THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 17, 1996 TAG: 9608170485
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Guy Friddell
DATELINE: SAN DIEGO LENGTH: 74 lines
Bob Dole must feel buoyed by the huge orange of a convention from which Republicans squeezed every ounce of political vitamin C for his campaign.
Jack Kemp infused the GOP with enthusiasm. His acceptance speech Thursday was only one of many in a furious nonstop talkathon.
In a practice session Thursday for the big speech that night in the convention hall, Dole needed to recite only four passages from his text; but Kemp improvised an oration to 50 or so onlookers, shook hands with rehearsing choir members, and engaged an Olympic athlete in arm wrestling.
Kemp's excessive chatter produced startling outbursts. ``Bob Dole can't throw a football. I'll be his right arm,'' he assured the California delegation.
``Americans do not accept limits, we transcend them,'' he said, accepting the vice presidential nomination. ``We do not settle, we succeed.''
His face a beaming lamp of energy, Kemp said he and Dole will balance the budget by combining economy in government with tax cuts ``to liberate the productive genius of the American people.''
Elizabeth Dole broke precedent Wednesday night by leaving the ``imposing platform'' and walking among the delegates to talk about ``the man I love.''
She out-Oprahed Oprah by answering the questions she asked. It was a deft act. ``It all came right out of her head,'' marveled a Virginia delegate.
My colleague, Warren Fiske, expected that at any minute ``she'd perch on a piano and start singing.'' Commentator Oliver North said, ``there wasn't a dry eye except perhaps in the media.''
(The only time in San Diego a tear filmed my eye was on hearing news of a hippo's death in Norfolk.)
Dole's daughter, Robin, throaty, smiling, told of her father comforting her on a roller coaster - and then buying tickets for some children crying because they had no money.
Some politicians have a knack - Nixon did - of pointing out individuals in the audience and leaving each convinced that he or she has received a personal salute.
Dole's daughter, smiling, manages to convey the tiniest wink of her eyes, and you are sure she has spotted a familiar face in the crowd.
One change was imposed on the roll call of states to tally the votes. The Republicans politicized it.
Heretofore, before announcing a delegation's vote, a caller would boost his state: ``Virginia, mother of eight presidents, cast 53 votes for our ninth president, Uriah Heep!''
The new way, to me, is not as charming. It's as if a Grandma Moses painting has been doctored through a computer.
Oh well, the Republicans weren't looking for Academy Awards. They were hunting votes. The ear-pounding tattoo of issues must have been effective as so many Dole ads.
First hint of the change came when the Alabama spokesman bawled about ``the right to bear arms.'' Whereupon, Alaska held that ``continued responsible development of natural resources is essential to sustain the economy.''
Iowa announced, ``All 25 of our pro-life delegates are for Bob Dole.''
New Mexico billed itself a state where the average family will receive $1,800 under Dole's economic plan. Texas exalted in having ``led the fight to repeal the gas tax.''
On and on through the roll call until Gov. George Allen made the most of his time by delivering a modest little essay on Virginia.
Virginia is, he said, the home of heroes past and present - Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Arthur Ashe, Colin Powell.
Virginia, the Old Dominion, now known as the Silicon Dominion, is experiencing a flourishing renaissance of opportunity and prosperity, he said.
Virginia, which will work hard to elect Bob Dole as the next president, is going to do what Jack Kemp did so well. ``Virginia passes,'' he said, and threw a Nerf football bearing Dole's name across the crowded aisles toward Kansas, where senatorial candidate Sam Brownback leaped into the air and caught it.
Things generally worked out for the Republicans in their well-executed game plan in San Diego.
KEYWORDS: REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION 1996 by CNB