Press Release: The 2006 Fourth of July Celebration at the Clinton Center

More than 3,500 people came from all parts of the country to spend part of their Fourth of July at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park. Several hundred people lined up before the library opened, hoping to be one of the first hundred visitors who would take home a free watermelon from President Clinton’s hometown of Hope. Admission to the Library was free and extended hours helped to accommodate the throngs of visitors..

Outside in the park, a variety of lawn games including croquet, bocce, horseshoes, and badminton entertained families throughout the day. A bevy of bouncing inflatable balls turned out to be one of the biggest hits as families enjoyed the bountiful green lawn along the river.

Inside the museum, presidential re-enactor Niel Johnson delighted crowds with his portrayal of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry Truman. He held “press conferences” to inform his audience about Truman's life and presidential legacy. Audience members acted as impromptu “journalists” and peppered the president with an array of questions from his favorite food to his most difficult decision. In between shows, the President socialized with visitors and proudly announced his age of one hundred and twenty-two.

The Clinton School for Public Service was also open for tours and attracted a large number of potential students during what Dean Skip Rutherford called one of the best recruiting days ever. Current Clinton School students were away on their internships, but a map showing where the students were over the summer was admired by visitors. Later in the evening, many returned to the grounds of the Clinton Center to watch the spectacular fireworks display over the Arkansas River.  

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