Commission JUN 1 on Presidential * Debates * iszs 1 street NW. suite 400. Washington,nc 20006 • (202) 429-2034

May 27, 1987

Thomas K. Hearn, Jr. President Wake Forest University 7226 Reynolda Station Winston-Salem, NC 27109

Dear President Hearn,

Thank you for your letter_ of May 18 regarding the 1988 presidential debates. We are very grateful for Wake Forest's interest in the Commission's agenda.

A formal site selection process will not start for several weeks. When it does, I will be in touch with a specific list of features we will require for the debate sites. In the interim, my thanks for your letter and generous off er of assistance.

Sincerely,

Janet H. Brown Executive Director

cc: Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. Chairman, Republican National Committee

Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Chairman, Democratic National Committee

Co-chainnen John C. Culver Governor Kay Orr Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr. Pamela Harriman Representative Barbara Vucanovich Republican National CommitteeChairman Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Senator Pete Wilson Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Richard Moe Janet H. Brown DemocraticNati onal Committee Chairman David Norcross Executive Director WAKE FOREST

JUL 2 E11f/

Thomas K. Hearn, Jr. President M E M 0 R A N D U M

DATE: July 28, 1987

TO: Committee on the Presidential Debate ~

FROM: Sandra C. Connor

On Wednesday, July 22, Mike Smith and I visited with Janet Brown, Executive Director of the Commission on Presidential Debates. The purpose of the visit was to find out any information we could related to the selection process and to present our debate video to Ms. Brown.

She is about 35 years old, a longtime activist in the liberal wing of the Republican party (an oxymoron to me, but Mike says that's possible), and a former White House staffer in the Ford administration. She is quite personable and seemed genuinely interested in our application. Before we presented the video, she offered the follow{ng information about what she foresees for the debates.

1) The selection time frame has been extended. She expects to issue guidelines and site specifications by Labor Day, and we will have 90 days to respond with a formal proposal. She and the Commission will then narrow the field to about 12 semifinalists, and Ms. Brown will make site visits in December and January. The four sites should be chosen in early February 1988.

2) The Commission is looking for "second-tier cities" where the debate would be a "big splash." She said they would not choose , Chicago, Los Angeles, or any other real metropolis; and they have agreed not to go to a candidate's home state. That gives us a bit of on edge, thus eliminating Tennessee (Gore), Texas (Bush), and Georgia if Sam Nunn runs.

3) She estimates that any host city should be able to accommodate up to 2000 media people, 400 of those from abroad. This means we must arrange for both hotel accommodations and telephone banks/working areas adjacent to the debate site. I honestly think that number is quite high, but we'll have to take it into consideration in our proposal.

7226 Reynalda Station • Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109 • (919) 761-5211 Committee on the Presidential Debate July 28, 1987 Page two

4) She also estimates that the host site should expect to spend $350,000 to produce the debate. She did not say whether the two parties will offer any funding. She did ask us specifically about the commitment we would have from business and industry, and I have the impression that she sees corporate support as an important source. (I told her that we have excellent relationships with our corporate community; and I~ believe that if we can atract a debate, the city, state, corporation, and foundations will help us.) We must, however, be prepared to address this issue in our proposal. 5) She said that she was discouraging "big sound and light shows." She specifically referred to Kansas City's having spent about $100,000 to try to attract the 1988 Democratic Convention. We told her we had a small sound and light show that cost far less that that, and she was eager to see the video.

After reviewing it, she waid it was "quite effective." I asked if we should mail it to the Commission members, and she said she would present it at a Board meeting.

The video, I believe, was a distinct advantage.

6) Ms. Brown told us to "be creative." she said that she would be misleading us if she said politics would play no role. Obviously, politics will be a factor, and she referred to our endorsement from President Ford specifically, she said it was "no small thing" to get such a letter from him.)

7) Although she did not specifically say it, both Mike and I had the impression that Wake Forest is the only university to have applied. She generally talked about cities having applied.

Also, I met with John Chandler at the Alumni Council meeting and learned that Janet Brown is a Williams alumnus and very good friend. He also knows Richard Moe and will contact him.

I want to propose that our comittee meet again as soon as possible to set our strategy between now and the end of the calendar year, including µreparation of the proposal, further endorsements, and (for vice president Joyner) finding $350,000 worth of commitments.

