Clinton Laptop to be Displayed at Frontiers of Flight Museum Laptop Sent First Presidential Email, Received by John Glenn in Space;
From Sputnik Came ARPA, which Created Email and the Internet
News-Antique.com - Oct 09,2007 - DALLAS, TEXAS: The laptop that President William Jefferson Clinton used to send the first presidential email, an email that was received by astronaut/Senator John Glenn aboard the space shuttle Discovery, is being loaned to the Frontiers of Flight Museum for their Space50 celebration, beginning October 4, 2007.
The laptop was recently part of Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries' inaugural Air & Space Auction, held on September 20, 2007. Although the laptop failed to sell in that auction, it will now be seen by countless visitors in this landmark exhibit.
"This exciting exhibit celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of mankind's first tentative steps into out outer space with the launch of Sputnik in 1957," said Bruce Bleakley, Museum Director of the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas. "That historic launch had far-reaching implications, as the US Government responded by creating two new agencies: the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), and the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). It was ARPA's early efforts to link computers together that led to the development of today's Internet."
"We're excited to be able to share this important piece of technological history with such a fine museum," said Tom Slater, Director of American Auctions for Heritage. "For those of us that grew up with President John F. Kennedy's vision of putting a man on the moon, and remember a time when the space race was strong between the US and the Russians, the opportunity to view all these important artifacts in one place is utterly irresistible."
Bleakley said, "This is one of the greatest educational additions to the museum's extensive collection. Understanding the fiftieth anniversary of Space flight and the technological revolution that followed is easier to explain to those who were born in the 21st century with the display of this computer. This important artifact may be viewed at the museum under a full-scale replica of Sputnik and next to the first Apollo (three man crew) Command Module, on loan from the National Air and Space Museum. It's worth noting that this single laptop is far more powerful than the entire network of computer resources the Apollo astronauts used to fly to the moon."
The laptop computer used by President Clinton will be displayed at the opening of Space50 Celebration at the Frontiers of Flight Museum beginning October 4, 2007. Apollo 7 Astronaut Walter Cunningham, and NASA Mission Specialist Dr. Jim Reilly II, will attend the opening of Space50. Award winning director, David Hoffman, will also premier his new documentary film, Sputnik Mania.
For more information about the Clinton laptop, please visit:
For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.
Prospective consignors and sellers of political memorabilia, Americana, and related collectibles are invited to visit www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Tom Slater at TomS@HA.com.
To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Client Services at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1150, or visit www.HA.com/Catalog to order by email.
