The Presidential Experience Comes to Villanova

Andrew McKeough takes pride in collecting items, preserving historic presidential memories

Article by Emily Kratz, AKSM News

VILLANOVA, PA - Autographed pictures. Presidential chocolates. An Air Force One jacket. A White House hand towel. For most people, obtaining any single one of these items would be an impressive feat. For Villanova University sophomore Andrew McKeough, however, these items consist of a mere fraction of his entire collection.

Since he was ten years old, McKeough has been collecting various items of presidential memorabilia, ranging from presidential letters to Oval Office M&M's. Nowadays, McKeough's collection is large enough to be displayed at libraries and schools around the district.

"Overall I'd say I have over 100 items in the collection, and about a quarter of the collection is traveling around the district," McKeough said.

McKeough's collection has been featured at Valley Forge Middle School, the Conestoga High School Library, the National Constitution Center and the Tredyffrin and Easttown libraries; and now it is onto Villanova University! Obtaining such a large and valuable collection was not easy—McKeough's family connections with the White House helped him build his collection. However, McKeough obtained his most prized items in his collection from the President himself.

President Obama "has written me two letters. One time he just wrote me because my cousin, [who works in the state department], asked if he would after I sent him a letter. The second time, he heard about the relief efforts I was doing for Bascome Fire Relief, and he wrote me a letter commending me on my efforts," McKeough said.

McKeough said he values and cherishes his collection mostly because of the rarity of the items.
"It's just having these things, saying you have an invitation for lunch with the President or one to the inauguration, I think that's just [cool]," McKeough said. It's "like a one-of-a-kind piece that no one else except you can get."

The Presidential Experience is now open at Villanova University's Falvey Library and will run through January 2017 when it will be moved to the Tredyffrin Library to be displayed for the 2017 Inauguration which will be held on January 20th, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Andrew McKeough has a vast knowledge in the music, film, and theater departments. McKeough's interest in the presidency goes back to 2007 during the election when he was only ten years old. McKeough and his family also have White House connections go back over a decade. As a student at Villanova University, Andrew is heavily involved in many different activities.

Andrew currently works for US Congressman Pat Meehan at his district office in Springfield, Pennsylvania. In addition, Andrew serves as a photographer for Villanova's newspaper, The Villanovan as well as the Belle Air Yearbook. McKeough has had the opportunity to attend many great events and even became a White House photographer and caught the historic moment when Villanova was congratulated by President Barrack Obama at the White House in May of 2016. Andrew even got the opportunity to attend the 2016 DNC in Philadelphia.

As a performer, Andrew has performed at different venues across the United States, Europe and throughout world and has performed for many world leaders and politicians and receives coaching in voice and theatre by Jennie Eisenhower. He will graduate from Villanova University in 2019 with majors in communications (PR and film production), political science, and minors in music and theatre arts.