Northwestern University - Syllabus Yearbook (Evanston, IL)

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Mui 5 , Ailh V ,W 4 if 1 5 if ? , X 2 4 523 If 2' , V . ' ' 9 , Ni 2 s 1 X 'W ra a in T W M f' , Lf- s .M mmf Q - f' 4 .Q E t 'vii a ts t' , my W M as s , if , . 1 mf 0' Banner raised high, Eisenhower fans rally to the cause in an effort to gain support for their ultimately successful candidate. 30 Nominate a favorite son? Jump on the Eisenhower bandwagon? Vote for Stevenson? Walk out of the con- vention? Such questions concerning action on the floor are pondered by state delegations meeting in caucus. MPC selects two presidential winners Only two of 12 nominees, Calvin Coolidge and Dwight Eisenhower, ever reached the White House after being nominated by the NU mock political convention. This lack of political foresight is explained, however, by the fact that Northwestern students have never nominated a Democrat for President, seven of the last 12 presidential elections have resulted in Democratic victories. ' The activity was designated as a cfMock Republican Convention from 1908 through 1932. When it became a non-partisan convention in 1936, no change was made in NU's Republican preferences. Early platforms included planks for women's sufferage, prohibition Cand later repeal of prohibitionl, labor, and foreign relations. ln 1936 and 1948, conventions were forced to adjourn before a candidate was nominated, since women had to bc back in the dorms by 2 a.m. The Peopleis Progressive party appeared in 1944 and successfully won the nomination of its candidates, Harold E. Stassen for President, and Senator Scott Lucas of Illi- nois for vice-president. In planning for MPC, campus houses have been assigned to represent states in proportion to their size. Each house sends the number of delegates to which the state it repre- sents is entitled.

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MPC Likes Ike dent Roscoe Miller. The MPC platform emphasized pre- vention of a Near East war, statehood for Alaska and Hawaii, abolition of the present electoral college system, amend- ment of the Taft-Hartley act, reunifi- cation of Germany, and support for NATO troops in Europe. A states rights bill which read g'No military force and no punitive legisla- tion are to be used to force schools to integrate passed 675 to 530 on a roll call ballot. MPC received nationwide radio, press, and television coverage, over 50 staff members were sent by 21 news organizations. Convention sessions were attended by 1,362 delegates from campus living units. A six-member steering committee, directing the largest MPC in NU his- tory, was made up of Bill Cottrell, George Cohen, Tom Records, Doug Tanner, Steve Thernstrom, and Dave Unger. Daily Northwestern representatives question Governor McKeldiu of Maryland, MPC speaker. In his speech, McKeldin answered Democratic claims and praised GOP progress. Democratic keynoter Soapy Williams talks to the press. He was backed for president by Michigan delegates who gave bars of soap to conventioneers during the demonstrations. 29

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23513 3 1'vf,' 4 I :- , - 4'te v- if i is v - if' ' 1 f Y . , A f l,,,, ,JN . V2 . . ff'A, , Zia'-L A55 A V .. 1,1 'ff . 74' 3 1 VA ' , ' ,- . V ,, .:, 4 'ff ,,- ,wr f, ,Q Q , My 'iv il -' , ,, , diff - ,fwfr 1 f f X 4 f, fr, ,V iff! If ijfyfytfj fff, ' ' , , 5 ,ay , yi 5 Q 2 1 5 Y , few ---V ww ,, A -F21 Flags and bunting lend a genuine convention atmosphere to McGaw hall during proceedings of the largest MPC in our school history. y . S, -X5 I c 5' - :xiii EL-fd-fs A ,AMW -Wd' 1' 1,sw M- - ff Q ' lx-1. were ' f .4 - Ed May and Nancy Frederick covered the convention for local papers. National and local media gave on-the-spot MPC coverage. 'fm 'Y 3,21 , Y wi' .ai K fm Absorbed in the inevitable bridge game, a foursome remains ob- livious to the surroundings as the convention Hows on around it. Paralleling delegate behavior at national political conventions: students End other pastimes in the midst of the proceedings. 31