1968 Mock Political Debate scrapbook

Collection — Box: Communal Collections 49, Placement: 15

Identifier: MSP 273

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of one scrapbook documenting the Exponent coverage of Mock P, a student group that reproduces the national political convention and atmosphere every four years. The newspaper coverage included in the scrapbook details everything pertaining to the 1968 Mock Political Convention. The collection consists of one scrapbook in fragile conditions with some loose clippings. The collection may be useful for researchers interested in student activities in the 1960s. Types of material included: scrapbook, newspaper clippings.

Dates

Creation: 1967- 1968

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Access Information

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Some material in this collection are in the public domain, while other material copyrights are held by Purdue University. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Historical Information

Mock P was a Purdue student initiative to reproduce the national political convention and atmosphere every four years on Purdue’s campus. The idea to reproduce the national political atmosphere was first expressed in 1935, but did not come to fruition due to lack of enough campus support. In the Fall semester of 1951, Dr. Paul Lull of the Purdue Speech Department together with two graduate students, reignited the idea and Mock P was born on Purdue’s campus. Purdue’s Mock P attracted national attention via television broadcasting. For the 1968 Mock Political Debate, Mock P consisted of ten committees: Public Relations, State Delegations, Platform, Keynote, Rallies and Parades, Credentials, Convention, Rules, Historical, and Officer Manager. Don Salo, Class of 1968, was elected as the National Chairman. The Purduvian Convention for the 1968 Mock P took place April 25-27, 1968. Keynote was Senator Edmund S. Muskie, first popularly elected Democratic senator in Maine history. In 1964, Thruston B. Morton, Republican Congressman representing Kentucky in the House of Representatives was given the keynote honor. The Purduvian Party included various national and global items in their political platform, expressing stance on Foreign Aid, United Nations, Western Allies, the Vietnam War, etc. Domestically, the party declared war on Rural Poverty, took stance on education, urban renewal, civil rights, and law enforcement.