ED 303 407 AUTHOR TITLE INSTITUTION PUB DATE NOTE AVAILABLE FROM PUB TYPE JOURNAL CIT EDRS PRICE DESCRIPTORS IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT DOCUMENT RESUME SO 019 671 Gore, Deborah, Ed. From Iowa to the White House. Iowa State Historical Dept., Iowa City. Sep 88 31p. State Historical Society of Iowa, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240 ($5.00 per subscription, $25.00 classroom rate). Guides - Classroom Use - Materials (For Learner) (051) -- Collected Works Serials (022) Goldfinch; v10 nl Sep 1988 MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. Biographies; Class Activities; Intermediate Grades; Junior High Schools; *Presidential Campaigns (United States); *Presidents of the United States; *Social Studies; *State History *Hoover (Herbert); *Iowa Prepared for middle school students, this magazine issue covers presidential campaigns, the election process, and Herbert Hoover, an Iowan native. The articles include: (1) "Meet Clara Bell, 1848"; (2) "On the Campaign Trail"; (3) "Caucus Spotlight" (K. B. Brosseau); (4) "Kids Ask the Candidates"; (5) "Belva Lockwood" (S. Wood); (6) "Herbert Hoover: From Iowa to the White House" (K. M. Smith); and (7) "Living in the White House: A Talk with President Herbert Hoover's Granddaughter" (K. M. Smith). Other features focus on the U.S. election process, Iowa as the site of the first political caucuses, and presidential trivia, while the student activities include scrambled words, political cartoons, an election game, a short answer exercise on voting, and a computer program puzzle. (DJC) *************************************A******************Vc************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***************************************************k*******************
Transcript
ED 303 407
AUTHORTITLEINSTITUTIONPUB DATENOTE
AVAILABLE FROM
PUB TYPE
JOURNAL CIT
EDRS PRICEDESCRIPTORS
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
DOCUMENT RESUME
SO 019 671
Gore, Deborah, Ed.From Iowa to the White House.Iowa State Historical Dept., Iowa City.Sep 8831p.
State Historical Society of Iowa, 402 Iowa Avenue,Iowa City, IA 52240 ($5.00 per subscription, $25.00classroom rate).Guides - Classroom Use - Materials (For Learner)(051) -- Collected Works Serials (022)Goldfinch; v10 nl Sep 1988
MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.Biographies; Class Activities; Intermediate Grades;Junior High Schools; *Presidential Campaigns (UnitedStates); *Presidents of the United States; *SocialStudies; *State History*Hoover (Herbert); *Iowa
Prepared for middle school students, this magazineissue covers presidential campaigns, the election process, andHerbert Hoover, an Iowan native. The articles include: (1) "MeetClara Bell, 1848"; (2) "On the Campaign Trail"; (3) "CaucusSpotlight" (K. B. Brosseau); (4) "Kids Ask the Candidates"; (5)"Belva Lockwood" (S. Wood); (6) "Herbert Hoover: From Iowa to theWhite House" (K. M. Smith); and (7) "Living in the White House: ATalk with President Herbert Hoover's Granddaughter" (K. M. Smith).Other features focus on the U.S. election process, Iowa as the siteof the first political caucuses, and presidential trivia, while thestudent activities include scrambled words, political cartoons, anelection game, a short answer exercise on voting, and a computerprogram puzzle. (DJC)
*************************************A******************Vc**************Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.***************************************************k*******************
"Goldfinch/ ,0j:/47.4
Iowa Historyfor Young People
% /Volume 10, Number 1September 1988
/4<4
,/7/
1 "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THISMAT RIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
66012/9// C7V 6
U.S. DEPARTMENTOF EDUCATIONOffice of Educational
Research and ImprovementEDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER (ERIC)Wchis document has been
reproduced asreceived from the person or organizationOriginating rt0 Minor changes
Cane been made 10 improvereproduction qualityEyesc
TO THE EDUCATIONALRESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)."
Points of viewor opinions slatedin this documeet do not necessarily represent officialOERI position or Policy
%-%
///
PD171 Iowa to the White House
`Goldfinch EMPRESS
Editor: Deborah Gore
CONTENTS Volume 10, Number 1
Features September 1988
Introduction 3Path to the White House 6On the Campaign Trail 7Campaign Scrambler 10Caucus Spotlight 11Goldfinch Debate 13Political Cartoons 14Kids Ask the Candidates 18Goldfinch Straw Poll 20Belva Lockwood 23The Hoovers 26
DepartmentsTreasure Chest: Election Game 16Wild Rosie's Fun Facts 21Citizenship: Voting 25
Disk Detective 29History Makers 30Pass It On 31History Mystery Back Cover
EDITORIAL Consulting Editors: James P. Gannon, Editor, The Des Moines Register; and Hugh Winebrenner, Professor ofPublic Administration, Drake University. Editorial Assistance: Katharyn Bine Brosseau. Children's Advisory Board: TravisMartin, Robert Lucas Elementary School, Iowa City; Anthony Sunderman, Schuler Junior High, Atlantic; and Quenby Swaim,Willowwind School, Iowa City.
THE GOLDFINCH (ISSN 0278-0208) is published in September, November, February, and April by the State HistoricalSociety of Iowa, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa 52240 (319-335-3916). Available by yearly subscription: 4 issues for S5(single-copy rate) or 30 copies of 4 issues for S25 (classroom rate).Gift subscriptions are available through Family or Benefitingmemberships in the State Historical Society of Iowa. Second-class postage paid at Iowa City, Iowa.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: THE GOLDFINCH, State Historical Society of Iowa, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City,IA 52240.
No portion of THE GOLDFINCH may be reproduced without prior permission.
0
IOWA. CITY There are 14 million pigsIOWA.Iowa about twice as many as in any other
state. Every election-year February, thousands ofreporters loaded with TV cameras and lights flockto Iowa. Their assignment: To interview andphotograph the presidential candidates who visitIowa farms and get their pictures taken withthose lovable, squealing hogs.
From the farm to the city, the eyes of the nationare on Iowa. Satellite dishes are set up indowntown Des Moines to brcadcast results ofIowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses
meetings to select delegates to countyconventions. It's a big media event!
