Before George W. Bush was elected President, officials at Baylor University in Waco, Texas began to work on a bid for the library. Baylor believed that their proximity to the President's ranch in Crawford and their location within 100 miles of Austin, Dallas and the Bryan-College Station Metropolitan area gave them a favorable Chance at becoming the host of the Presidential Library. Not long after the president was elected, officials at Southern Methodist University began working on its bid for the library.

Here is a breakdown of the main events that make up SMU's relationship with the proposed Bush Library Center. (Note: Timelines evolve over years, and this one will be no exception. This will be a constant work in progress. If you would like to offer suggestions or corrections to this timeline, send an email to the SMUDailyData staff or fill out the form that appears that the bottom of this page).

Spring 2001

Fourteen months after George W. Bush was elected president, SMU launched a campaign (Dallas Fort Worth Urban) to bring his future presidential library to Dallas.

November 13,2002

"Senate Ok’s Bush Library legislation" (SMU Daily Campus).  The SMU Student Senate unanimously passed legislation supporting the University’s goal of obtaining the George Bush Presidential Library.

April 1, 2003

"Bush library possibility spurs campus debate" (SMU Daily Campus). The Bush Library debate spans as far back as 2003 when students, faculty and the rest of the SMU community discussed the prospect of the library. “With a presidential library, a lot of students will come to visit the library as tourists and we would recruit students that would not have thought of studying at SMU.”- Jasper Neel, Dean of Dedman College and member of panel recommending the buildings for the library center.

 March 8, 2005

"SMU not a lock for Bush Library" (SMU Daily Campus). University president, Gerald R. Turner acknowledged that the proposal was in the works, but was being kept confidential until presented to President Bush.

June 2005

In the first week of June, residents of University Gardens are sent eviction notices. SMU officials cite a engineering study concluding that the property does not conform to code and that $12.4 million in renovations would be required to bring it up to code standards.

Mid-July, 2005

SMU receives a letter requesting proposals to host the George W. Bush presidential library (along with Baylor University, The University of Texas System, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University, The University of Dallas, Midland College and the city of Arlington) with a deadline of Sept. 15 set for the bid. (Source: The Daily Texan).

September 15, 2005

"Top of the Heap: More than seven reasons why SMU should get the Bush Library". The Daily Campus editorial board published an editorial about the library.

September 20, 2005

"SMU submits Bush Library Bid." (SMU Daily Campus) The White house reportedly receives SMU’s bid for the library.  Brad Cheves Vice President of Development and External affairs says: “It’s a very fine proposal, but its too early to release the merits until the PLC has a chance to review it.”

October 14, 2005

Four Universities, four plans for Bush Library. It was announced that SMU is one of the final four (SMU Daily Campus) for the Bush Library. SMU had kept its bid under wraps for a long time, while the other universities leaked their proposals even before Bush was elected President.

November 15, 2005

SMU Board of Trustees member Ray Hunt gives the university $35 million to purchase Park Cities Plaza, the shopping center at Mockingbird Lane and Central Expressway adjacent to the campus (SMU Daily Campus).

December 15, 2005

SMU purchases University Gardens, the condo complex thought to rest on a potential site for the George W. Bush Presidential Library.

February 21, 2006

"University Gardens trial begins today" (SMU Daily Campus). Opening statements are delivered in the lawsuit brought by Gary Vodicka and Laura Tazel, condo owners in University Gardens against SMU. The trial occurs in Dallas County's 134th Civil District Court, and is charged with determining whether SMU violated its "legal obligations" to the owners in the way the university obtained control of the complex.

February 24, 2006

"Round one goes to condo owner" (SMU Daily Campus). Dallas County rules that Gary Vodicka should be allowed to hire engineers inspect all 347 units in University Gardens in order to potentially counter to the study commissioned by SMU that declared the facility obsolete .

March 16, 2006

"SMU one of three Bush Library Finalists." (SMU Daily Campus) The 10-city West Texas Coalition, the bid for the library led by Texas Tech, was cut from the running on March 16. The Coalition proposed spending as much as $500 million on the project and would have included a public-policy institute at Texas Tech and the Laura Bush literacy center in Midland.

July 3, 2006

"University Gardens case delayed" (SMU Daily Campus). Summary judgment of the lawsuit between Vodicka et. al. and is delayed when one of the parties files for bankruptcy. Nearly 60 people and groups related to the case are requested to submit depositions, including President Turner, first lady Laura Bush, Presidential Library Search Committee members Harriet Miers, Marvin Bush and Don Evans, as well as Board of Trustee members Ray Hunt, Lamar Hunt, Carl Sewell, Ross Perot, Jr. and Gerald J. Ford.

