Elizabeth Edwards Visits Bloggers at the NHIOP
November 21, 2007
On a crisp November morning, bloggers from across the region convened at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics for a conversation with Elizabeth Edwards. As a long time blogger and the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful Senator John Edwards, she had a lot to say to the group of 30 or so bloggers that morning. Elizabeth casually walked into the room, saying hello to the bloggers she was familiar with, knowing most of them by name. The way she came into the room, without any cameras or staffers following her, surprised the group, and she instantly received the applause she deserves.
Before she sat down, a few young campaign staffers hung up a sea-foam green sign behind her seat with cursive “New Hampshire ‘Hearts’ Elizabeth” — a perfect reflection of the feelings of her audience that morning.
Elizabeth was very down-to-earth, and very relatable, drinking her Diet Coke and making sure all the bloggers were ready and their equipment was set up correctly. She began the meeting by saying a little bit about technology, and the large impact it has on society, especially the upcoming presidential race. Elizabeth mentioned how she has been using the internet ever since it’s first appearance, and was a veteran to the blogging community. I had never realized how much blogs impacted the political community, so this was interesting for me to hear. She even talked about how she likes to post on the lesser known blogs, to show her appreciation for their support.
After a short speech about blogging, she opened it up to questions. Many of the questions pertained to the blogosphere, but others talked about her husband’s campaign. Elizabeth talked about her love for blogs, as it allowed anyone and everyone to have a voice about the presidential race. She also discussed blogs that focused on education, which lead to a chat about home schooling her youngest children, Jack and Emma Claire. The examples she gave of their home schooling regimen shed light on her hands-on approach to educating her children, and the strong emphasis on parenting from both her and Senator Edwards.
At the close of the event, Elizabeth graciously thanked everyone for coming and stayed around for additional questions, photos, and anything else the blogging community needed. She was a blogger’s dream, catering to each of our questions, and she likely returned home to her own computer to respond to each of them.
Other Coverage: Huffington Post | Front Row Seat (Blog) | YouTube (Poetry Reading
Always Be Nearby, Never Be in the Way
August 27, 2007
The Saint Anselm campus was seemingly deserted as I left my dorm at 6:15 Sunday morning to meet Bob Schieffer and his producer at their hotel to bring them back to campus for the interview with Senator John Edwards and his wife Elizabeth. I served as the runner for the crew for the day, a job that requires one always to be close at hand for an assignment, but never in the way of the action.
And such was the case: from locating a variety of local and national newspapers before 7 a.m to tracking down a few bottles of Diet Coke minutes before the Edwards campaign caravan arrived on campus, I was afforded a front row seat to the action, and a truly unique understanding of what goes into producing the interview that you may have seen on your television Sunday morning.
I joined the crew outside Alumni Hall during the 7 a.m. hour to pre-tape the introduction and closing commentary to the program. I stood alongside the crew behind the camera as Bob Schieffer read his narration, introducing the broadcast from “historic Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.” During the 8 a.m. hour, I was called upon to sit in for a camera check, and was placed in the seat that Senator Edwards would occupy shortly thereafter. By 9 a.m. we welcomed Senator Edwards and Elizabeth Edwards, and were making final preparations for the live broadcast. Shortly after 10:30 a.m. I walked from the site of the live interview and into Father Jonathan’s office where campaign and college staff had gathered around a TV to watch the interview being seen around the country.
In a slightly surreal atmosphere, we watched the interview as it occurred only 20 feet away. Thirty minutes passed quickly, and the show came to a close. Ushering the senator and his wife outside with other staff, we prepared for our final challenge: getting the Edwards motorcade back to Saint Anselm Drive against the flow of traffic entering the campus for move-in day. With a little luck, and a suggestion that the Edwards van drive onto the lawn, we were able to get them back to their campaign bus, and on their way to the next campaign event to be held minutes later in Manchester.
And in less than an hour the cameras were gone, the cables were coiled back into the satellite truck, and the crew was on their way to the airport. As they departed we exchanged handshakes, business cards, and the expectation that we would all see each other again soon.
Photos by Cory True ‘09
A Job Well Done
August 26, 2007
Thanks to all the students and staff for an early start on this particular Sunday morning, and yet another example of Benedictine hospitality being extended to the media and presidential candidates. Traffic at the main entrance of the college looked a bit like rush hour congestion on an interstate as returning students jostled for momentum in between the Edwards campaign bus and local community members headed to Mass in the Abbey Church.
Father Jonathan’s office was converted to the CBS green room, and students were successful in rounding up a few bottles of Diet Coke for Senator Edwards on a campus that is otherwise fully committed to Pepsi products. The morning’s most memorable moment came when a parent walked into the admission office where Bob Schieffer was working at the reception desk before the broadcast and tried to hand over a check for tuition. Schieffer directed the parent to the business office on the second floor of Alumni Hall, and later commented that he hoped he’d sent that parent in the right direction.
The cables, cameras, and the lights were carefully packed up before CBS producers and Bob Schieffer headed back to Washington. I had not yet made it home when a CBS producer in Washington called to tell me that they were thrilled with Saint Anselm College as a venue for political coverage from New Hampshire, and that she’ll definitely be looking to hire our students for their 2008 election coverage. Who could blame them?
Photos by Alex Witkowicz ‘08
An “Only at Saint Anselm College” Moment…
August 25, 2007
School hasn’t even begun yet, but the on campus activity has already picked up, both with students, and Presidential aspirants.
