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2004 Republican National Convention

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2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention

The 2004 Republican National Convention is a United States presidential nominating convention that takes place from August 30 to September 2, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The convention is one of a series of historic quadrennial meetings of the Republican Party with a primary focus on officially nominating a candidate for President of the United States and adopting a party platform. Attendance includes 2,509 delegates and 2,344 alternate delegates from every state of the Union including the nation's territories and overseas dependencies. The convention marks the formal end of the active primary election season, although the primaries were essentially uncontested; there was no challenge to the incumbent, George W. Bush.

The theme of the convention is "Fulfilling America's Promise by Building a Safer World and a More Hopeful America." Defining moments of the 2004 Republican National Convention include a featured keynote address by Zell Miller and the confirmation of the nomination of incumbent George W. Bush as the candidate for President and of incumbent Dick Cheney as the candidate for Vice President. Bush and Cheney face the Democratic Party's ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards in the 2004 presidential election.

Platform

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Delegates from every state crowded the convention floor on opening day. There were 2,509 delegates and 2,344 alternates in attendance. State Senator Barbara Marumoto decorates the Hawaii standard with orchid leis.

Apart from nominating a candidate for President and Vice President, the 2004 Republican National Convention is also charged with crafting an official party platform and political agenda for the next four years. At the helm of the Platform Committee is United States Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee, Congresswoman Melissa Hart of Pennsylvania and Colorado Governor Bill Owens.

Venue

The choice of Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2003 by all 165 members of the Republican National Committee as the venue for the 2004 Republican National Convention meant that New York City would host a major Republican nominating convention for the first time in the nation's history. On July 19, control of Madison Square Garden was officially handed over to the Republican Party under the administration of Chief Executive Officer of the Convention Bill Harris.

Many critics charged that the selection of New York City was a cynical attempt by the Republican Party to capitalize on the events of September 11, 2001.

Security

Like the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, the Department of Homeland Security officially declared the 2004 Republican National Convention a National Special Security Event. As such, the United States Secret Service is charged with employing and coordinating all federal and local agencies including the various bureaus of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation and New York Police Department to secure the venue from terrorist attacks. Expected security expenditures will reach US$50 million, half of which is funded by the federal government.

The city will employ an active beat of 10,000 police officers deployed as Hercules teams — uniformed in full riot gear and body armor. While Boston police officers carried batons and body shields at the Democratic convention, Hercules teams are equipped with submachine guns and rifles. Commuter and Amtrak trains entering and exiting Penn Station will be scoured by bomb-sniffing dogs as uniformed police officers will be attached to buses carrying delegates. All employees of buildings surrounding Madison Square Garden must undergo thorough screening and background checks.

Timing

The decision to hold the convention at such a late date sparked a minor controversy in the state of Illinois. Since the incumbent would accept his nomination on the last day of the convention — a mere sixty-one days before the November 2 general election — Bush would miss the certification deadline to have his name listed on the state's ballot. Illinois statutes require certification of the nomination acceptance sixty-seven days before the election. [1] To remedy the problem, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed a bill passed by the Democrat-controlled Illinois General Assembly allowing Bush's name to appear on the ballot. [2]

Protests

Main article: 2004 Republican National Convention protest activity

There are hundreds of groups organizing protests against the Republican National Convention, including United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of more than 800 anti-war and social justice groups, and International ANSWER.

Speakers

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Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, a Democrat, welcomed delegates to New York City as he addressed the convention.

Early in the summer leading up to the 2004 Republican National Convention, Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie announced the first slate of convention speakers. He added, "It is an honor to announce the addition of these outstanding Americans to the 2004 Republican National Convention program. For the past three and a half years, President Bush has led with strength and compassion and these speakers reflect that." Chief Executive Officer of the Convention Bill Harris commented, "These speakers have seen President Bush's strong, steady leadership and each will attest to his character from a unique perspective. Their vast experience and various points of view are a testament to the depth and breadth of the support for the Republican ticket in 2004."

Zell Miller

Considered to be one of the most interesting choices for speakers at the convention is a keynote address by Zell Miller, a United States Senator who is a Democrat with conservative leanings. In a Wall Street Journal editorial Miller cited that the reason for his defection was that, "I barely recognize my party anymore." He continued, "Today, it's the Democratic Party that has mastered the art of division and diversion. To run for president as a Democrat these days you have to go from interest group to interest group, cap in hand, asking for the support of liberal kingmakers." He finished by saying, "I still believe in hope and opportunity and, when it comes right down to it, Mr. Bush is the man who represents hope and opportunity."

