Musings on an old redwood

I have been associated with the Hoover Institution in one capacity or another since 1937, even though I am still listed as a "Visiting Fellow". Some visitor! Sixty-four years! Yet that is a short span in comparison with the slice of a giant redwood some thousand years old which was the feature of the Hoover courtyard. Placed against a slab of handsome stone, it has markers indicating the rings corresponding to major historical events such as Magna Carta. When it was placed there a long time ago, I was consulted about the events to be so indicated. I therefore feel a special relationship with this august relic of the past.

I was stunned to go into the courtyard the other day and to find that the majestic piece of redwood had been pushed to an adjoining wall so that the side of the slice fades the viewer. The stone background is now adorned with the names of the corporations which have made major donations to Hoover. This is symbolic of current trends. There is a loss of historical sense and of the meaning of age. The redwood is probably viewed as a Visiting Redwood. Corporations are now the giants. It is interesting to compare the two. I leave that to you.

Ronald Hilton - 8/19/01