Westminster College - Argo Yearbook (New Wilmington, PA)

Page 15 text:

Below: Supporters of the former President bring out their Michigan Drives For Ford signs and prepare to listen to his nominating speech. , Already dressed in their state costumes, Patty Flowers, Don Greathousc, and Bob Parker participate in the rousing convention band. -J. Jeletic Below left: The excitement brings out Dave Gloninger ' s bubble soap as fellow delegate Frank Greco listens to the proceedings. -J. Miller Bottom: As committee members attend to last minute details, the hall is captured in its last few minutes of order before the dele- gates arrive. -J. Jeletic I 771 ' I

Page 14 text:

Colorful costumes and signs brighten the conven- tion hail as seen from atop the visitors ' gallery. he real one? It wouldn ' t — m couldn ' t be the same as being there. Television would never again bring to life the color, the noise, the excitement or the spirit of the thing. We ' d had a taste of it and we knew. By the time the Mock Republican National Convention opened at 3:30 p.m. on St. Patrick ' s Day, the dele- gates in the crowded and disguised gymnasium knew that they would do little else but play politics for the next two and a half days. The road to the college ' s eleventh Mock Convention had begun the pre- vious spring with the selection of the Executive Committee and lasted for al- most a year until a final bang of the gavel brought it to a close. A lot of seemingly unnoticed work by those 12 committee members went oh in the Board Room of McGill and the red. white, and blue convention office in Hoyt. October ' s informational presen- tations and the announcement of Or- egon Senator Mark O. Hatfield as the Keynote Speaker were the first visible signs. Students were encouraged to partici- pate in whatever way possible. Commit- tee-people signed up early in the fall while the six campaign managers and the 54 state delegation chairs (for the 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, The Vir- gin Islands and the District of Colum- bia) were selected in late November. The candidates and the respective campaign managers selected were: Congressman John Anderson of Illinois - Susan P. Ruslink; Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee - Alan R. Boynton; George Bush of Texas - Deborah A. Sich; Governor John Connally of Texas - Daniel V. Grace; and Governor Ron- ald Reagan of California - John W. Brenner and Robert S. Hazen. A few last pieces of confetti fall on Ray Cumber- ledge as he prepares to leave the final session. -J. Jeletic 10

Page 16 text:

Elective - Cont ' d By the beginning of second semester, Push for Bush ads were running reg- ularly in the Holcad and the hunt was on to find the 1,097 delegates needed to make the convention one-third the size of the real one. Enthusiasm mounted as states began to fill with delegates and parade themes took shape. State Chairmen caucused with their members to explain rules and parliamentary procedure, as well as to obtain a state platform on issues rang- ing from abortion to detente and SALT II. With the opening session now less than two weeks away, the Resolutions Committee began platform hearings in the TUB to hear testimony on planks for the Republician Party Platform. On Thursday, March 13, several hundred delegates from various states met in Orr Auditorium for a pre-con- vention rally. The final few days were then spent in sleepless hours transform- ing the Field House. On Monday afternoon Presiding Chairman Jeff Long called the Conven- tion to order. After an opening invoca- tion by Dr. Frederick Horn and the singing of God Bless America by Ray Karns, the reports of the Credentials, Executive, Rules, and Resolutions Committee were rea d. Debate then be- gan on the platform. Senior Cathy Upton later reflected that a highlight of the convention for her was the opening ceremony when there was the most enthusiasm and peo- ple didn ' t know what exactly to ex- pect. Although the parade planned for the first night had to be rescheduled due to bad weather, the delegates reconvened to hear the Welcoming Address by Dr. Dale E. Hess and the Keynote Address by Senator Hatfield. Platform am- endments were again considered until 11:15 p.m. KDKA Evening Magazine ' s televi- sion crew was present for the entire sec- ond day of the convention. They fol- lowed progress through more platform debates, the postponed parade. Presi- dential nominations and stayed right until the balloon drop at 3: 1 7 a.m. when President Gerald R. Ford became the Republican Party ' s candidate. Major nominations for President were made by Scott Brown of Utah (Anderson); Dave Jones of Tennessee (Baker); Tom Lindsay of West Virginia (Bush); Ginan Kalenik of Texas (Con- nally); Bill Morrow of Michigan (Ford); and Dave Ivill of California (Reagan). Included among the 1 1 other favorite son nominees were former Dean of Stu- Chip Galusha waits for instructions before hang- ing the remainder of the state flags -J. Jeletic Giving instructions to a room-full of state chair- man in February is Executive Chairman Steve McConnell. - Potts Dressed as the Alaskan pipeline, Jeff Potts, Jay Knauer, and Bob Wohlwend make a point for their oil concern. -J. Jeletic 12