>> GEORGE WASHINGTON MAY NEVER HAVE SLEPT IN THE BERKSHIRES BUT
A HOST OF OTHER PRESIDENTS HAVE STOPPED BY FOR A VISIT.
IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT'S DAY HISTORIAN EUGENE MICHALENKO AND
FOLKLORE OITION JOE DURWIN GO OVER THE PRESIDENTS THE
BERKSHIRES HAVE HOSTED THROUGH THE YEARS.
>> A NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP EXECUTIVES HAVE STOPPED HERE FOR
A SPELL OVER THE LEST COUPLE OF CENTURIES.
ONE NEARLY DIED HERE, ANOTHER DIED ON ROONT ROUTE.
ONE WAS STRANDED AT A PREMIERE POSTCARD LOOKOUT.
>> PRESIDENT MCKINLEY MADE A LASTING IMPRESSION.
HE WAS A FRIEND OF THE PLUNKETTS.
>> THE PLUNKETT BROTHERS BUILT FOUR MILLS, THERE WAS A HUGE
EXPANSION IN ADAMS, THE POPULATION GREW SOMETHING LIKE
35%.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY'S CAREER SORT OF PARALLELS THAT WHOLE
DEVELOPMENT.
IT WAS A PICTURE OF HIS ECONOMIC THEORY, ECONOMIC POLICIES IN THE
WORKS.
HE RAISED TAXES AGAINST FOREIGN GOODS, PARTICULARLY ENGLISH
COTTON SO THE AMERICAN COTTON INDUSTRY COULD FLOURISH.
HIS FIRST VISIT AS PRESIDENT HE SPENT FOUR DAYS HERE.
THE LOCAL LIBRARY TRUSTEES AND THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC
REPRESENTATIVES ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD LAY THE CORNERSTONE OF THE
LIBRARY.
IT'S A MEMORIAL TO CIVIL WAR VETERANS AND MR.
MCKINLEY WAS A CIVIL WAR VETERAN SO HE GLADLY
ACQUIESCED TO LAYING THE CORNERSTONE OF THE LIBRARY.
>> THERE WAS A SPECIAL CHAIR SET UP FOR HIM WITH A PLAQUE ON IT,
WE STILL HAVE THAT CHAIR IN OUR COLLECTION.
HE LOOKED AT THE CHAIR AND DECIDED NOT TO SIT IN IT.
HE SAT IN ONE THAT WAS LESS GRANDIOSE TO SHOW THAT HE WAS A
MAN OF THE PEOPLE, THAT HE, TOO, WAS A POP YOU LIST.
>> MCKINLEY STAYED AT THE RED LION INN IN STOCKBRIDGE ALONG
WITH ROOSEVELT AND CALVIN COOLIDGE.
COOLIDGE WAS BRIEFLY STRANDED WHEN HE WAS CAMPAIGNING FOR
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND HIS PARTY LEFT WITHOUT HIM BEFORE
THE OWNER OF THE INN FOUND HIM WAITING ON THE PORCH SMOKING A
CIGAR.
>> HE WAS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS SILENT CAL.
WHEN THEY CAME BACK FOR HIM HE SAID, THOUGHT YOU WOULD COME
BACK FOR ME.
>> JAMES GARFIELD ATTENDED THERE IN THE 1850s AND LATER WAS A
SCHOOLTEACHER IN NEARBY VERMONT.
GARFIELD CASAS NATED ON THE DAY HE WAS TO LEAVE WASHINGTON FOR
HIS COLLEGE REUNION IN WILLIAMSTOWN.
HE DIED APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER.
PRESIDENT GROVER CLEVELAND WAS VERY PARTIAL TO FISHING IN HOP
BROOK AND WAS ONCE FINED $2 FOR GOING OVER THE LEGAL LIMIT.
THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY WILLIAM WHITNEY WAS LOCAL.
I THINK THE MOST LEGENDARY VISITS WAS THEODORE ROOSEVELT IN
1932.
HE WAS STRUCK IN HIS CARRIAGE BY AN ERRANT TROLLEYCAR RESULTING
IN THE DEATH OF THE FIRST SECRET SERVICEMAN KILLED IN ACTION,
WILLIAM MCCRAY.
THEY GOT NEARLY IN A FIRSTFIGHT AS THE STORY GOES WITH THE
TROLLEY DRIVER IN THE STREET.
THE DRIVER WAS LATER SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS FOR MANSLAUGHTER.
WILLIAM TAFT WASN'T TOO THROWN BY ROOSEVELT'S MISHAP, HE PASSED
THROUGH ON A TRANCE-TOUR.
IN 1948 WE SAW A VISIT FROM PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMAN WHO
CAME IN ON ANOTHER WHISTLE STOP TOUR.
THEN-SENATOR JOHN F. KENNEDY AND DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER RECEIVE AND
HONORARY DEGREE FROM WILLIAMS COLLEGE.
>> IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH HISTORY IS HERE.
YOU JUST HAVE TO WALK THE STREETS AND IMAGINE THIS HAS
BEEN HERE FOR 150, 200 YEARS AND A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THAT
PERIOD OF TIME.
>> TELEVISION, INTERNET, 24-HOUR NEWS CYCLES, IT'S A LOT LESS
COMMON FOR PRESIDENTS TO VISIT EACH AND EVERY TOWN IN THE
COUNTRY.
AFTER ABOUT 60 YEARS I THINK BERKSHIRE COUNTY MIGHT BE DUE A
PRESIDENTIAL VISIT.