It’s convention month and I had the pleasure of chatting this week with a person who a large newspaper once called the “grande dame” of Democratic politics in New Jersey. She happens to be a Democrat; but rest assured that is not why we spoke to her. She has been to 11 party nominating conventions and if anyone knows how the system works, it’s June Fischer.
Convention delegates interact with household names before they reach the national spotlight. Fischer recalled how she once gave Geraldine Ferraro a ride home, chewed out Jesse Jackson Jr., had coffee with Gov. Ann Richards when both were denied convention entrance, and was decidedly unimpressed by a “horrible” speech given by a young Bill Clinton. She also recalled being enthralled by an unknown Barack Obama in 2004 when he “glided around the stage like a ballerina.” Talk about name dropping!
Here’re some highlights from our chat:
History Dr: Were you always interested in politics?
Fischer: Since I was 15, I was a political junkie of the worst order, and a political science major before it was fashionable. I’d walk in the door and turn on CSPAN. I’m now 84 years old and I served as a delegate at every Democratic convention from 1972 to 2012. I’m just a girl who can’t say no when it comes to politics.
I was in awe in the beginning, in 1972, my first convention. Here I was, just a Jewish girl from Newark, in the presence of the bigwigs.
What’s most memorable about your service?
Meeting and staying friends with then-Senator Joe Biden. In 1986, I ran for Congress in the New Jersey Seventh District. It was a hopeless race against a well-funded incumbent. I had only $40,000. Joe came and did a fundraiser for me. I knew I couldn’t win but it meant a lot. The Vice President still says that I am one of his favorite people from New Jersey. Biden even told the press later, “if I had ten June Fischers supporting me, I would have been President.”
Another time, New Jersey Democrats needed a speaker. Some unknown named Bill Clinton came and delivered an absolutely terrible speech, the most horrible speech ever. We wanted to give him the hook. Fast forward to December of 2000, during the Florida recount fight. I was invited to the White House which was liberal with invitations then. I approached Bill and said, ‘Mr. President, I never adequately thanked you. In 1988 you were my speaker.’ He quipped, ‘Wasn’t I horrible?’ I said, ‘Mr. President, that’s an understatement.’
One last thing, also from 1988. I was for Biden but Joe was elbowed out by Dukakis. When I called the Dukakis team to offer my vote, it was picked up in the Boston Globe. I noted that Dukakis was “an acquired taste,” signaling my reluctance. When I met Dukakis years later, he smiled and said “I’m glad I’m an acquired taste.” The story is reported in a book by Globe reporter Tim Oliphant.
What about delegates and super-delegates for the Democrats?
“Committed” delegates are elected in the primaries to vote for a specific convention candidate. That would be someone like me. “Super”delegates are free agents. They are seated automatically by virtue of their position as a member of Congress, a governor or a mayor of a large city. A committed delegate attends by being elected, super delegates go by virtue of position. New Jersey will send 142 total delegates to Philadelphia next week, including 16 super delegates. There aren’t that many actually–it’s magnified because of the term “super.”
Did you ever change your affiliation?
In 1988. I was at first enthusiastic for Gary Hart. I really liked his policy positions. But when he challenged the press to follow him around, I found that distasteful. We saw how that episode turned out.
Do delegates have specific duties?
Yes, when you’re on a committee. There are rules committees, platform committees and resolutions committees, all with formal meetings. If you’re not, you have to respond to votes and be there at night. Lot of meetings during the day. We debate resolutions, which planks go in the platforms. Caucus meetings set agendas for the evening. Many hours of work, but it was never tedium for me. I was so enthralled to be there.
What’s the best part?
The lasting friendships I’ve made. After an acceptance speech, it’s fun to get up on chairs with the falling balloons and confetti. It’s very festive. I propped up someone very short on my chair once. You even forget you’re old. Everything is glorious. You’ve just nominated a candidate, maybe a future president.
It’s always fun announcing the count too. We said: Home of Bruce Springsteen. Home of Thomas Edison. Prescription drug capital of the nation. It’s a lighter moment, very impromptu.
Who pays for a delegate’s travel and rooming?
Delegates have to pay their own way. But there are scholarships as supplements. Nobody is ever denied for financial reasons in NJ; the DNC helps come up with the money.
What trends and changes have you noticed?
It’s become personally competitive since the early 80s. I just don’t sense the same sense of friendship and warmth anymore. You don’t talk to each other as much, even within the party. It seems to me that the Republicans I was friend with of 30 years ago would not fit with the party now; they wouldn’t survive today. I had a friend on the other side, also a committee chair. We were good friends. Now we wouldn’t be allowed to talk to each other.
Who did you support this year?
Hillary, where else am I going? But I still wish Joe Biden would jump in. I called him to tell him that. I have such chutzpah at times.
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