Political Junkies Convene At IOP

For political junkies, yesterday was the best day of the year.

And at the Institute of Politics (IOP) last night, more than 200 election enthusiasts gathered to enjoy the moment.

They ate pizza and drank beer as they watched CNN's election returns on the Kennedy School of Government's large-screen television.

They also listened to Harvard's political experts, who offered extemporaneous remarks on last night's races and on the electoral process in general.

"It's great to be in a room with people who love politics," said IOP Director Charles T. Royer, former mayor of Seattle.

The experts focused their remarks on the gubernatorial races in Massachusetts, California, Florida and Texas, and the senatorial race in North Carolina.

Most of the panelists predicted early in the evening that former prosecutor William F. Weld '66 would defeat Boston University President John R. Silber in the race for Massachusetts governor.

"My gut feeling is that Silber has reached the pinnacle of his career today when he goes down in defeat," said Marvin Kalb, director of the Joan Shorenstein Barone Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy.

Veteran Time Magazine columnist Hugh Sidey disagreed with Kalb. "There's interest [in Silber]," he said. "We've had a lot of boredom lately."

The event was casual, and the experts provided an alternative to the serious television analysis. They were unusually candid, telling jokes as they mused about the day's events.

When Sidey said he believed Clayton Williams would defeat former Texas Treasurer Ann Richards in the race for Texas governor, he admitted that more unconventional factors entered his thinking.

"Even though I'm against beehive hairdos, that's not the issue," Sidey said.

And Ann Lewis, a political consultant and former IOP fellow, said that people in Washington have been asking how many Senate races they would be willing to concede in order to make sure fomer Charlotte, N.C. Mayor Harvey Gantt defeated incumbent Sen. Jesse Helms.

"I would have traded a lot of victories," Lewis admitted.

People who attended the event said they enjoyed the opportunity to watch the returns at the IOP.

"A lot of people don't have cable," said Kimberley D. Harris '92. "There are so many critical races, it's a big service to provide an arena."

Individuals expressed visible reactions as results for various races were announced. "I'm in shock over Bill Bradley," said Mike Russo. Bradley, U.S. senator from New Jersey, narrowly defeated his opponent last night in his bid for reelection.

Marc McKay '94, who attended to be part of a "strong showing" of the Harvard Democrats Club, said he was keeping his eye on Tom Harkin of Iowa, who was reelected to the U.S. Senate. "I'll probably be working for him this summer," said McKay. "I'm glad he won."

Anticipation, excitement and frustration became shared emotions as the majority of the crowd mourned Helm's growing lead over Gantt, and cheered Silber's waning lead.

"There is a marvelous excitement, a wonderful feeling about this process that is valid," said Sidey, concluding the panel's involvement for the evening. "Politics. It's a great business. Get into it. Honor it."