July 18, 2006

"Stay lifted in University Gardens case" (SMU Daily Campus). Judge Harlin D. Hale rules the bankruptcy filing of Gerry Jetton too small an issue to delay the case further and lifts a stay ordered by the state district court to allow the litigation to proceed. SMU reiterates in court that the site could be used for intramural fields or student housing, not just for the possible library.

Vodicka argued that that university comptroller John O'Connor stated in a July 3 deposition he had viewed plans that had the library on the University Gardens site. Vodicka expresses a desire that the 3-D model of the proposed library will be allowed to be shown as part of the district court trial in order to show SMU's true intention for the property.

August 11, 2006

"Hunt gave $35 million for land purchase" (SMU Daily Campus). The Daily Campus publishes a story revealing that SMU Trustee Ray Hunt provided the capital to acquire Park Cities Plaza, the shopping center at Mockingbird Lane and Central Expressway adjacent to the campus in November 2005.

September 26, 2006

"Bankruptcy halts University Gardens case" (SMU Daily Campus). University Gardens condo owner Gary Vodicka files for bankruptcy. The move halts the motion for summary judgment in the original case and once again shifts the focus to a federal bankruptcy court.

October 6, 2006

"University Gardens condo owner faces setback" (SMU Daily Campus). Judge Harlin D. Hale rules that the University Gardens condo owner Gary Vodicka improperly used the bankruptcy system and lifts the resulting stay so that the matter can proceed at the state level. Hale also rules that Vodicka must pay attorney's and court fees for SMU.

October 11, 2006

"Vodicka's wife seeks divorce, new counsel," (SMU Daily Campus). In an exclusive interview with the Daily Campus, Shannon Jacuzzi (Gary Vodicka's wife) announces she has dismissed him as her attorney in the University Gardens case and is seeking new representation or will represent herself in court. Jacuzzi also reveales that SMU offered Vodicka $450,000 in the first round of mediation and that Vodicka countered with $3.7 million. In the most recent round of mediation, Jacuzzi says Vodicka was offered $1 million and that he refused the amount, seeking between $10 and $20 million from the school.

November 10, 2006

Reverend William McElvaney and Dr. Susanne Johnson publish an opinion editorial in the Daily Campus entitled “The George W. Bush Library: asset or albatross?” The piece is often cited as the instigator of the most recent library debate.

"UG judge loses seat" (SMU Daily Campus). Republican Judge Jay Patterson who presides over the University Gardens can is defeated by Democrat Martin Lowy for the judgeship of the 101st state district court.

December 6, 2006

President Turner anounces at a meeting fo the SMU Faculty Senate that the Bush Foundation had communicated the desire to change the Bush School component of SMU's proposal into an institute overseen by the Bush Foundation.

December 12, 2006

"SMU wins summary judgment" (SMU Daily Campus). A federal court judge granted SMU's motion for summary judgment Thursday, allowing SMU to proceed with the demolition of the University Gardens condominium complex.

December 14, 2006

"Protest at SMU Targets Bush Library" (Texas Monthly). The news of the library center being located at SMU creates controversy for faculty, students and people outside of the academic community. Numerous letters are sent to Texas Monthly.

December 16, 2006

Members of SMU’s Perkins School of Theology submit a letter (KWTX-10) to R. Gerald Turner urging him and the SMU Board of Trustees to “reconsider and rescind SMU’s pursuit of the presidential library.”

December 19, 2006

Faculty Senate President Rhonda Blair sends an email to the SMU faculty providing a general history of the Presidential Library selection process and announcing the replacement of the Bush School with the independent Bush Institute. In response to calls for dialogue from mmbers of the SMU faculty, Blair announces a special faculty meeting to discuss the Presidential Library bid to be held on January 9, 2007.

"More debate on Bush library sought at SMU" (Dallas Morning News). SMU theology professor Susanne Johnson circulates a letter addressed to President Turner that calls for more open discussion about the library and its would-be role on campus. "There are two different visions of the library. One is for the library as a place for academic inquiry ... but the other vision is a strictly partisan center to promote the president's platform," said Johnson. "Those are two very different visions of what will be done with the space, with the money and so forth, and I think we would like to have clarity on that."

December 21, 2006

Committee choosing site heads to “exclusive” discussions with SMU (SMU Daily Campus). President Turner comes close to announcing that SMU will be the location … but doesn’t quite say it.

December 22, 2006

 SMU expected to be the site of Presidential Library. CBS News reports that two other schools also still in the running:

1. Baylor
2. University of Dallas

"Bush library in SMU's reach" (Dallas Morning News). The library's site selection committee announces it is intensifying discussions with SMU, and a person close to the deliberations said the two other finalists – the University of Dallas and Baylor University – were told they are out of contention unless unforeseen problems crop up.