Up to two years before the Iowa caucuses,candidates begin their campaign trips through
Iowa. You might see them on biking trips, at highschooi gyms, or in the local coffee shops. Theymeet with ordinary folks, shake hands, and talkabout such issues as farming and the economy. Arecent Des Moines Register /Iowa Poll found that40 percent of Iowa Democrats had met or seen inperson a presidential candidate. Nationwide onlyabout seven percent of Democrats had met orviewed a candidate.
The Iowa caucuses are the first step in the raceto the White House. Onl y recently have theyplayed such a big part in presidential campaigns.Over the years, the presidential race has madesome topsy-turvy changes. This issue of TheGoldfinch will report on how presidentialcampaigns have shifted and how Iowa's role incampaigns has swelled.
Meet Clara Bell . . .
PLUM CREEK Welcome back to the year1848 Iowa voters will take part in thepresidential election for the very first time! MeetClara Bell, an imaginary kid, who lives in a realplacePlum Creek, Jones County, Iowa. She'lltell you about the presidential whoopla 140 yearsago:
"My name is Clara Bell Roberts and I am13 years old. I have a younger brother namedJeremiah and he is a pest though right smart fora 10-year-old youngster. He wants to be thepresident of the United States when he grows up. Iwould like to be a teacher.
"Ma and Pa are talkin' about the firstpresidential election coming up in Iowa. We just
1848Va
became a state a few years ago in '46. Politics iskind of confusin' for me. We didn't talk about itmuch in school last year. We study the Three R's
readin', writin', and 'rithmatic. I 'speciallylike the Webster's Spelling Book.
"Back to politics. I'm dreadful sorryyoungsters like myself can't vote for thepresident. Not many people can vote for thepresident these days and it doesn't seem fair. Tovote in Iowa you have to be a white male, twenty-one years old, and a resident of Iowa for at leastsix months. Well, what about my ma you may bewonderin'. Ma can't vote. In fact, no women, freeblacks, slaves, Indians, or insane folks can vote.We can march in parades, write campaign lettersto the newspapers, and go listen to stumping
43
(more on that later.) But we can't choose whoruns the country.
"The front page of the newspaper is full ofelection stories. The biggest race is between tl,eDemocrats and the Whigs. The Democratic partyis the party of the 'common man.' They supportelections where more people can vote. Manyfolks in Iowa seem to be supporting Lewis Cass, aDemocrat who was the governor of the Territory
4
(7.
of Michigan, and William 0. Butler, a Kentuckylawyer. I've saved an advertisement that appearedin the newspaper about Cass. Many Whigs are fora strong national bank. The Whig candidates forpresident and vice-president are Zachary Taylor,a general from Louisiana, and Millard Fillmore, alawyer from New York.
"There are other political parties withcandidates throwin' their hats into the ring. That's
5
cJ
:8;
a political expression that means 'to enter the racefor the presidency.' Martin Van Buren andCharles Francis Adams are running on the Free-Soil ticket. The Free-Sc:1 party wants to preventthe spread of slavery into western lands. Slaveryis a big issue in this election. Iowa is a free state soslavery is not allowed. But many folks wantslavery allowed in new territories out West.
"It was a right smart thing I went to thatDemocratic rally last night! Some Whigs werethere singing 'Old Zach's Quick Step' that newcampaign song. Men debated banks (we don'thave our own bank in Iowa) and slavery. Nostumping last night that's when candidatescome on horseback, steamboat, or buggy and visittowns. They stand on tree stumps to givespeeches. We have never seen a presidentialcandidate in Plum Creek. After the speeches therewere fire-balls, bonfires, and a band!
"On the way home in the buggy, Pa told mehow the president and vice-president are eLcted.In the spring, political leaders meet at caucuses(10-al meetings where delegates are chosen forcounty conventions). Delegates are men who goto county conventions and choose delegates to thestate convention. There they pick delegates to thenational party convention where the part:candidates for president and vice-president arechosen.
"However, Pa said that some party bosses(men who co-,trol the party) call 'snap' caucuses.They hold a secret or quick caucus that onlycertain men know about to choose delegates. In anorthern Iowa county, some men burned a shed(on purpose!) at the time of the advertised caucus.Most of the townspeople were helping with the
Democratic Ticket.
FOR PRE'SIDENT
GEN. LEWIS CASS,FOR VICE PRESIDENT
GDN. WM. 0. BUTLER.FOR FRRAIDENTill. EVICTOR;
AUGUSTUS C. DODGE,JOSEPH WILLIAMS,JOHN J. SELMAN,LINCOLN CLARK.
it:xontrs' See thlt your Tickets correspond ivith the above be.fore depequrtt them in the ballot box! Be on your ghard against spurt.out Ticie14, %%inch v411, as uscal, be found at the Polls on the murra-ins of the election
This advertisement appeared in The Iowa CapitolReporter in 1848.
fire, when the caucus was held with only the partybosses there to vote!
"It doesn't seem very democratic to me! Whenthe men vote in November in the general electionthey really support electors. Iowa has foursenators who are picked by the state legislature asour electors in the electoral college. Theseelectors are the ones who actually vote for thepresident and vice-president."[A few months later . . .]
"The presidential election was last month. Wejust found out who won! Zachary Taylor andMillard Fillmore won. Most of the votes in Iowawent to the Democrats' Cass and Butler.
"I wonder if I will ever be able to vote in anelection? I read in the Reporter that the firstwoman suffrage convention was held inWyoming! Just imagine me voting!"
65
0
Steps to the White House
I
IF YOU WERE a child in the 1840s you could takepart in presidential ejections by watching parades
and reading newspaper articles. A lot has changed inthe last 140 years! Kids today get involved inpresidential campaigns! They work as volunteers tohelp with mailings and phone calls.
Now you can still watch parades and read newspaperarticles about presidential campaigns. But what youread will be different! The way a candidate gets electedhas also changed. No longer are only adult menallowed to cast ballots.
