Clinton speaks to 40,000
 Photo/Lisa
C. Schreiber
By Henry Lange
News-Dispatch staff writer
President Clinton addressed a crowd of 40,000 people at Washington
Park when he spoke there on Wednesday, August 28, 1996. Michigan City was Clinton's
last stop on his train tour of the Midwest en route to the Democratic National
Convention in Chicago.
It is said that history repeats itself, but Michigan City's
presidential visit Wednesday evening was 97 years coming.
It was Oct. 17, 1899, when President William McKinley, in his
third year in office, spoke for three minutes from the rear of a train at the
Michigan Central rail crossing on North Franklin Street.
Wednesday, President Clinton arrived in Michigan City in much
the same manner, and while McKinley drew 10,000 people, Clinton spoke to a crowd
estimated at 40,000.
It was the modern version of the tried-and-true whistle-stop
tour. Clinton began the trip in Huntington, W. Va., and concluded in Michigan
City, the last rail stop before he received the accolades of the delegates who
would renominate him that night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Hundreds of hours of cleaning, sprucing and planting preceded
the historic visit to this community of 35,000 people on the southern shore
of Lake Michigan. Business marquees from one end of the city to the other boasted
signs welcoming the president, even though Clinton would not see Michigan City
beyond the North Side railroad crossing, Washington Park and a brief glimpse
of Michigan Boulevard.
It all culminated about 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, when
the 21st Century Express, horns blaring, came from the east, crossed the ancient
turning bridge over Trail Creek and came to a stop not far from the place where
McKinley spoke 97 years before.
Citizens, the party faithful and the curious waited patiently
in heat and humidity for the presidential entourage to arrive.
With American flags flying from three huge Genesis 1 Amtrak
passenger locomotives, the Express crossed Franklin Street with a vintage rail
car at its end carrying the president of the United States.
Minutes passed as members of the U.S. Secret Service jockeyed
two Cadillac limousines into position. The all-black cars bore the presidential
seal, and all was in readiness for the president to leave the train.
With a wave to several hundred people gathered at a restaurant
immediately across the street, Clinton stepped down from the observation platform.
The Michigan City High School Wolfpack marching band played and then marched
off to Washington Park.
The entire 21st Century Express crew had assembled alongside
the car: waiters, conductors, chefs, all lined up for group pictures. And then
the president waded in, shaking hands with the train crew, spending some time
talking with the chef, who wore a huge white hat.
It was time to go to the park. Clinton boarded one of the limousines,
and a motorcade made the short drive north over the Franklin Street bridge,
lined by MCHS Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets.
Joining the president for the ride on the final leg of his
train trip, as well as in the limousine, was Mayor Sheila Bergerson Brillson,
who enjoyed a few moments of conversation with Clinton. He joked about wanting
to join the party in progress at nearby Matey's Restaurant, not far from his
rail car. The mayor responded that if he did so, a lot of people in the park
would be disappointed.
Disappointed they were not. Spectators gave the president a
roar of applause as the motorcade drove in and "Hail to the Chief"
played from loudspeakers.
The limousines disappeared for a moment behind the flag-covered
bandstand, and people craned their necks to see the president, who was accompanied
by the mayor, U.S. Rep. Tim Roemer, Lt. Gov. Frank O'Bannon and Gov. Evan Bayh.
Finally, the group stepped onto the platform, waving to the throng.
"I'm so proud," Bergerson Brillson told the crowd
during her short speech prior to Clinton's talk. "When the White House
called to tell me they wanted to come to Michigan City, I told them we'd give
a warm Michigan City welcome, and you've done us proud."
Clinton responded that he had seen big crowds in Michigan,
but none was larger than that in Michigan City.
The president also talked about jobs, health care and the environment,
receiving extra applause from the young children and special guests on the city's
old bandstand.
While William McKinley's three-minute greeting to the city's
youth and its labor force 97 years earlier had reached the crowd within only
10 feet of his train, Clinton's remarks boomed across Washington Park. The mostly
partisan crowd responded by repeatedly yelling, "Four more years."
It was a joyful crowd despite the heat and the wait and the
vigilant eyes of the Secret Service. The very old and the very young gathered
in a blend of the party faithful, citizens paying respect to their president,
and the curious.
Some grumbled a little about the long wait, but most people
generally enjoyed their experience in the park. Many hoped to get a handshake
from the president, and some did.
After the speech, Clinton, Bayh and O'Bannon all circled the
nearby crowd, with the president climbing to the platform of the bandstand to
visit with the children and shake hands with the guests there.
The president seemed to enjoy his visit in Michigan City, prolonging
his stay with still more hand shakes. As the unmistakable dark-suited Secret
Service agents prepared his car, the president continued to press the flesh
all around the perimeter of the bandstand.
The crowd finally surged across a roped-off press pool area
and strained at the ropes hoping that Clinton would come over one more time.
"Mr. President, Mr. President," they shouted, pointing their camcorders
and cameras in the direction of the limousines.
Clinton finally boarded his limousine, and the cars began to
pull away. Then, while climbing a small rise heading toward the exit, the cars
stopped. Clinton, in his shirtsleeves, got out of the car and gave the thrill
of a lifetime to the Wolfpack band, shaking one hand after another.
Asked if they got a handshake, several of the uniformed band
members held up their hands and shouted.
Shortly after 7 p.m., the big cars rolled out of the park with
the national press pool following in vans. Clinton's limousine, surrounded by
police vehicles, sped down Michigan Boulevard to Michigan City Municipal Airport,
where the president boarded a helicopter and headed for Chicago and the convention.
Beth Vaughn, who had written the president about chronic fatigue
syndrome, and gained a front row seat to get a handshake from Clinton, was home
in time to see Clinton on television in Chicago.
"I recognized the same Secret Service men who talked to
me," she said Wednesday night.
The crowd, which had to wait until the president left the area,
surged over the Franklin Street bridge; the young people pushing strollers,
the old people tired but happy for the experience. For many, it was the experience
of a lifetime.
More than a few residents said they were glad they had not
missed Clinton's visit, because it might be another 97 years before a president
of the United States stops in Michigan City again.
Photo/Jennifer Flowers
Inside:
The News-Dispatch offers this special edition to commemorate
a historic event for Michigan City: A visit from Bill Clinton, the President
of the United States.
Clinton spoke on Wednesday, August 28, 1996 at Washington Park.
Michigan City was Clinton's last stop on his whistle stop train tour of the
Midwest as he made his way to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
In this section you will find photographs, articles and perspectives
on this momentous event and the impact it had on the Michigan City, LaPorte
County and Indiana communities.
Every aspect of the visit is covered, from security preparations
to the train trip, to the visit itself.
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