damn. But when the prez visits, well, that’s a whole ‘nuther matter. The tour was a media event (which is why I know about it), the chairman of the Gettysburg Foundation was there, and the friends and associates invited to join the president welcomed the opportunity (or at least they said they did). Education Secretary Margaret Spellings was on hand, and so were some notable formers – including former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, former White House political adviser Karl Rove, and former Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Karen Hughes.
The prez was invited to return later this month to attend the grand opening of the Museum and Visitor Center. He declined, of course. ‘Been there, done that.
It’s Good to be the President.
Comments
Get over it? No way! Immediately after the very first VIP in human history got special treatment (say, the clan leader who got the best cut of meat from a fresh kill) there emerged another new class of human called the Envious Working Stiff. I'm an EWS myself, and that's why I wrote this article. Man, how I'd love to be treated like a VIP instead of an EWS when I visit Gettysburg (one of my favorite national parks). Bet you would too, Joe. As for die hards, well, all kinds of die hards are welcome here at Traveler -- even the ones who send us nastygrams. The die hards we most appreciate are Die Hard National Park Advocates.
I happened to be at the Virginiia Memorial when the President and First Lady showed up. It was an incredible experience to be touring Gettysburg for the first time and then shake hands with the President of the United States. Reagrdless of ones political persuassion, an unforgetable moment.
Good grief, Tourist. Now I have to be envious of you too! Anyway, I'm glad you can see -- though some other Traveler readers obviously cannot! -- that EWS whining is basically driven by wishful thinking, not political persuasion per se. I would have loved the opportunity to shake hands with the President and First Lady. BTW, if you're interested in the latter's national park visiting activities, you might want to have a look at this site.
Bob, your practiced "reasonable reply" isn't fooling anyone. This WAS a rant, evinced by use of the vernacular "nuther" and your lines:
The prez was invited to return later this month to attend the grand opening of the Museum and Visitor Center. He declined, of course. ‘Been there, done that.'
The first poster had it right...for Pete's sake, quit the political sniping.
A president OF the people has no right to be treated like a king, even in a national park. Such treatment is un-American. Three cheers, Bob!
Or ... admit it was political and snipe on. I'm all for sniping.
Happy hunting,
Jim Macdonald
The Magic of Yellowstone
Yellowstone Newspaper
Jim's Eclectic World
Sorry, but I have to agree with the other commenters who have pointed out that this post reads more like a political hack job than a satire... after all a satire is at least supposed to be a *little* funny....
But, let me try and tackle some of the underlying points of this post.
Should the President have been able to visit the new Gettysburg facilities before they opened to the Public? And should the President have been charged admission fees before his visit?
Well, it is worth pointing out that the President of the United States sits atop the organizational structure of the National Park Service. From Park Ranger to superintendent to Regional Office to NPS Director to Secretary of the Interior to President of the United States. So should the boss be charged to visit the Park? Should Robert Iger have to pay to get into Disney World?
Its also worth noting that since this was a media event, the Presidential visit also generates free publicity for the grand opening of the new Gettysburg facilities - which benefits the Park to a degree as well...
Maybe if it was Leonardo Di Caprio or some other getting this treatment this post would have rang truer...
Oh dear, I mentioned my husband working for the Secret Service and it suddenly all becomes "satire". I am die-hard nothing political. It's nothing for you to change to a "satire" intent after the fact but you clearly were extremely jealous of a President getting the VIP treatment even in your follow-ups. One word of advice, if you truly fancy yourself a satirist, don't quit your day job, you'll starve.