Here are the four steps to the White House thattoday's candidates must travel:
6
STEP ONE Caucuses and Primaries: Somestates hold caucuses where party members meet inlibraries, schools, or homes to talk about thecandidates. They choose delegates. Delegates arerepresentatives who will support a favorite candidate atthe county, district, and state party conventions.Caucus-goers also talk about the issues they support ona party platform (a list of opinions about issues). Inprimary states, registered voters go to a polling placeand vote for their favorite candidates. Party officialsdetermine the number of delegates in different ways.Iowa is a caucus state for presidential elections.However, primaries are held in June for local andCongressional elections.
STEP TWO National Party Conventions:Delegates nominated from state party conventionsgather for a week at their parties' convention. Thepresidential candidates suggest running mates. Thedelegates then vote for the candidates that they arepledged to. The delegates also decide on a nationalparty platform.
STEP THREE The General Election: On thefirst Tuesday after the first Monday in November(November 8 in 1988), all registered U.S. voters atleast 18 years old can go to the polls and vote for theirfavorite candidates!
STEP FOUR The Electoral College: What thevoters in the general election are actually voting for areelectors who directly vote for the president and vice-president. Each state gets the same number of electoralvotes as its total members of Congress. Iowa has twosenators and six U.S. Representatives, or eightelectoral votes. The winning candidates get all of theelectoral votes in each state. In December, the electorsmeet in Des Moines to vote. The candidates receivingthe majority of electoral votes make it to the WhiteHouse for the next four years.
7
On the Campaign Tr
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Before the days of television and radio, Theodore Rooseveltcountry giving speeches from a train.
WANTED: An applicant for a four-yearposition with federal government.
Must be over 35 years old and have lived inthe United States for at least 14 years. Onlynatural-born citizens need apply. Manybenefits including free housing, meals;and worldwide travel. To apply, beginCAMPAIGNING!
Thirteen major presidential and several minorcandidates jumped on the campaign bandwagonin 1988. They headed for Iowa where the first-in-the-nation caucuses were held in February. Some
--e.-
went on a whistle-sty campaign traveling around the
began campaigning as early as two years beforethe caucuses.
It's a long, grueling process. Despite themodern conveniences of telephones, television,satellite dishes, and airplanes, candidates stillspend 15-hour days trying to get their opinions onissues to the public.
Many people argue that the media (TV,newspapers, radio, and magazines) play tooimportant of a role in the campaign process. Theysay that candidates campaign and hold fund-raising events to get media attention. Costs ofpresidential campaigns are skyrocketing because
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0* from earlier times when candidates wouldjump on a horse, ride to the next town and stump?
Campaign stepsLet's say you want to run for class president. If
you wanted to organize your campaign like youwere running for president of the United States,you would first ask your friends to be on yourstaff. People that are experts in some areas likefund-raising or writing speeches could be yourconsultants. You also need unpaid volunteers tosend out letters, distribute leaflets, and help withthe little things that go into a campaign.
Now you have to think of ways to finance yourcampaign. How can you raise money? You canhold car washes and bake sales, sell oranges andgrapefruits, or get sponsors to organize a fund-raising bike ride.
While these fund-raising events are going on,you need to write position papers (your opinionson different issues). How can you change the foodin the cafeteria? When you appear in public, you
8
will be able to tell other students how you feelabout issues that are important to them.
"Vote for me!" The next step is advertising.Have your advertising committee make up postersand maybe bumper stickers with your name andperhaps a campaign slogan. This expense is a bigchunk of presidential candidates' budgets.Television commercials cost big bucks! Thecandidates spend millions of dollars for 3G-second and 60-second TV spots.
Want to have a debate with your opposingcandidates? The presidential candidates debateissues on TV in many states.
Finally, you can go campaigning. This meansyou travel around the school hallways and talkdirectly with voters. If you were running forpresident of the U.S., you would be flying all overthe country meeting people. Some candidatesmeet with representatives of political actioncommittees (PACs), who collect voluntarycontributions from members. These members
Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy campaignedin the Quad Cities two weeks before his 1960 electionto the presidency. His motorcade stopped inDavenport for this rally.
donate money to your campaign if you supportissues that are important to them.
Political stumpingToday it's a bit trickier campaigning for
president than in the 1800s. In Iowa, in the 1860presidential election where Abraham Lincolndefeated Stephen Douglas "large mass meetingswere held that were all-day affairs, starting withparades in the morning, speeches in theafternoon, and torch light processions at night."Parades with floats showed figures of Lincoln as"The Railsplitter" frarri Illinois.
Candidates often traveled by horse, steamboat,or train to small towns and made speeches fromtree stumps (that's where the phrase "politicalstumping" comes from). Newspaper reportersoften covered these speeches.
John Quincy Adams, the sixth president(1825-29), granted the first interview with anewspaper reporter when Anne Royall took hisclothes while he was skinny-dipping to convincehim to grant her an interview.
Campaign changesToday's candidates can reach more voters than
in the past because of two things: media andtravel. Advanced technology introduced radio,television, satellites, and airplanes to thecampaign trail. Warren G. Harding, the 29thpresident, gave the first presidential speech on theradio in 1922. The first talking pictures of apresidential candidate were taken of PresidentCalvin Coolidge on the steps of the Capitol in1924.
Television has played a major role in the waywe think about candidates. In 1952, Richard
1)10 76-4
Nixon gave a famous TV speech about his petcocker spaniel "Checkers" to try to defend apersona! fund he had in another name. To save hisplace as vice-president on the Republican ticket,he named all the campaign gifts he receivedincluding Checkers. The speech seemed to restorepublic confidence in Nixon.
People debate the role of television inpresidential campaigning. Does it have too muchpower? In 1948 Harry S Truman's whistle-stopcampaign traveled 31,000 miles (through Iowa,too) but he spoke to only a small percentage of thepopulation. Today millions of people see imagesof presidential candidates.
Since 1972, Iowans have hosted the fist-in-the-nation caucuses. Candidates spend muchmore time campaigning in Iowa (999 days for thei988 election) than in other states. Read about theIowa caucuses on page 11. We Iowans see themwaving, hear them talk about issues, and shaketheir hands kind of like the good ole' days.*
10
9
Campaign ScramblerUnscramble the letters to find the words related to presidentialcampaigns. Fill in the blanks at the left with the correct letters. Thenunscramble the letters in the circles to answer the question at thebo-0..om of the page. Answers on page 31.
billboard marching clubs banners fund raisingnewspaper whistle stop speech caucusfireside chats liberty belles primary debatesPAC political parties TV commercial issuespolls candidates radio
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What two states hold the first precinct caucuses and primaries?