May I suggest that we meet on either Monday, August 3 or Thursday August 6, at 3:30 or 4 to discuss these issues? If we could plan to meet until 5, I think we can eliminate the need for many more meetings until we are well into writing the proposal. I will call you to confirm a meeting time.

cc: President Hearn Commission on PF OCT 3 0 1987 Presidential *Debates* 1825 I Street NW• Suite 400 ·Washington, DC 20006 • (202) 429-2034

October 26, 1987

Mr. Paul Fulton Three First National Plaza Chicago, IL 60602-4260

Dear Mr. Fulton:

Thank you for your expression of interest. We will certainly give Wake Forest serious consideration. (My alumni partner has already threatened me).

Co-chairmen john C. Culver Governor Kay Orr Frank). Fahrenkopf, Jr. Pamela Harriman Representative Barbara Vucanovich Republican National Committee Chairman Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Senator Pete Wilson Paul G. Kirk, Jr. Richard Moe Janet H. Brown DemocraticNational Committee Chairman David Norcross Executive Director WAKE FOREST

G. WILLIAM JOYNER Jr. Vice President for University Relations

'ID: Thomas K. Heam, Jr.

F.R

There are two calls I would like for you to make. 1' !5~~~ ·

1. USAir/Piedm:>nt Airlines $150,000 Edwin Colodny 703-892-7000 fr'-. 0 Q QO . 2. First Wachovia $50,000 John Medlin 919-770-5000 \O ~'°"~ ..... ~ You should place a telephone call to Mr. Colodny, but you and Bob Baker p•'-~ ~L{;" o/ should go see John Medlin for First Wachovia' s corranitment. You could »-" take John's remarks to him at the same time. In addition, Bob Baker and I will divide the following prospects for calls today and tommorrow. 1. Brendle's, Inc. $25,000 Doug Brendle 2. Mary Reynolds Babcock Fdn. $25,000 Bill Bondurant 3. Flow Motors, Inc. Transportation Vic and Don Flow 4. Integon Corporation $25,000 Jim Ridley 5. Lowe's Stores, Inc. $50,000 Bob Strickland

6. Shelco $25,000 Charlie and E.d Shelton I attach a copy of the benefits each corporate sponsor will receive for commitments of at least $25,000. These benefits should be attractive to the prospects.This is an exciting opportunity for Wake Forest, the community, and the State. I am confident that our volunteer leadership will respond in a generous way.

Enc. cc. Robert T. Baker

7227 Reynolda Station Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109 (919) 761-5265 ake orest site is a contender f r '88 debates liy JU8TIN CATANOSO Wlnt'--&alem •llr'Nu "There are an awful lot of places WINSTON-SALEM- If the stu• that physically have the facilities dents and admini11tration at Wake needed to host a debate. But what's Forest University have their way, really important is that the cornmu• the eyes of the world will focus on nity thinks this is an important item them next fall. on its agenda as well." Here's the plan: The Oemocratic One possible drawback t~ the and Republican presidential nomi• Wake Forest site, Brown said, Is nees meet in Wait Chapel for a the difficulty of accommodating the high-spirited debate while more expected crush of more than 2,000 than 2,000 media types converge on reµortera and cameramen. campus to cover the event. Because Wait Chapel seats only By extension, that coverage about 2,600, the school has proposed translates into international atten• turning its indoor tennis facility into tion to both the 1.1chool and city. a makeshift media hub complete It could all happen if the Commis• with cloBed-circuit viewing of the sion on Prellidential Dehate!l selects debate: Wake Forest as one of four 1:1ite11 for But there i1:1 11n array of other presidential nominees to square off details to consider before deeming a in September and October. site suitable, Brown explained. . The university is in competition Among them: housing, feedin.g with 16 other sites but is the only and transporting debate techui• one in the politically strdtegic south• cians the candidates' campaign east. A decision will be made by the team~ J'eDrMA"*-"*ivea; end of January. 14ld.. mu security for the Cllndidates; health The idea of holding a pretiidential rare, if lll.:t~clccl; and tclccommur11ca- debate cume to Wake Fore1:1t junior tiur1 capabiliti('::I. . Mike Smith in March. Brown declined to discuss Wake At the time, Smith, a politic:; ma• Forest's chances but said the com• jor, was coordinating the visit of mission dues not want the four sites New York Gov. Mario Cuomo as "bunched in one part of the coun• part of the Irving E. Carlyle lecture t y " series. Cuomo was then com1idered r Other contending sites inclu~e a likely Democratic candidate. Houston; Madison, Mis:;.; Louis• "I was just realizing the amount ville, Ky.; Kansas City, Mo.; Chica• of attention and press the university go; Pittsburgh; and Prmceton, N .J · gets jL1Bt from having a political can• The other colleges include North• didate on campus," Smith said last western University in Chicago an~ week. uAn