TEMPLE UNIVERSITY EXPERTS GEARING UP FOR THE 2000 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
Philadelphia will be in the national spotlight when the Republicans meet to nominate their choice for the next president and vice president of the United States during the week of the 2000 Republican National Convention (RNC), Monday, July 31, through Friday, August 4, at the First Union Center in South Philadelphia.
The 2000 convention will be slightly different from the past two Republican meetings held in Philadelphia in 1940 and 1948, says Temple University history professor James Hilty, an expert on the presidency and past political conventions.
"Political parties no longer use the conventions to select their nominees, but rather to confirm decisions made in the primaries and to anoint the winners and put the party dignitaries on display," Hilty says. "One good thing about the modern presidential nomination process, presidential nominees have longer to think about whom they want on the ticket with them.
"This summer's GOP convention will anoint both the candidate and the candidate's family. It will be a Bush family extravaganza, a celebration of an extraordinary family's enormous contributions to public life, spanning the service of Prescott Bush, President George H. Bush, to George W. and Jeb Bush."
Hilty adds that except for the Kennedys no other family in modern times can boast such a remarkable record of achievement.
"Many in the Adams, Taft, LaFollette families, after all, achieved high office, but those achievements were spread out over several generations," says Hilty. "John Adams lived to see his son, John Quincy, elected president. In 1960, Joseph P. Kennedy realized his dream, living to see his oldest son become president, the next oldest become attorney general, and his youngest son elected to the U.S. Senate."
In addition to Hilty, Temple's Office of News and Media Relations has an array of experts available to examine issues of importance and comment on the respective presidential nominees and their potential running mates.
Temple experts are also available to discuss the electorate and public opinion, the economy, political parties, the impact of technology on the presidential election, ethics in the presidential campaign, presidential rhetoric, as well as the issues of national concern, including gun control, gasoline prices, foreign policy, taxes, campaign finance reform, education and more.
Here are some University faculty experts who may be contacted as part of your coverage of the GOP convention and the 2000 Presidential campaign:
James Hilty, a professor of history, whose primary research interests are the American presidency, and presidential races. He is knowledgeable about past political conventions, presidents and their running mates, as well as U.S. presidents and their relations with foreign governments. His interests in politics also include America's first ladies--particularly Bess Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mamie Eisenhower, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, Lady Bird Johnson and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
215/204-5581.
[email protected]
Robin Kolodny, a professor of political science, has researched legislative politics, political parties, the U.S. Congress, interest groups and the impact of soft money on elections and special interest spending. She has also spent time on Capitol Hill as a Congressional Fellow. She is an analyst of Pennsylvania-style politics, particularly at the state and senate levels.
215/204-7709.
[email protected]
Gary Mucciaroni, a professor of political science, who is an expert on American politics, elections and the political economy. He is particularly knowledgeable about how interest groups gain and lose influence in Washington.
215/204-6195.
[email protected]
Michael Hooper, a professor of political science, whose interests include the electoral behavior and public opinion. He has conducted political opinion polls on many issues, including voters splitting their tickets and crossing party lines. He has gauged the public's opinion in surveys on issues of abortion, school choice, and affirmative action. In addition, he has polled Pennsylvania gubernatorial, congressional and presidential races.
215/204-1462.
[email protected].
Herbert W. Simons, a professor of communications, is a critic, teacher, researcher and lecturer on political persuasion. He is an analyst of the rhetoric of political campaigns and social movements, issues vs. image, presidential rhetoric and the role of the media in presidential politics. He used one of President Clinton's speeches (Aug. 1999) as the focus of a semester-long undergraduate class in political communication.
215/204-1880.
[email protected]
Mark Schneider, an administrator and political science instructor, whose interests are presidential politics and the electorate. He has explored how the technology of information has altered national politics and how presidents are elected to office. He looks at the impact of media on the presidency and how technology has dramatically influenced campaigning in America over 200 years. In addition, he examines how technology has changed the way in which U.S. presidents communicate with the public after they've been elected to office.
215/204-3376.
[email protected]
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