.11
Caucus Spotlightby Katharyn Bine Brosseau
OME STATE has to be first. For years itL, wasn't Iowa, but New Hampshire whichalways kicked off the presidential race to theWhite House. In 1972 the Democratic NationalConvention was set for July 9. At the time, theIowa Democratic party constitution set the datefor the Iowa Democratic caucuses on January 24
before New Hampshire held their primary.The result? The media rushed to cover the first
Democratic caucus. Attendance at the caucusimproved over earlier ;ars, too. The Democraticand Republican parties set the :late for the first-in-the-nation caucuses in February.
The press in the hog lotIowa is 25th in the nation in population, an
that population is well-educated. Campaigni-g inIowa is cheap, sir,:e it's the home of "coffeeklatch" politics (coffee in someone's home or ata cafe, held with a presidential candidate). Acandidate that doesn't have much money can stillafford to eat someone's doughnuts and discuss
policy. This is how Jimmy Carter (in 1976) andGeorge Bush kin 1980) campaigned successfullyto win in Iowa.
In fact, it's this style of campaign that warmsthe press' heart. Newspeople like to cover thecandidate sloshing though a farmer's hog lot,slurping coffee from a thermos, and trying to milka cow. It shows a human side of the candidate thatmay not show while giving a speech in a fancyhotel. Many newspeople wrote articles after theFebruary caucus about how mach they likedvisiting Iowa because of the Iowans.
The caucuses brought other people to Iowa.While some of the campaigns spent up to$750,000 to win, lov A economists estimate that$41 million was pumped into the state economyby all of the campaign workers, reporters, andvolunteers who came to watch.
What is a caucus?It isn't _onvention of crows. It is a group of
people who meet to discuss the presidentialcandidates and vote fur delegates. The entire stateis split into 2,487 parts. These parts areprecincts, and each precinct has a Democratic
Only white males could vote at early Iowa caucuses where delegates were chosen for conventions.
(41cCINC -
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12
a.
On the campaign trail, Governor Michael Dukakis talks to a swarm of reporters in Des Moines.
and a Republican caucus.Caucuses are held in schools, churches,
homes, and in one case, a pub. The times andlocations of caucuses have to be published in thenewspaper twice before they are held.
Delegr,:es are like human votes. They support acertain candidate. Based on its size, each delegategroup chooses a number of its members to attendthe county convention as delegates.
The Democrats and Republicans also discussthe platform. The platform is the "grocery list"of ideas that the party supports during thecampaign. Some ideas include better teachersin schools, the type of international tradeagreements the United States should have, oreven road and bridge repair. Platforms addresslocal, state, and national issues. If a majority ofthe people at the caucus vote to support the idea, itgets added to the local platform and is called aplank.
12
And the winner is . . .
Top winners in the February 8 Iowa caucuseson the Republican side were: Senator Robert Dole
38 percent; religious broadcaster PatRobertson 25 percent; Vice-Pres' -teat GeorgeBush 19 percent. The Democrats' top vote-getters were: Missouri Governor RichardGephardt 31 percent; Illinois RepresentativePaul Simon 27 percent; MassachusettsGovernor Michael Dukakis 22 percent.
You probably noticed that the Republican andDemocratic presidential candidates Vice-President Bush and Governor Dukakis did not dovery well in Iowa. Many of the other candidatesdropped out of the race. Some did really well inIowa. This is one of the big reasons why somepeople say that Iowa shouldn't be the first-in-the-nation caucus.
What do you think? Read the debate onpage 13.
13
Goldfinch Debateby Katharyn Bine BrosseauYears before the presidential elections in November,candidates begin to scramble around the state of Iowa.The first-in-the-nation caucuses can boost a lesser-known candidate into the national spotlight.
Some people believe that Iowa should hot play suchan-important role in the' presidential primary system.Others disagree. Read the following arguments andyou decide!
Is Iowa a good place to hold the first-in-the-nationcaucuses?ARGUMENTS:YES! Start the caucuses in Iowa!1. Iowa is the 25th state in the nation in population.Since it's about average, it is representative of most ofthe states.2. Icwa is not a very large or rich state. A campaigncan be started here without spending a lot of money oncommercials, because two TV stations and one radiostation can reach everyone in the state. Also, sincethere aren't many people in Iowa, costs for TVcommercials are lower than in places where morepeople live like Chicago or California.3. Iowans seem to take- their role seriously, partlybecause of all the publicity. Iowans are current- eventspeople. They read lots of newspapers, watch TV news,and listen to the radio to keep up on what's happeningin the world. Iowans even teach current events inschools and discuss them before church services.4. Candidates can campaign in Iowa for a long time.Bruce Babbitt started his campaign in Iowa bybicycling across Iowa two years before the Iowacaucuses.
NO! Iowa isn't a good place to start the caucuses.1. Iowa sends a small delegation to the nationalconventions only about two percent of the total.2. The caucus system discourages people fromparticipating because it takes place in the evening,when some people have to work. Sometimes caucusescan la all night. Voting, however, takes only minutesand everyone registered can vote.3. Most iowa..0 are white, middle-class, andProtestant. This is not representative of the UnitedStates, where people of all races and ethnic groups,religions, and economic levels have equal rights underthe U.S. Constitution.4. Iowa was a lousy predictor of which candidateswould win. All of the people who did very well in the1988 Iowa caucuses, like Republican Bob Dole andDemocrat Richard Gephardt, dropped out of the racefor the presidency.What do you think? Should the first-in-the-nationcaucuses stay in Iowa? Why or why not? Hold a debatein your class or write an essay supporting the reasonsfor your answer. 14'
13
Political Cartoons
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This 1880 cartoon shows the results of the 1880presidential campaign when Republican candidateJames A. Garfield beat other candidates.1. What does the kicking elephant represent?
(A) The Democratic party wants to fight theRepublicans.
(B) Circuses were very popular in 1880.(C) The Republican party is strong because its
candidate won the presidential election.