It should be pointed out that Zell Miller delivered a keynote address on behalf of Bill Clinton in 1992 at Madison Square Garden.

Nancy Reagan

Noticeably absent from the slate of speakers is one of the most respected Republican elders and wife of the late President Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan. In early August 2004, the New York Daily News reported that Reagan vehemently declined several invitations to speak at the convention and voiced her opposition to the use of quotes and images of her late husband, who died earlier in the year, for any bid to reelect the incumbent. The newspaper reported that she was disgusted by revelations that the Republican National Committee had produced, during the week of the presidential funeral, advertisements implying President Reagan endorsed Bush for a second term. The Bush campaign and party leaders defended themselves, claiming that they did not seek to exploit President Reagan's memory.

Despite the speculation, Nancy Reagan's spokesperson has confirmed that she fully supports President Bush for the 2004 general election. In addition, her stepson, Michael Reagan, will speak at the convention.

Full Schedule

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Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani reminded delegates of President Bush's leadership during the September 11, 2001 attacks saying, "It was here in 2001 in lower Manhattan that President George W. Bush stood amid the fallen towers of the World Trade Center and said to the barbaric terrorists who attacked us, They will hear from us. They have heard from us!"

=Chairmen

Monday, August 30

Principal Speakers

Quotes

  • "We should remember, it wasn't so long ago that confidence in New York was in short supply. When I took the oath of office nearly three years ago, we were a city in mourning a city that had, in a few dreadful hours, lost almost 3,000 of our own husbands, wives, sons, and daughters from every part of the nation, and every corner of the globe. There were those who doubted then whether this city could hold onto the gains made during the 90s under Mayor Giuliani. A lot of people were wondering what the future held for New York City, or whether we even had a future. But neither America nor President Bush ever stopped believing in us. Nearly two years ago, with the city's fate still a question mark in many minds, our President decided that this Convention would come to New York. This was a show of faith that required courage and vision one that all New Yorkers will not forget. And today it fills me with enormous pride and gratitude to tell everyone that New York City is back!" —Michael Bloomberg
  • "All of us, despite the differences that enliven our politics, are united in the one big idea that freedom is our birthright and its defense is always our first responsibility. All other responsibilities come second. We must not lose sight of that as we debate who among us should bear the greatest responsibility for keeping us safe and free. We must, whatever our disagreements, stick together in this great challenge of our time. My friends in the Democratic Party and I'm fortunate to call many of them my friends assure us they share the conviction that winning the war against terrorism is our government's most important obligation. I don't doubt their sincerity. They emphasize that military action alone won't protect us, that this war has many fronts: in courts, financial institutions, in the shadowy world of intelligence, and in diplomacy. They stress that America needs the help of her friends to combat an evil that threatens us all, that our alliances are as important to victory as are our armies. We agree." —John McCain
  • "We are Americans first, Americans last, Americans always. Let us argue our differences. But remember we are not enemies, but comrades in a war against a real enemy, and take courage from the knowledge that our military superiority is matched only by the superiority of our ideals, and our unconquerable love for them. Our adversaries are weaker than us in arms and men, but weaker still in causes. They fight to express a hatred for all that is good in humanity. We fight for love of freedom and justice, a love that is invincible. Keep that faith. Keep your courage. Stick together. Stay strong. Do not yield. Do not flinch. Stand up. Stand up with our President and fight. We're Americans. We're Americans, and we'll never surrender." —John McCain
  • "From the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, to President George W. Bush our party's great contribution is to expand freedom in our own land and all over the world. And our party is at its best when it makes certain that we have a powerful national defense in a still very dangerous world. I don't believe we're right about everything and Democrats are wrong about everything. Neither party has a monopoly on virtue. But I do believe that there are times in our history when our ideas are more necessary and important for what we are facing." —Rudy Giuliani

Tuesday, August 31

Principal Speakers

Wednesday, September 1

Principal Speakers

Thursday, September 2

Principal Speakers

Other Speakers

The following speakers have been announced to appear at the convention without specific mention of a date.

See also

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