History for the Taking at Party for Presidents

What’s the easiest way to spot Thomas Jefferson’s house? Exactly how long is “four score and seven years”?

Answers to such historical trivia were woven into Monday’s daylong lineup at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum during its fifth annual Presidents Day Lawn Party.

Within the confines of a grassy courtyard that leads to the museum entrance, presidential impersonators, a Dixieland band and free cherry pie provided a slice of Americana under clear blue skies for more than 4,000 visitors.

Decked out in a red-white-and-blue sweater, 6-year-old Patrick McGonagle said he was drawn by more than just the free face painting and giant wads of pink cotton candy.

The youngster and his family trek to the event annually from their Granada Hills home because Patrick is a history buff, said the boy’s mom, Mary Ellen McGonagle.

The mugs of every U.S. president are pasted above Patrick’s bed, and he can recite facts about the nation’s leaders from the centuries past, such as which presidents were related and which ones were assassinated.

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Ask him about his favorite commander in chief, and Patrick answers: “Lincoln, because he was nice to our country.”

Actually, Abe was in attendance at Monday’s festivities, and he recited the Gettysburg Address to people who had gathered at picnic tables to munch on hot dogs and potato chips.

“When I first started doing this, it was for my daughter’s kindergarten class and, because they were so young, they really thought it was him,” said professional impersonator John Kendall, a Lincoln look-alike from Orange County.

Kendall started his afternoon recitation by explaining that Lincoln made his famous speech Nov. 19, 1863, dedicating a national cemetery on the site where the battle of Gettysburg was waged four months earlier.

Four score and seven years, or 87 years, earlier was 1776--the year the Declaration of Independence was adopted and this nation’s forefathers declared that all men had been created equal, Kendall said.

“It helps people understand what the speech means,” he said.

George Washington was absent from the party, but Thomas Jefferson showed, portrayed by West Hollywood actor Brian Adams, who shared with visitors that Jefferson’s picture is on the nickel, and on the flip side an image of his house--Monticello.

Inside the hilltop museum, a swing-jazz band played tunes as visitors strolled among several rooms of memorabilia that document Reagan’s life as a politician, actor and cowboy.

Newbury Park resident Mariano Diaz brought his family to revisit museum exhibits they had already seen. He also came to view a recent display of artwork by Norman Rockwell and to hear his children sing in a choir performance in the courtyard.

“This is a tremendous educational facility regardless of your political affiliation. It’s a living museum, and that’s what I like about it,” Diaz said. “It’s vibrant and there is so much of it.”

Standing around the corner from a faithful replica of the Oval Office, the father of three said his young children are now familiar enough with the museum to remember the names of certain presidents.

“We can talk about America at home and we can talk about politics--and it’s been a great year to talk about politics,” Diaz said.

Andrew Ranjbaran, also of Newbury Park, was all grins as he sported a blue eagle painting on his face. The 9-year-old said storyteller Jim Woodard, who spoke to children inside the museum, told interesting tales about George Washington.

But Theodore Roosevelt is his favorite. “I like him because he was named Teddy Bear,” Andrew said.

Museum volunteer Michael Markese, 93, was an infant when Teddy Roosevelt was in office.

The spry Thousand Oaks resident, who serves as a “greeter” at the museum, stopped by the festivities to add to his more than 1,100 volunteer hours--and that doesn’t include time he donates at the senior center and arts plaza in Thousand Oaks.

Markese, who describes himself as a Reagan supporter and fan of the Gipper’s famous one-liners, said people always ask him the secret of living to be 93.

“I tell them to live to be 92 and then be real careful,” he said.