Sunday, CBS News will broadcast a live interview from Alumni Hall with Senator John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth. Although the interview will take place while a majority of the student population of Saint A’s is just returning to campus and starting to move into their residence for the academic year, a number of students have arrived early to assist with the broadcast - myself included.
After speaking with CBS News producers in Washington on Friday, I met with Saint Anselm staff, and other students to set our schedules for the weekend. Although the CBS crew would be setting up on Saturday, students were not scheduled to report for duties until Sunday morning. With this plan, I went about my day, greeting new students during a round-robin orientation in the morning, and helping my roommate move in early in the afternoon.
And then my cell phone rang.
Bob Schieffer and his producer were on the road in Manchester, but had become lost in Manchester with some confusing directions provided by their hotel to get to the college. After speaking on the phone with Mr. Schieffer’s producer, I was able to figure out where they were, and drive to their location. Upon locating their car, and escorting them onto the Saint Anselm College campus, we met briefly with the on-site technical crew before I returned them to their hotel for a busy afternoon of preparations.
I soon arrived back on campus, and reported to the Alumni Hall office where the interview would be set. The crew had placed their cameras, lights and audio equipment but were lacking a few pieces of furniture needed to “fill out” the shot. With a shopping list in hand of: academic books, a lamp, a few end tables and flowers, I set out to do my best. My first stop was none other than the Presidents office where not only did I find our College President working, but also found everything on my list! With the assistance of the crew, Father Jonathan and I relocated several items from his office to the interview set which will be seen in the background during the broadcast on Sunday morning.
…And so goes just another day in the amazing experience that is the Presidential Primary season; only at Saint Anselm college…
Peace Colloquium in the News
July 9, 2007
The Union Leader has published two articles about the college’s Colloquium on Peace, Reconciliation, Social Justice, and Global Citizenship. The colloquium, which runs July 1-13, is a two-week, intensive, interdisciplinary, residential program in peace-making, non-violence, and global citizenship, rooted in the teachings of social justice. The colloquium is being held at Saint Anselm College with students participating from both Saint Anselm College and St. Mary’s University College in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
In a June 30 article titled, “Give Peace a Chance,” the Union Leader reported:
“As Catholic colleges, both St. Mary’s and Saint Anselm, have a particular interest in promoting peace, nonviolence, reconciliation, and greater awareness of social justice,” said [Saint Anselm Professor Elaine Rizzo].
At the colloquium, students will meet with a survivor of the Rwandan genocide, learn more about Muslim perspectives on pacifism from an imam, and hear about the Irish peace process from some of the people who made it happen.
Outside of the classroom, they are planning to tour the New Hampshire Supreme Court, the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and attend a town meeting in Goffstown.
The four-part program begins with a unit on diversity, multiculturalism, and democracy. Saint Anselm Professor Dale Kuehne will kick it off with a lecture on “Racism: America’s Original Sin: Why Can’t We All Get Along?” In successive units, students will be immersed in the theologies and philosophies of violence and nonviolence, global citizenship, women as peacemakers, and strategies and techniques for conflict resolution.
BBC News Interviews Prof. Dean Spiliotes and Matt St. John ‘09
June 11, 2007
During last week’s CNN debates, nearly 600 media descended upon Saint Anselm College, including a global contingent of reporters from Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, among others.
Prof. Dean Spiliotes, director of research at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics and Matt St. John ‘09 were both quoted in a BBC News story over the weekend. A photograph of St. John was included with the story. You can read an excerpt below and view the full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6728595.stm.
Want to meet the next president of the United States? Move to New Hampshire and you stand a good chance.
In a country of some 300 million people, the state’s 1.3 million residents are perhaps the most heavily-canvassed and targeted voters of any in the nation, bar Iowa.
Last week each party’s candidates flocked to New Hampshire for the latest televised debates, as they seek the all-important nomination to run for president in 2008.
It’s not for lack of attention on the part of the candidates, however.
Rather, such is the buzz surrounding some of the frontrunners that instead of meeting them at a cosy coffee morning, people have found themselves in a crowd of hundreds or even thousands.
Senators Clinton and Obama have attracted large crowds to events
Dean Spiliotes, director of research at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, says this has been particularly true of some events held by Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
“Early on some of Obama’s advisors suggested in the media they would do something a bit differently from the traditional New Hampshire model,” he says.
“They are still doing some of these larger events - but also the smaller ones. But it’s difficult. Part of it is that they are popular candidates.”
He warns it is important not to underestimate the power of retail, or face-to-face, politicking - especially in a state where the residents are very switched-on.
“Voters meet the candidates directly and in general, what we have found is that voters seek out candidates that they already have an affinity for,” he says.
“Then they get more excited and so bring in their friends and their families and it has a multiplying effect. It helps the candidates mobilize networks of supporters.”
Both the Clinton and Obama campaign teams have said they intend to organize more small-scale events.
That should come as a relief to 19-year-old Matt St. John, who moved to New Hampshire to study precisely because he wanted to meet the political movers and shakers.
“I realized it was a different world,” he says. “I’ve seen every presidential candidate at least once or twice, I’ve seen Hillary Clinton, Karl Rove, President and Laura Bush.”
“There are 18 candidates. If I go to 18 events and ask the same questions of them all, I will be able to ask the next president of the United States something that is important to me.”
“It’s an amazing opportunity to have as a 19-year-old.”
For the full story, visit http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6728595.stm.
