Phila. shines in spotlight during convention

by Joe Holden editor in chief

The curtain went up on Philadelphia after three years of convincing, preparation and hard work as visitors and delegates packed into the cradle of liberty on Sunday, July 30, the eve of the Republican National Convention.

Over 35,000 convention visitors from 55 states and territories arrived by car, bus, plane, train and most often limousine. The city managed to supply the necessary accommodations while under public scrutiny for even attempting to host such a massive g&thering. In three years Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley managed to build more than 4000 hotel rooms, a necessity that was lacking until now.

Center City was transformed from a gray-stoned, musty, pigeon infested city nucleus to an inviting cultural festival. Patriotic reds, whites and blues adorned nearly every city structure and hung from the tallest city skyscrapers. An army of convention volunteers, numbering 10,000, greeted and welcomed visitors as scores of bell hops and chauffeurs scrambled to help the newcomers settle in.

Police presence was stifling with some comers having more police then city visitors. City officials would not comment on the number of officers working the clock, however the overtime compensation bill read nearly $5 million.

An impressive crowd of delegates, visitors and Philadelphia natives were on hand to watch a boat parade from Penn's Landing on the Delaware River. Fifty five boats representing all of the states and territories bobbed past the cheering crowds. 1be Benjamin Franklin Bridge, which spans the river at Penn's landing, received a lighting facelift and sparkled with patriotic colors. The public evening concluded with a spectacular fireworks show that reverberated against the concrete and asphalt throughout Center City setting off a multitude of car alarms and drawing many in the area out of buses and diners to see what all of the commotion was about. Though the public evening's events were exhausted, the private evening did not end there. Many parties continued into the oui hours of the morning. One of the most notable being a restricted party that caused a blockade to be set up on much of Penn's Landing.

Ten o'clock Monday morning, July 31, a gavel hammered throughout the First Union Center calling the convention offi- cially to order. It was speech after speech for most of the day with only a fraction of those present listening to what had to be said. Timid applause could be heard from each speaker's home delegation. At the break of the morning session, delegates were treated to a mile and a half long Wawa hoagie and a Mummer's Parade on Market Street East. The evening session reconvened with more speakers.

Tuesday, Aug. 1, delegates were given a day off and an opportunity to wander around the city and the surrounding area An abundant amount of visitors seemed to gravitate towards Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. A small amount chose to take a planned excursion to the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Philadelphia 2000, the organization that was fonned three years ago and charged with the task of getting the city ready, had scheduled a variety of tours throughout the Delaware Valley, including Atlantic City, Margate and Sea Isle City, all seashore points in New Jersey. The tours were cancelled due to lack of interest from the delegates.

Tuesday evening's events at the First Union Center focused on the national security policy and veterans' affairs. Retired

U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf delivered his speech to the delegates from the deck of the battleship U.S.S New Jersey, which is docked in Camden, New Jersey. Arizona Senator John McCain and Elizabeth Dole, wife of retired Senator Bob Dole, spoke to the GOP from the stage in the First Union Center. 1beir talks spoke about party solidarity and welcoming non-traditional party members into the mainstream of the Republican party.

The highlight of Wednesday, Aug. 2, was the evening speech given by vice presidential candidate Dick Cheyney, former defense secretary under George Bush. This speech broke convention tradition. Past conventions had both presidential and vice presidential candidates speak on the closing evening. Cheyney's speech included some direct hits to the Gore campaign, which was expected. However many witty lines caught the audience by surprise. "My running mate George W. Bush will beat Vice President Al Gore and I will replace him," Cheyney said.

Earlier that day, Philadelphia sponsored the program ''Make it a Day, Make it a Night." Many turned out for this expansive sidewalk party with a New Orleans jazz twist

The festivities also included celebrity appearances. Actor Michael J. Fox was in town to attend a benefit that was sponsored by a local clothing outfitter.

The final~d pivotal day of the convention dawned with sultry, uncomfortable weather conditions. The convention had its duration of hot sticky days, but Thursday topped out as the worst with suffocating heat and drenching humidity. Bush delivered his first speech as the Republican party's presidential nominee. He credited and praised his parents for the untiring work on his behalf and was swept up with emotion as he continued to read. Following the speech, the traditional cascade of balloons from the arena ceilings enveloped the euphoric and electrified crowd 150 feet below. A blizzard of confetti blanketed the entire building. The closing night of the convention signifies the beginning of a rigorous campaign for the office at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C

Back from a fifty year deficit in such a social and pomp gatherings, and a disastrous Democratic convention many years ago, Philadelphia hosted the Grand Old Party with no major problems and virtually no set backs. On Friday, August 4, Philadelphia Mayor John Street proclaimed, "we'll see the De-