14
THE RADIO HAS MULTIPLIED THE POLITICAL SPEAKER'SAUDIENCE BY THE THOUSANDS
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In the 1920s a new invention cu.-- adio was a big hit.Candidates co,dd now broadcast speeches and -eachmany voters.
2. According to the 1924 cartoon above, what was themost important way for candidates to get votes?
(A) Give speeches on the radio(B) Meet voters one-on-one(C) Get newspaper coverage of the campaign
Both Teams Looking Good!
Presidential straw polls are opinion surveys that try topredict the outcome of elections. Both of the majorparties* took polls in the election between Dwight D.Eisenhower and Adlai E. Stevenson.
3. Which team is doing better in the 1956 cartoonabove?
(A) According to straw polls, they are bothwinning. This shows that straw polls areunpredictable.
(B) The Republicans because they are on top.(C) It's too hard to tell!
*G.O.P. stands for Grand Old Party a nicknamefor theRepublican party.
C
43
With Ellen Stoltz
Early in the 1988 presidential campaign, there wereseven Democratic candidates running for president.
4. Why are the candidates singing "Hi, ho, hi,ho . . . It's off to Iowa we go?"
(A) To look for Snow White(B) To campaign for the Iowa caucuses(C) To make 117 commercials
1615
Treasure ChestElection GameArt by Shelly Cilek
You are a candidate runningfor president of the UnitedStates! Can you make it fromIowa to the White House? Inthis board game, you becomepresident if you collect themajority of electoral votes(538) first.
To play you need 2-4 playersand one die. To make amarker, draw or color acampaign button with yourname on it on a piece of paperand tape it over a button or aquarter. The player who rollsthe highest gets to announcehis or her campaign first.
Take turns rolling the die.Read out loud what each boxsays. The first player to land inthe White House with themajority of electoral voteswins!
! IF ÷.II. -
Hold a pressconference inAmes. Moveahead onespace.
Two othercandidates dropout of the race.Roll again.
You win theNewHampshireprimary!Move ahead1 space.
You win theIowacaucuses inFebruary!Move ahead1 space.
119
You are 'attend a"interview "moo -moo"
by a TV fund-raiser.station. Tak Move aheadanother tur 1 space.
-Give -a-speech at a-,fund-raisinglunch. Moveahead .
catieiss- s. Cedar Rapidsis cancelled.Go back 1space.
You start awhistle stopcampaignacross Iowa.Move ahead1 space.
Kids Ask the CandidatesCharles City readers askwhat inquiring Iowa kidswant to know
Goldfinch readers in Mary Ann Zanotti's sixth-grade class at Jefferson School, Charles City, Iowaasked Vice-President Bush and Governor MichaelDukakis questions about issues that they feel areimportant to Iowa students.
"It does not surprise me that school children fromIowa, a state with such an excellent reputation foreducation have asked such important and intelligentquestions," Bush told The Goldfinch.
Read the following responses to the two presidentialcandidates and cast your vote in The GoldfinchPresidential Straw Poll!
QUESTION #1: What are you going to do aboutthe budget deficit [national debt]? (Robin Mills)Vice-President 1. ush: "The budget deficit is a veryimportant issue fazing our country's economy. Wemust do two things: control spending and avoid raisingtaxes. The challenge that faces us is to maintainprograms like social security for our seniors while alsomaintaining a strong national defense."Governor Dukakis: "We've got to get that budgetdeficit down. To make progress towards a balancedbudget, we need to make tough choices about spending
should we spend money on a war in Nicaragua or awar against poverty in Latin America? The second wayis to raise revenue. No responsible candidate for thePresidency can rule out new taxes if they are needed.The best way to solve our budget problems is to build astrong and growing economy. Nationally, a drop ofjust one percentage point in unemployment could cut$35 billion off of our federal budget deficit."
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QUESTION #2: If you were elected President ofthe United States, what would you do about peoplein deep poverty? (Jessica Moon)Bush: "One solution to this problem is to providemore low-cost housing for the poor. Unemployment isdirectly related to poverty, so it is important to keep theeconomy healthy. The poor in this country must haveopportunities to improve their social and economicsituation."Dukakis: "We need to bring down the barriersto opportunity drug abuse, illiteracy anddiscrimination that are denying millions the chanceto participate and contribute to the economic life of ourcountry. We're going to work on basic healthinsurance for every family in America. We're going toinvest in regional development that will create jobsespecially in those regions of the country that arehurting and hurting badly."
QUESTION #3: What are you going to do aboutnuclear war? (Randy Kuker)Bush: "Reducing the chances of nuclear war is my toppriority. The INF Treaty* that President Reagansigned in December was a major step forward in ourrelations with the Soviet Union. It is something we canbuild or in the future. When we talk to the SovietUnion, we must be strong and uphold our nationalvalues. But we must keep in mind the broad purpose ofarms control negotiations: To work with tha SovietUnion to decrease the risk of nuclear war."Dukakis: "We should pursue a strategy to prevent theuse of a single nuclear weapon. The United States andthe Soviet Union should abide by the interpretation ofthe Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty 'not to develop, test,or deploy [set in position]' nuclear weapons that arebased in space. Only if the United States and theSoviets agree to maintain the treaty can we hope toachieve cuts in nuclear weapons."
*INF Treaty: The Intermediate Nuclear Forces Treatybetween the United States and the Soviet Union calls forremoval of medium-range nuclear missiles from Europe.
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QUESTION #4: What would you do about childcare costs? (Mike Lembke)Bush: "Child care is a top priority for me. Affordablechild care is essential and I believe the federalgovernment can provide leadership and research indetermining standards for low-cost day care for ournation's children."Dukakis: "My goal will be to make quality,affordable day care available by the end of this centuryto every family that needs it. We need a National DayCare Partnership because quality child care and astrong national economy go hand in hand."
QUESTION #5: Vice-President Bush, if you'rechosen to be President, what will be your greatestconcern? (Gretchen Hansen)Bush: "Many important issues face our nation today,but one concern overwhelms the rest, and that is the
issue of peace. We must strive to make agreementswith the Soviet Union. Until now, all arms controlagreements have focused on limiting, rather thanreducing, our nuclear stockpiles [reserve of weapons].We must change the focus of nuclear arms controltoward reduction."
