Voitime 28, issue 11 March 20, 1992
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Maine South H. S. Park Ridge, IL
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Presidential politics at Maine South On Wednesday, March 11, at Southfest '92, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, the leading Democratic canditate for President, and his wife, Hillary Clinton, visited Maine South. Mrs. Clinton, a member of the first Maine South graduating class in 1964, was originally scheduled to appear by herself, and give a presentation describing the rigors and experiences of a Presidential campaign. But several days before Southfest, it was decided that Bill Clinton would also be joining his wife at Maine S outh. Grace Garcia, Clinton's Lead Advisor, explained his unscheduled appearance by saying, "I guess he wanted to see his wife's old high school." Along with the Clintons came an entourageof reporters, advisors, Secret Service and security agents. Students, Faculty, security, and about 100 members of the press packed into C-101 for the 10 o'clock appearance. A large banner that said, "Welcome Home Hillary" adorned the wall behind the Clintons, who sat on two stools in the middle of the room. There were also four camera crews from ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN. Unfortunately, because of the multitude of media personal, many of the students who had attendance slips for the activity were unable to get into the room because of overcrowding.
The session, although originally intended only for the students, was packed with media personnel, as well as Maine South teachers. See Commentary on page 2 for more.
The Clintons were presented with ofTicial Maine South shirts after the assembly by Dr. Cachur. Promptly at 10 A.M. the session began 1964 election. with the Pledge of AUigiance and the introAccording to Mrs. Clinton, this was, "the duction of Governor Clinton by Senior Mike beginning of what an education can do. We Mazukelli. Mr. Clinton then gave a brief were forced to examine deeply what we bespeech which focused mostly on education lieved. People were constantly asking us and his views on the subject. He emphasized 'why?'." the need to fund the Head Start program for She also discussed her involvement with pre-schoolers, new reforms that permit evethe government and various groups which try rybody to receive education and training beto improve education and the quality of life for yond high school, and the idea that no one children. She concluded by emphasizing that should be denied a college education bethe relationship between what the students are cause they cannot afford it. learning now and the contribution they can make now and into the future are of great imHe also stressed the responsibility of stuportance. After Mrs. Clinton's presentation, dents in education reform; in order to take the Governor and his wife took questions advantage of these programs, students from the students. would need to work hard and do their part in bettering education. Clinton summed up his In an interview with Southwords after the presentaion by saying, "Hillary and I believe presentation. Governor Clinton was asked that everybody in America ought to have an about his feelings on the 1988 Hazelwood education as good as the public ones we reruling in which the Supreme Court restricted ceived." the First Amendment rights of students. Clinton voiced his support for equal protection Governor Clinton then introduced his under this amendment for adults and students wife, Hillary, who according to Clinton, has alike. This ruling, which initially involved the invested a great deal of her time towards imcensorship of high school papers, has been proving the quality of education, especially extended as part of the legal justification of in their home state of Arkansas. The opening the dress code at Maine East. of Mrs. Clinton's speech was based on the question, "How did a nice Rebublican girl Dr. Cachur then presented the Clintons from Park Ridge go wrong? " with Maine South shirts, which the Governor put on over his dress shirt, to the applause of She attributed much of the cause of her those in attendance. political realingment to her teachers and education at Maine South. Back in the days Governor Clinton and his wife then went when she was a "Goldwater Girl," she was on their separate ways. Mrs. Clinton stayed forced to look at ideas and issues from the for most of the day at Maine South, while her other side of the table, in a mock Presidential husband travelled downstate to Carbondale in debate, in which she had to protray Lyndon order to strengthen his rural support for the B. Johnson, the Democratic candidate in the Illinois primary.