(June 13, 2005) — With the sun shining brightly and the air crisp with the summer’s breeze, what could be better than a road trip, some good food and a day out of school? That’s exactly what government teacher Nick Doom’s AP Government classes did on May 18 and May 23, spending the day at the Reagan and Nixon Presidential Libraries. A total of 67 students went under the supervision of Doom. English teacher Kristina Provost accompanied the class the Reagan library. After their lunch at Applebee’s, their bus struggled up a steep incline to the front of the Reagan library and Doom’s students were greeted with a flowing water fountain and a statue of the late president. The Reagan library docents split them up into groups of 15 after an introductory video. “The introduction video was very informative. They had three projectors, with the center one playing video footage, and the other two that flashed related pictures of the footage.” said senior John Reyes. “All the things in the library were pretty cool, especially all the gifts that were given to the president, like a near perfect pearl. Too bad the Air Force One exhibit wasn’t completed yet.” Doom’s students were also able to view Reagan’s tomb. “It was such an elegant tomb, though I find it interesting and odd that he wanted to be buried with his feet facing the Pacific Ocean,” said senior Andrew Abraham. The following week, the same students headed off for Yorba Linda to the Nixon library. Upon arrival, they were immediately broken up into groups and led into the library by docents. “The Nixon Library kind of felt like an airport,” said senior Paul Kim. “Everything was so sleek and marble, the hallways felt like terminals.” Many of the students were amazed by the scale model of the White House that had made a stop on its tour at the Nixon Library. There were working miniature televisions and a phone that rang once in a while. Doom’s students were also treated to visiting the house where Nixon was born, which Kim found “old smelling.” Doom said he plans to go to both libraries again next year because he see it as an opportunity for students to be “able to put in proper perspective in their own minds the accomplishments of Nixon and Reagan” and “put in context the president’s office and what it can accomplish.”