QUESTION #6: Governor Dukakis, what couldthe government do to help the groundwater so weknow that it is really safe to drink? (Desi Wielinski)Dukakis: "As President, I will make the protection ofthe environment one of our national priorities. I willrequire the safe disposal of hazardous, solid andradioactive waste, ensure prompt clean-up of existingwaste sites, and reduce the generation of additionalhazardous chemicals. I will protect our groundwaterfrom contamination. The winners will be familieswhose water is pure, whose air is clean, and whosecoastline is beautiful."
THE GREAT MIDWESTERN ICE CREAM CO7
What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Who wouldyou choose as the next president? If you enjoyed
ice cream at The Great Midwestern Ice Cream Co.between Labor Day and the February Iowa caucus, youmay have cast a vote for your favorite candidate.
To add a little flavor to the race for president, GreatMidwestem conducted an ice cream poll. "The candidatewho takes the biggest licking wins!" said Fred Gritzon,president of The Great Midwestem Ice Cream Co.
All ice cream eaters were eligible to vote. TheDemocratic candidate who took the greatest licking wasMichael Dukakis's Massachewy Chocolate with RichardGephardt's St. Louis Blueberry close behind. On theRepublican side, George Bush's Preppymint could nottop the Top Banana, Bob Dole.
Perhaps an ice cream poll will not really determine thenextpresident of the United States, but it makes voting forpresident easy to swallow!
Chris Annicella
A Few Candidates and Their Flavors
Democrats:Michael Dukakis
Jesse Jackson
Richard GephardtPaul Simon
Republicans:Bob Dole
George BushPat Robertson
Jack Kemp
Massachewy Chocolate U)utchChocolate)Iacksoa's Rainbow Sundae(Raspberry Vanilla Swirl)St. Louis Blueberry (Blueberry)Bow Tie Brickle (Butter Brickle)
Dole's Top Banana (BananaSplit)Preppymint (Peppermint Stick)Born Again Chocolate (DoubleDutch Chocolate)Kemp's Quarter Back Crunch(Pralines & Cream)
20S.
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The Goldfinch Presidential Straw Poll * * * *Who do Goldfinch readers want for president? Cast
your vote and be counted! (At press time we did notknow who the vice - presidential running mates for themajor candidates would be.) To vote, mark the box tothe left of the candidate you support for president! Ycu
can write in another candidate's name on the line.You can cut out the ballot, make a copy of it, or
simply write down the name of your candidate and whyyou support that candidate on a separate sheet of paper.Mail your ballot to: The Goldfinch Straw Poll, 402Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240.
Vice-President Gtorge Bush, RepublicanGovernor Michael Dukakis, DemocratOther
Optional Comments: Why did you vote for the candidate you chose? We'll be picking out some reader comments topublish in the November Goldfinch.
Meet the Candidates
George BushRepublican presidential candidate George Bush was
born in 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts. He served as apilot in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945 and was shotdown during World War II. After his military servicehe earned a degree from Yale University in 1948.
Although Bush came from a wealthy family, hewanted to go into business for himself. He helped starta petroleum company that was one of the first devel-opers of off-shore oil-drilling equipment.
From 1967 to 1971, Bush served in the U.S. Houseof Representatives. After losing a bid for the U.S.Senate in 1970, Bush was appointed ambassador to theUnited Nations, a position he held from 1971 to 1973.
Bush was later appointed to head the U.S. liaisonoffice in China. In 1976 he served as director of theCentral Intelligence Agency (CIA). Since 1981 he hasbeen vice-president of the United States.
He and his wife Barbara have five children.
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Michael Dukakis .
Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakiswas born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1933. Hisparents were Greek immigrants. Dukakis began toconsider a career in politics when he was studyingpolitical science at Swarthmore College. He graduatedin 1955 and then served in the U.S. Army in Koreafrom 1955 to 1957. After 11;s military service, hegraduated from Harvard Law School in 1960.
Dukakis served in the Massachusetts House of Rep-resentatives from 1963 to 1970. From 1975 to 1979 hewas governor of Massachusetts. During the mid-1970sMassachusetts had many economic problems includ-ing high unemployment and high taxes.
Although Dukakis lost his primary bid for a secondterm as governor in 1976, he was re-elected in 1983. In1986 he ran for a third term and won by a landslide (agreat majority of votes).
He and his wife Kitty have three children.Victoria Carlson
Wild Rosie's Fun FactsAbraham Lincoln owned three farms in Iowa:one in Tama County; one in Crawford County;and one in Pottawattamie County. He neveractually saw the first two.
President Grover Cleveland and his wife,Frances, spent part of their honeymoon in 1887in Sioux City viewing the Corn Palace. Thepalace was made out of lumber ziid corn. Itmade a big impression on the President. He leftthe palace with an ear of corn in his pocket, andsaid, '(At last they have shown me somethingnew."
Herbert Clark Hoover presidential firsts:First (and only) president born in IowaFirst president born west of the
Mississippi RiverFirst to have a telephone at his desk in the
White House in 1929. It was previously locatedin a booth outside of theExecutive Office.
First president tovisit China
First president tohave an asteroidnamed for him
Hooveria
Two presidents lived past their 90th birthdaysJohn Adams (90 years, 247 days) and HerbertHoover (90 years, 71 days)
President Herbert Hoover and John FitzgeraldKennedy donated their presidential salaries tocharity. Hoover earned $75,000 plus $25,000 ayear. Kennedy made $100,000 plus $40,000 fortravel and entertainment and $50,000 forexpenses.
President Hoover officially approved thenational anthem "Star Spangled Banner."
President Hoover's Nicknames: Friend ofHelpless Children, World Humanitarian, GrandOld Man, Knight of the Lean Garbage Can
Place Named After President Hoover: HooverDam, on the Colorado River
near Las Vegas, Nevada
Party conversation between the Hoovers
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President Hoover and his wife, Lou Henry, oftentalked to each other in Chinese before theirguests and servants.
Richard Nixon was stationed at the naval airstation in Ottumwa during part of World War II(1939-45). Pat, his wife, supposedly worked in abank while they lived there.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was a radio sportsannouncer in Davenport at WOC in 1932. It washis first professional job and paid $5 a week plusbus fare.
