Political vistors enrich the College's history

The recent visits to campus by former President Bill Clinton on March 19 and Senator Barack Obama on March 31, were exciting events for Muhlenberg College. Caught up in the lively race for the Democratic nomination for president, Clinton (campaigning for his wife Hillary), and Obama briefly put Muhlenberg at the center of the political campaign map. This is not the first time that the College has been in the position of hosting national politcal figures. There are numerous articles, programs, and announcements in the library detailing various political visitors to the campus over the years. However, the recent excitement over the political visits also highlight some of the other visits to campus by prominent politicians.

The Clinton and Obama visits most brought to mind the campaign stop by Richard M. Nixon in October 1960. Nixon was nearing the end of his second term as Vice-President to Dwight D. Eisenhower, and was the Republican nominee for president in a close race against John F. Kennedy.

Nixon's visit to campus on Oct. 22, 1960 was just over two weeks before Election Day. Appearing with his wife, Pat, Nixon addressed a crowd of over 5,500 in Memorial Hall, with an additional ten thousand people seated in the stadium, where the speech was broadcast over loud speakers. Several of the issues Nixon raised in his speech are issues in the current political campaign as well: financial aid for college students, medical care for the elderly, the minimum wage, and unsettling issues abroad - namely, dealing with Nikita Khrushchev, Fidel Castro, Cuba, and China.

According to the Muhlenberg Weekly accounts of Nixon's visit and speech, Nixon questioned Kennedy's judgment as Commander-in-chief, and urged voters "don't vote your party line. Consider the candidates, their experience, their background." In terms eerily similar to the current primary campaign, Nixon reduced the campaign to "experience vs. personality." (Ironically, with a view of Nixon's subsequent political career, the Weekly reported that Nixon was called "untrustworthy and sneaky" by his critics.)

Nixon's visit to campus was big news; but even so, it was reported on page 2 of the Oct. 27 Weekly. Meanwhile an imminent visit to Bethlehem by Kennedy received front page coverage. However Nixon had either swayed many of his listeners on campus or simply appeared in friendly territory: a straw ballot conducted at Muhlenberg less than a week before the election declared Nixon winning by a landslide. As we all know, the national election that year had a very different result.

Nixon wasn't the only sitting Vice President to visit Muhlenberg. In Sept. 1966 Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey visited the campus. His visit wasn't a campaign stop (though he would run for President in 1968 - against Nixon!). At the time of his visit he was halfway through his tenure as VP to Lyndon B. Johnson. Humphrey was on campus to address the annual kick-off luncheon of the Lehigh County United Fund, held in the student union. In fact, on the day of his visit, students were banned from the union for security reasons, and had to eat elsewhere!

After the luncheon, Humphrey addressed students and faculty assembled on the lawn. Among the listeners were students protesting the Vietnam War. According to the Weekly report of his visit, the Vice President recognized the protestors as "citizens exercising their precious right to dissent."

While he stated "the daily prayer of your Vice President and your President is to end the war," he went on to urge ALL the students "to participate in getting peace in the slums and backcountry of OUR land."

The current primary campaign is historic in that it is the first time a female candidate is a serious contender for the presidential nomination. But there were other political firsts for women, and Muhlenberg has been host to some of the women with that honor.

In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro was the first woman vice presidential candidate on a national party ticket (running with democrat Walter Mondale). In 1990, Ferraro came to campus to address the graduating class and receive an honorary degree. In her speech to the graduates, Ferraro emphasized the importance of ethics in their personal and professional lives.

However, no doubt speaking from her first-hand knowledge of the field, Ferraro stated: "Politics is perhaps the most important area to examine when discussing ethics."

Perhaps the most thrilling political visit over the years was the 1942 visit by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Though not an elected official, Roosevelt was closely involved with politics her entire life, and is credited with being the first First Lady to embrace the position and use its influence to advance social issues.

Her visit to Muhlenberg was in May 1942, when she attended the Muhlenberg Bicentennial Celebration. The alumni magazine article covering her visit effused "never before did anyone receive the kind of an ovation in Allentown that was accorded Mrs. Roosevelt... thousands thronged the campus for a glimpse of the wife of their President."

Mrs. Roosevelt was awarded an honorary degree, and praised as "a woman who has achieved distinction as a writer and speaker and as one who has devoted herself to education, sociology, women's affairs, and matters of public interest." It was hoped that President Roosevelt would accompany her to campus, but "war-time regulations and conditions requiring his presence at Washington" made a visit impossible.

Perhaps a "twofer" political visit is in the future? Maybe Bill will return with Hillary, or Barack with Michelle, or John with Cindy... When that happens, you can be sure that the details will end up in our archives for future generations.