"Condo owners' appeal denied" (SMU Daily Campus). Judge Jerry Buchmeyer refused to grant a stay on the appeal of the University Gardens condo owners, allowing SMU to begin demolition on the property.

January 5, 2007

President Turner sends out a letter addressed to the entire SMU community to address concerns about the Bush presidential library and a related policy institute.

January 9, 2007

Faculty members gather at a private meeting (SMU Daily Campus) to voice opinions on the Bush Library Center.  Not even SMU administrators are allowed to attend.  The meeting is closed to provide a safe environment for faculty to voice their opinions without fear of retribution.  Ralph Blumenthal of The New York Times fails to disclose his identity and publishes an article with quotes directly attributed to faculty members the following morning.

Also read the Dallas Morning News account.

January 16, 2007

Ben Johnson, History professor at SMU creates a blog (bushlibraryblog.wordpress.com) to advance the debate on the Bush library.

January 17, 2007

Approximately 150 faculty members attend a general faculty meeting in which President R. Gerald Turner addresses the Bush Library Center discussion (SMU Daily Campus).

Also read the Dallas Morning News account.

"SMU enters final negotiations for Bush Library (SMU Daily Campus)."  President Turner comes close to announcing that SMU will be the location…but doesn’t quite say it.

January 18, 2007

"Bush responds to complaints about SMU library plans" (Dallas Morning News). President Bush responds via televised interview to quell complaints on the SMU campus that the library he’s planning would offer lopsided views of his administration and public policy.“I understand there are some who have reservations, and my admonition to them, or my advice to them is, just understand that a library and institute would enhance education. It would be a place for interesting discussion,” he said. “It would be a place for people to be able to express their views and write and think. And these universities, I think, understand that and are excited about the prospects, and so am I.” Watch the video (Belo Belo Capital Bureau).

Methodist ministers launch a petition (CBS News) to stop the library from coming to SMU. Also read the Dallas Morning News coverage.

January 19, 2007

"True to SMU, but not to Bush library" (Dallas Morning News). Rev. William McElvaney is profiled in the Dallas Morning News.

January 2007

Laser-printed signs saying “Buck the Fush Institute” are posted on bulletin boards throughout the Owens Arts Building.  The posters are quickly torn down by faculty because of their leud nature and unauthorized posting in restricted areas. The individuals who posted the posters are still unknown.

January 25, 2007

The Colbert Report, a show on Comedy Central, dedicates its “The Word” segment to the campus debate over the Bush Library Complex. “The Word” is "S.M.A.F.U." and it stands for "Southern Methodists All Frigged Up." Watch the clip.

January 31, 2007

The Student Senate votes to support the Bush Library in its entirety (SMU Daily Campus) during the Jan. 30 meeting.

SMU’s Young Conservatives announce plans to start a petition (SMU Daily Campus) that supports the Bush Library. Members of the organization collect signatures at a table on the west bridge of Hughes-Trigg.

February 2, 2007

SMU Professor James Hollifield, director of the Tower Center, and Kathleen A. Wellman are featured on KERA’s Think to discuss the Bush library center and the resulting debate.

February 8, 2007

A group of history professors publish a column in the Daily Campus on Presidential Order 13233.

March 08, 2007

"SMU seeking church approval for Bush library site" (Dallas Morning News). SMU snnounced it would seek permission from a 23-member council of the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church at a meeting in Dallas the following week, with the council to vote afterwards.

March 14, 2007

"UMC leaders OK Bush library plan" (Dallas Morning News). Regional leaders of the United Methodist Church give Southern Methodist University permission to lease part of campus for the Bush library.

An image identified as the potential design for the George W. Bush Presidential Library (SMU Daily Campus) appears in a story on WFAA.com about the Methodist Church’s approval to lease land for the library project. The image is later identified as part of the University of Dallas model (SMU Daily Campus).

March 19, 2007

Protesters of the Iraq War march from Mockingbird Station to the potential site of the Bush Library (SMU Daily Campus) on Potomac Avenue. It was the war’s four-year anniversary.

March 20, 2007

The Mission Council of the United Methodist Church’s South Central Jurisdiction approve the lease of land (SMU Daily Campus) on campus in a 10-4 vote. The council had to approve leasing land in use by SMU. Turner called it a major step toward working out details for the library.

March 24, 2007

"Legal battle between lawyer, SMU is dealt another twist" (Dallas Morning News). A federal judge sends Gary Vodicka's lawsuit against SMU back to a state district court.

April 17, 2007

New York Times’ reporter Ralph Blumenthal visits Tony Pederson's Media Ethics class (also read the Daily Campus coverage), explaining his decision to sit in on a private faculty senate meeting that occurred January 9^th. (Audio of the speech and the Q&A, .mp3, 37.5MB; Photo Gallery).