Ronald Reagan was a sportscaster at WHO inDes Moines from 1932 to 1937 He simulatedradio broadcasts of Chicago Cubs baseballgames by reading news service ticker tape. Heearned $75 a week. *
Aarmncimizzicfr Wild Rosie's Map 4333002D
IOWA
Color in the Iowacounties named after
U.S. presidents.Answers on page 31.
Map by Anne Trumbull Chadwick
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0 E:FOR
.6ELVA..
ItOCKW001
by Sharon Wood
ONE RAINY APRIL afternoon a century ago, agroup of women gathered in a large meeting hall
in Des Moines. They were proud and excited, becausethey were delegates to a national political convention
the 1888 convention of the National Equal Rightsparty.
Just like the Democrats who met last summer inAtlanta, and the Republicans who met in New Orleans,these women came together to choose their candidatesfor president and vice-president of the United States.But unlike the delegates to today's politicalconventions, the women who met in Des Moines couldnot vote for the candidates they nominated. More than30 years of hard work lay ahead before Americanwomen won suffrage, or the right to vote.
But on that spring day in 1888, the women waited
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t'l Y
23
O
eagerly while the nominating ballots were counted.Delegates from every state but South Carolina andevery territory but Idaho had sent ballots 310 in all.When the votes were tallied, the National Equal Rightsparty had its candidates: Belva Ann Lockwood forpresident, and Alfred Love for vice-president.
A woman for president!It may seem strange for a woman to run for president
when she could not even vote, but Belva Lockwoodwas not the first. In 1872, another woman, VictoriaWoodhull, had campaigned for president on the EqualRights ticket. But she gave up her campaign before theelection took place.
The women who nominated Belva in 1888 knew shewould not give up. She had run before in 1884, and shehad worked hard for women's rights all her life. Noone expected her to win, but they knew her candidacywould help bring attention to the lack of equality anddemocracy in America.
Forward-looking ideasLike the other candidates for president, Belva
Lockwood gave speeches all over the country abouther party's platform, or goals. But Belva's platformwas far ahead of her time.
She supported equal rights for all citizens, withoutregard to sex, color, or nationality. She called for "afair distribution of the public offices to women as wellas men." She wanted to increase pensions (regularpayments of money) for widows and orphans. Belvaalso wanted to make husbands and wives equalpartners in the ownership of property. In many areas,only men were allowed to own property.
And she declared that women as well as men shouldbe judges. If I am elected, she said, I will appoint awoman to the Supreme Court of the United States.Belva first made this promise in 1884. But not until1981 was a woman Sandra Day O'Connor madea Supreme Court Justice.
Belva understood the need for women judgesbecause she herself was a lawyer. She had chosen law
24
as a profession because she believed it was "astepping-stone to greatness." But it was very difficultfor a woman to become a lawyer, and few succeeded.
Belva had to apply to several law schools before shefound one that would admit women. When she finishedschool, the men in charge refused to give her adiploma. Belva did not give up easily. She wrote aletter to President Ulysses Grant, and he helped her gether diploma. At last, in 1873, Belva became a lawyer.
Because she lived in Washington, D.C., theheadquarters of the federal government, Belva neede-'to practice in the federal courts. But the federal courtsdid not admit women. Once again, Belva refused togive up. This time she went to Congress. Shepersuaded the senators and representatives to pass anew law, giving women access to the federal courts.
In 1879, Belva became the first woman ever to arguea case before the Supreme Court. No wonder shewanted to see a woman sitting as a judge!
Struggle for justiceBelva Lockwood's work before the Supreme Court
and her presidential campaigns are her most famousaccomplishments. But she worked tirelessly her whole,life for the things she believed in equal rights forwomen, racial justice, and peace.
One of her first projects after she was admitted to theSupreme Court was to help a black man win the sameright In 1906, she helped the Cherokees win a$5 million settlement from the U.S. government.
She also wrote and worked on behalf of worldpeace, and she served on the nominating committee forthe Nobel Peace Prize.
Late in life, when she was asked to describe herbeliefs, Belva replied, "I do not believe in sexdistinction in literature, law, politics, or trade; or thatmodesty and virtue are more becoming to women thanto men; but wish we had more of it everywhere."
Belva Lockwood's presidential campaigns wereonepart of her lifelong struggle for justice. She did notexpect to be elected, but she did expect to spread herideas of justice.
.92/ka./
Citizenship
H AVE YOU ever played darts? The chart above looks like a dart board. But it shows how suffrage(the right to vote) in Iowa has expanded like a widening circle to include more people.
It took several amendments to state constitutions and the U.S. Constitution for suffrage to spread fromonly white men 21 years or older to black men, women, Native Americans (;Eskimos and AmericanIndians), and finally, to 18 year olds.
Look at the chart above. Answer the questions by filling in the blanks. (Answers on page 31).
1. List all of the types of people who could vote in 1920.
2. When did Native Americans get the right to vote?3. What group has always been able to vote?4. Who received suffrage in 1971-2?5. How many years after white men voted in Iowa were women about to vote?
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- --
Herbert HooverFrom Iowa to theWhite Houseby Kim Marie Smith
WHEN HERBERT HOOVER was young, henever dreamed of being president . . . but
others thought him destined for great things.The night he was born in a little two-room cottage in
West Branch, Iowa, his father, a blacksmith, toldeveryone that "now we have a General Grant at ourhouse." General Ulysses S. Grant was then thePresident of the United States.
When "Bertie" was two, he almost died of thecroup, a common childhood disease at that time. Whenthe danger passed and everyone knew that he would beall right, his grandmother commented that "God has agreat work for that boy to do. That is why he wasbrought back to lire."
Living in West Branch, young Herbert did all thethings that boys do . . . teasing his sister May,catching rabbits with his big brother Tad, and climbingtrees.
When Bertie was a young boy, both of his parentsdied. With no parents, Tad, May, and Bertie had to besplit up, and went to live with different relatives.
After living with an uncle who had a farm outsideWest Branch for a few months, Bertie was sent toOregon to live with another uncle. Tad and Bertie had atalk before he left. "Just think how famous ourgrandfather might have been if he had gone tocollege," Tad said. "I think you should plan to go tocollege and be an inventor just like him."
