2020 Silver Elephant Dinner
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SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 53rd ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT PRE-RECEPTION SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 53rd ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT GUEST SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 53rd ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT STAFF SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 53rd ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT PRESS SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PARTY THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 53RD ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT DINNER • 2020 FTS-SC-RepParty-2020-SilverElephantProgram.indd 1 9/8/20 9:50 AM never WELCOME CHAIRMAN DREW MCKISSICK Welcome to the 2020 Silver Elephant Gala! For 53 years, South Carolina Republicans have gathered together each year to forget... celebrate our party’s conservative principles, as well as the donors and activists who help promote those principles in our government. While our Party has enjoyed increasing success in the years since our Elephant Club was formed, we always have to remember that no victories are ever perma- nent. They are dependent on our continuing to be faithful to do the fundamen- tals: communicating a clear conservative message that is relevant to voters, identifying and organizing fellow Republicans, and raising the money to make it all possible. As we gather this evening on the anniversary of the tragic terrorists attacks on our homeland in 2001, we’re reminded about what’s at stake in our elections this year - the protection of our families, our homes, our property, our borders and our fundamental values. This year’s election offers us an incredible opportunity to continue to expand our Party. Since the election of President Trump, our Party has seen more donors and activists recruited in unbelievable and unexpected numbers - and we have made tremendous inroads in areas where we previously had little support. Your commitment will make the continued growth and expansion of our Party a reality! Let me offer a personal “thank you” to all of our county party officers, volunteers and activists, elected officials, state REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 party staff and the donors who help finance our efforts. Thank you for the generous donations of your time and your treasure to our cause. You make our success possible and this evening is dedicated to you! “I want you all to know that America today, America today is on bended knee, in Thank you for the incredible opportunity of serving as your State Chairman. prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, God Bless! for the families who mourn. The nation stands with the good people of New York City and New Jersey and Connecticut as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens... DREW MCKISSICK Chairman, South Carolina Republican Party I can hear you! I can hear you! The rest of the world hears you! And the people -- and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!” President George W. Bush September 14, 2001 at Ground Zero, New York, New York FTS-SC-RepParty-2020-SilverElephantProgram.indd 2-3 9/8/20 9:50 AM THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 53RD ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT DINNER • 2020 53RD ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT DINNER • 2020 PROGRAM OUR LEGACY 53RD ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT DINNER SCGOP CHAIRMEN 2017 – present ....................................... Drew MCKISSICK September 11, 2020 2013 – 2017 .................................................... Matt MOORE COLUMBIA METROPOLITAN CONVENTION CENTER • COLUMBIA, SC 2011 – 2013 .............................................. Chad CONNELLY WELCOME 2009 – 2011 ......................................................Karen FLOYD INVOCATION 2002 – 2009 .............................................. Katon DAWSON PRESENTATION OF COLORS 1993 – 2002 .......................................... Henry MCMASTER NATIONAL ANTHEM 1990 – 1993 ..................................................... Barry WYNN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 1987 – 1989 .................................................. Van D. HIPP, Jr. REPUBLICAN CREED 1980 – 1986 ................................... Dr. George G. GRAHAM DINNER 1976 – 1980 ............................................. Daniel I. ROSS, Jr. REMARKS 1974 – 1976 ............................................. Jesse L. COOKSEY — U.S. SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM 1971 – 1974 ........................................ C. Kenneth POWELL — CHAIRMAN DREW MCKISSICK 1968 – 1971 ....................................... Raymond A. HARRIS KEYNOTE ADDRESS 1965 – 1968 ............................................. Harry S. DENT, Sr. — SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS 1963 – 1965 ............................................ J. Drake EDENS, Jr. BENEDICTION 1961 – 1963 ........................................ Robert F. CHAPMAN REPUBLICAN CREED 1958 – 1961 ................................................... Greg SHOREY I DO NOT CHOOSE TO BE A COMMON MAN. It is my right to be uncommon. If I can seek opportunity, not security, I want to take the calculated risk to dream and build, to fail and to succeed. I REFUSE TO BARTER INCENTIVE 1938 – 1952 ............................................... J. Bates GERALD FOR DOLE. I prefer the challenges of life to guaranteed security, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I WILL 1932 – 1936 ............................................. D.A. GARDNER c. NOT TRADE FREEDOM FOR BENEFICENCE, nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master, SAVE MY GOD. IT IS MY HERITAGE TO STAND ERECT, PROUD AND UNAFRAID. 1925 – 1931 ................................. “Tie-Less” Joe TOLBERT c. To think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations; to face the whole world boldly and say, I AM A FREE AMERICAN. 4 5 FTS-SC-RepParty-2020-SilverElephantProgram.indd 4-5 9/8/20 9:50 AM THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 53RD ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT DINNER • 2020 53RD ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT DINNER • 2020 SINCE 1980, ALMOST EVERY REPUBLICAN The headlines say it all. CAROLINA! SOUTH THROUGH RUNS HOUSE WHITE THE TO ROAD THE In 1980, South Carolina propelled NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT HAS WON THE Ronald Reagan to the White House. SOUTH CAROLINA REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL A year earlier, then-SCGOP Chairman Dan Ross and Lee Atwater orhestrated PREFERENCE PRIMARY. moving up the South Carolina primary to offset the influence of the South Carolina primaries have unique characteristics and demographics which are Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire more reflective of the national Republican electorate at large, and therefore a much primary in selecting the party’s stronger indicator than any of the other earlier primaries or caucuses. nominee. We take our primaries very seriously—We Pick Presidents! Their work gave South Carolinians a front row seat to American history. Following relatively tame primaries in 1988, 1992, and 1996, the Palmetto State’s 2000 primary was one for the ages. Texas Governor George W. Bush lost in New Hampshire to Senator John McCain, setting up a bruising few weeks with non-stop, 24 hour media attention on the Palmetto State. A whopping 573,101 South Carolina Republicans voted in our presidential primary. Governor Bush won 53% of the vote and cemented his claim on the GOP nomination. Headed into 2008, Senator McCain again appeared the underdog in South Carolina. But his campaign kicked into gear prior to the Palmetto State primary and his comeback win provided a shot of momentum in the Florida primary. In 2012, a new record of 603,770 voters turned out in horrible weather to deliver victory to former Speaker Newt Gingrich, breaking South Carolina’s “nominee streak.” Speaker Gingrich’s surprising victory was sparked by two dramatic South Carolina presidential debates in the week before the primary. In 2016, New York real estate mogul Donald Trump crushed the largest field in South Carolina presidential primary history, winning all but two counties and validating his campaign for president in the eyes of political watchers. The 2016 primary set another new record for presidential primary turnout - 740,881. Thanks to the leadership of our Republican National Committee members, South Carolina’s “First in the South” Republican primary is secure for years to come! THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE HOUSE WHITE THE TO ROAD THE CAROLINA! SOUTH THROUGH RUNS 6 7 FTS-SC-RepParty-2020-SilverElephantProgram.indd 6-7 9/8/20 9:50 AM THE ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE 53RD ANNUAL SILVER ELEPHANT DINNER • 2020 KEYNOTE: SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS served as the White House press secretary from 2017-2019; she was the third woman and first mother to ever hold the position. The daughter of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Sanders has worked in leadership roles for U.S senators, governors, and presidential campaigns. Sarah has been recognized in TIME Magazine’s “40 under 40” as one of the best political operatives of her generation. She is a Fox News contributor, advises major companies, and serves on the Fulbright board as an appointee of President Donald J. Trump. Sarah lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband Bryan, their children Scarlett, Huck, and George, and their golden retriever Traveler. A trusted confidante of President Trump, Sanders advised him on everything from press and communications strategy to personnel and policy. She was at the President’s side for two and a half years, battling with the media, working with lawmakers and CEOs, and accompanying the President on every international trip, including dozens of meetings with foreign leaders—all while unfailingly exhibiting grace under pressure. Upon her departure