Poquoson High School - Islander / York Chronicle Yearbook (Poquoson, VA)

Page 22 text:

FOUR MORE YEARS Presidential election 72 was easily predicted as incumbent Richard Nixon won in a landslide vote over Democratic nominee George McGovern. Nixon captured all but Massachusetts’ and the District of Columbia’s electoral votes, proving that Americans were not quite ready to elect a liberal president. General comment on McGovern was, “He changed his mind too much.’’ This was also the year for the woman candidate, Shirley Chisholm, who came to the forefront in American politics garnering an amazing number of supporters. It was also a time for youth participation since it was the first national election in which 18 year olds were allowed to vote. Some of the veteran voters felt that the youth vote could make a difference in the elections outcome, while others felt the 18 year olds wouldn’t participate. It is possible that if they had all joined togeth- er, they could have formed a large voting block, but it seemed that the majority voted as their elders voted. Although many voted, people did not arrive at the polls in prolific numbers due to the relative certainty of the election results in most minds. The Republican party failed to gain control of Congress, leaving President Nixon with the opposition party to contend with for the next 4 years. Thomas Downing, a democratic stalwart in the House of Representatives, again captured victory in convincing style, although senatorial counterpart William Spong was not quite so fortunate. Bill Scott, a Republican, went to the people with a vast television campaign that made him a well known figure in most homes. Spong, not known as a magnetic personality, was unable to overcome an opponent whose party held both the presidency and the governorship in Virginia. The PHS attempt to reinact election 1972 was marred by apathetic participants. Although Miss Barbara Keech, sponsor of the event, deemed it more successful than elections held at some other schools, many committees fell short of their jobs thus resulting in a lack of campaign atmosphere. PRESIDENT NIXON AND Vice-President Agnew seem pleased with their landslide victory. GOVERNMENT STU- DENT CLARK Boyd tapes a political comment for the following morning in his guise as George McGovern. GVIIEN ST. JOHN and Kathy Huggett register voter Judy Carter and fellow students. 18 — Election

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DIANNE WATKINS SERENADES football king Kevin Topping in homecoming pep rally. XEPRESENTATIVES FROM LEFT to right are senios LynJjjpuis, Sallif ' hite;’ Rjfji West, Dianne Watkins. Dave Forrest, and Liz Conrad; juniors Scott Bunting, Mary Ktllen; sophomores Tim Schott, Tanya Wright; freshman Bobby Bryant, Nancy Phillips; eighth grade Mark Geissinger, andjCathy Page. „ I

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vice presidential, senate, and house of representative candidates. When the votes were tabulated, the Nixon-Agnew ticket received 81.42 percent of the presidential vote; McGovern, 13.8. In the senatorial race, Scott drew 58.7 per cent of the vote; Spong, 38.7. Downing received 87.47 per cent of the congressional vote to 12.25 percent for Wells. The percentages of votes for certain candidates from the high school were very close to those percentages from the state. Election— 19 The major achievements during the 4 weeks prior to Election Day included taped political announcements each morning, campaign songs and posters, and voter registration. The Republicans were represented by David Forrest and j Bobby Bryant. The Democratic challengers were Clark I Boyd and Robbie Forrest. Each morning the major candi- dates expressed their views on issues such as the war in Viet Nam and economy. The ideas were those of the true presidential candidates. Of the 350 students eligible to participate in the voting, 240 cast ballots. Voting was restricted to high school students age 15 and over. Ballots were cast secretly in Mrs. Marie Dryden’s and Mr. Evans’ offices for presidential. SHRIVER SEEMS OVERJOYED to be a vice- presidential nominee even though he was McGoverns seventh choice. PERCY WARD SPOTS a new use for a McGovern- Shriver sticker. DOWNING IS SHOWN seemingly explaining something, in a pose familiar to Vi rginia ' s 1st dis- trict because of numerous posters which featured this picture. SCOTT, IN AN attempt to gain the youth vote, speaks to students at Christopher Newport College. IN AN EXPRESSION of deep thought. Senator Spong contemplates the outcome of the election. ON DOWNING DAY at Strawberry Banks, Jason Calvert, being held by his father Bob Calvert, expresses disdain over Downing’s latest political manuever.