Political vistors enrich the College's history
Diane Koch
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: Life!
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.
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.