As the 1996 presidential campaign winds down, candidates came last week to Penn's campus.
President Clinton spoke Oct. 29 to more than 10,000 cheering supporters at Hill Field. The following night, independent candidate Ross Perot spoke at Irvine Auditorium to an overflow crowd.
For Clinton, it was exactly the kind of day his campaign had hoped for -- a large enthusiastic crowd holding Clinton/Gore signs or waving red and blue flags and enjoying beautiful fall weather -- during the last few days of an election in which the president has a substantial lead over his Republican opponent, Bob Dole.
"I wanted to come here today where there would be so many young people to ask you to think about your tomorrows," Clinton shouted to an enthusiastic crowd. "I ask you to go home tonight and before you go to bed, to spend just a few moments asking yourself a simple question: What do I want my country to be like when we cross the bridge into the 21st century? What do I hope my country will be like when my children are my age?"
The president at Penn with crowds, political signs, and patriotic flags.
Clinton drew a huge, boisterous crowd of students, faculty and staff from Penn and nearby Drexel University as well as enthusiastic support from the West Philadelphia community in a rally that began drawing crowds as early as 11 a.m.
By 1 p.m., long lines of those eager to see the president were winding down Walnut Street. Because of tightened security, it took several hours to get the crowd through five metal detectors.
Residents of Hill House had to make their way through a maze of reporters, secret service, campaign volunteers and White House staff.
Many who chose not to stand in line watched and listened intently from 34th Street. Many Penn employees could be seen on tiptoes trying to get even a quick glimpse of the president, who last appeared at the University during the 1992 presidential campaign.
The Hill Field appearance, however, was just as much Mayor Ed Rendell's party. The mayor, who served as master of ceremonies of the event, introduced the President and other elected officials including City Council President John Street, area congressmen and University President Judith Rodin.
As the presidential race waned into its final days, the Clinton campaign focused on education, welfare and jobs. Although Clinton did not unveil any new initiatives, the onlookers were not disappointed -- especially in the taped music broadcast hours before the president's arrival as well as in the appearance of Philadelphia-based entertainers Patti LaBelle, Grover Washington Jr., and Boyz II Men.
While Clinton highlighted his popular proposal to offer a $1,500 tax credit for two years of community college tuition, he has long since stopped mentioning that his proposal requires a student to maintain a B average to qualify for the tax credit in the second year.
Clinton also talked about a plan to mobilize 30,000 AmeriCorps volunteers and other trained reading experts to help teach children to read.
"Of the 200,000 extra work-study slots we just got allocated," Clinton said, "I want 100,000 of those devoted to young people who say, yes, if you will help me go through college, I will be glad to take some of my time to teach a young child to read."
Clinton also spoke about the Internet and thanked those who are in the forefront of science and technology.
"And I want to thank especially one of your own who is here today and was pioneer of the Internet . . . Pennsylvania's own David Farber."
Farber, the Alfred Fitler Moore professor of telecommunications, said he wasn't surprised by the president's remarks. "But the students are really impressed -- especially the foreign students," said Farber. "They're not used to that type of dealing with the gods."
Return to Compass Features for November 5, 1996