Campaign Stop

UB hits national news as presidential hopefuls come to Buffalo

By CHRISTINE VIDAL
Reporter Editor

There were balloons, cheerleaders, fireworks and thousands of signs to mark the historic day. No matter what your politics, the rally came off flawlessly.

So what does it take to pull off an event like a presidential campaign stop at UB? According to William J. Regan, director of Conferences and Special Events at UB, some fast action and a little luck.

Notified on Wednesday afternoon of the Republican Party's interest in using the stadium on Sunday, "the biggest challenge was to decide whether we could do it or not," said Regan.

"They wanted to use the old stadium, but the turf was being refurbished, and that contract wasn't completed. We had to be sure UB was protected against any liability. We also had to know the contractors could delay getting back to the stadium to complete their work."

With assurances that a brief delay would not foul up the contractor in charge of refurbishing the stadium, Regan said, "we got the green light from President Greiner and he authorized the event."

The Republican Party was responsible for all event costs and arrangements, including renting the stadium and paying a contingent of university security: 20 Public Safety officers, three plainclothes officers, two lieutenants and six Public Safety aides. Set-up for the rally was provided by Hale-Northeastern, a company specializing in service for trade shows.

The logistics didn't stop there. A press corps befitting a presidential race also had to be accommodated. "AT&T put the squeeze on Nynex to find 40 phone lines on our campus to have available to the working press," Regan said. "They literally had to pull a blueprint and went down and fished up 40 lines from in back of that south berm. They had a small army out there."

There was a small army inside the stadium, too, on the day of the rally. Regan estimated there were at least 7,500 people attending the rally.

There are more people here than are in my hometown," Bob Dole, of Russell, Kansas, told the cheering crowd. But the man of the day was Jack Kemp, the former Hamburg congressman and Buffalo Bills quarterback.

"I'm pleased to be the man who Jack Kemp brought with him today," Dole said.

Football metaphors dominated the day.

"I can't think of a better place to start our campaign than here in New York, in Buffalo, at SUNY at Buffalo and on a football field," said Kemp, who greeted Buffalo Bills players and alumni, many of whom came out to UB to lend their support to their former teammate. "I'm going to be Bob Dole's blocking man for the next four to eight years."

Kemp also recalled his football days, reminiscing about a career that perhaps positioned him for politics.

"Bob Dole forgot to mention my two broken ankles, the broken knee, the broken hand, the broken finger, the broken shoulder and the 11 concussions. There was nothing left to do but run for congress."

He also noted that he learned everything he knows in Buffalo, and that no matter where he lives, Buffalo is his true hometown.

"I want to thank the people of Buffalo for opening a door, and I want to thank Bob Dole for opening a door," Kemp said.

"I want to pledge to all of my old teammates, to all the people of Buffalo....to each and every one of you, Bob Dole believes our potential has not yet been reached....You ain't seen nothing yet."