Tad's advice made Bertie very excited, and hedecided right then and there to go to college. While hefinished school in Oregon with his new family, hetaught himself to type, and took a math class at night tolearn the extra skills he knew he would need in college.
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An 1881 family photo shows (left to right): May,Herbert, and Tad while they were still together.
One day, his uncle introduced him to an engineer,visiting' from the East. After talking to him, Herbertdecided on engineering as his profession.
"Doctor of sick mines"Herbert enrolled in the very first freshman class at
Stanford University, and worked during the summersin the moimtains of Nevada and California, to learnmore of what an engineer should do.
He met Lou Henry, whom he would later marry,while at Stanford. She was the first woman to graduatewith a geology degree. Herbert graduated in 1895 witha degree in geology, too. His first job was in aCalifornia gold mine, for 10 hours a day, 20 cents anhour.
About a year later, Herbert was hired by a Britishmining firm, to work as an engineer in Australia. Thejob called for a man who was at least 35; Hoover wasonly 23. He wanted the job so badly, that he grew abeard, and bought some older looking clothes. He gotthe job.
After two years in Australia, Hoover was ready tomove on and to get married. He sent a cable proposingmarriage to Lou Henry, the woman he had met atStanford, and they were married in San Francisco ashort time after.
Right after their marriage, the Hoovers set sail forChina. Hoover had accepted a position there as anengineer. Soon his mining career was taking them to
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b
interesting places around the world; his reputation as a"doctor of sick mines" made him very much indemand.
Food to the starvingWhen World War I began in 1914, Hoover was
asked to supervise the distribution of food to millionsof starving war victims in Belgium and France. Heused his education and engineering skills to deviseways to feed more people lucre efficiently. When he.extended the aid programs to Russia, people asked himwhy. "Starving people should be fed, whatever theirpolitics," he said. While working during the war, herefused to accept any pay, and even donated some ofhis own savings to the cause.
He became very famous as an organizer andadministrator, and served as secretary of commerce inthe cabinets of both Presidents Harding and Coolidge.He never thought of being president, even then, untilhe was asked. He decided to run, wanting to helpAmerica. He won the election in 1928, by a largemargin, beating Al Smith, the governor of New York.
White House yearsHerbert and Lou's years in the White House were
not what either of them expected. In 1929, the countrywent into a horrible economic depression, and soonmore than 12 million Americans were out of work withbanks and businesses failing by the thousands.President Hoover presented a program of public worksand financing which just didn't seem to work. In 1932,
when he ran for re-election, he lost to FranklinRoosevelt, who promised Americans a "new deal"that would end the depression.
Iowa boyhoodPresi, lent Hoover always remembered his boyhood
in Iowa. Many children wrote him letters asking abouthis childhood. He responded to one:
"As a youngster in Iowa, my recollections are of thewinter snows, sliding down hills on a homemade sled,trapping rabbits, searching the woods for nuts. Plus
doing the household and farm chores. And growingstrong on my aunt's good cooking."
He also received many letters asking for advice onhow to become president. He suggested three rules:
"The first rule is just to be a boy or girl getting all theconstructive job out of life; the second rule is that noone should win the Presidency without honesty andsportsmanship and consideration for others in hischaracter together with religious faith; The thirdrule is that he or she should be a person of education. Ifyou follow these rules, you will be a person of standingin your community even if you do not make the WhiteHouse. And who can tell? Maybe that also?"
President Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou HenryHoover on the White House steps (1932)
Living in the White House:A Talk with President Herbert Hoover's Granddaughterby Kim Marie Smith
_ ,
RECENTLY, The Goldfinch talked to Margaret"Peggy Ann" Brigham, granddaughter of PresidentHerbert Hoover. Peggy Ann spent a great deal of timeat the White House from the ages of 2 to 6. She relatedseveral experiences for Goldfinch readers:
Goldfinch: Did you get to spend very much timewith your grandfather, President Hoover, whileyou were living there?Peggy Ann Brigham: "Oh, yes. Every afternoon,Granddaddy's [servant], Boris, would come and getme and take me to wait for Granddaddy to finish workin the Oval Office. Then, we would walk together hand
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in hand, back to the family quarters. If I had to wait, asI often did, Boris would take me to the Cabinet roomand entertain me by acting like a bear under the bigcabinet meeting table."
G: Did you meet any famous visitors while you livedthere?PB: "I did on Inauguration Day. General Pershingheld me in his lap for a while during the ceremonies.He had very interesting medals across the chest of hisuniform, which I found fascinating. At another point inthe ceremonies, a very portly gentleman horrified mymother, sitting right nearby. As I sat in his lap, he wasmaking me laugh by straightening his legs and lettingme slide down them. When I got older, Grandmummytold me that the man was former President WilliamHoward Taft."
G: What was it like to spend Christmas at the WhiteHouse?PB: "My memories of the Christmases I spent at theWhite House are very special. I helped myGrandmother throw the switch to light the Christmastree lights on the presidential tree, and remember SantaClaus coming out of the fireplace in the family diningroom and wondering why he wasn't dirty. Becauseit was Christmas, I was allowed to stay up past mybedtime, and listen to the Marine band perform for theother guests. I sat on the stairs and watched fromabove, through the railing . . ."
G: Those years spent at the White House sound sowonderful. Do you remember any bad times?PB: "Once I got stuck in the White House elevatorwith my nanny. We had to wait until the Secret Servicemen climbed down through the trap door at the top, toget us out."
G: Thank you, Mrs. Brigham, for sharing a few ofyour memories with our readers.PB: "Thank you; I am very happy to see-that Iowastudents are so interested in the presidency, and in mygrandfather Herbert Hoover."
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Disk Detective by Jean E. Wulf
WILD ROSIE is researching old newspapers atthe library. She is reading some magazines
from the 1870s called Harper's Weekly. ThomasNast, a political cartoonist, drew two animals torepresent the two major political parties. One stub-born animal represents the Democratic party. (Nastwas a Republican.) The other is a larger animaldepicting the Republican party.
Wild Rosie shows the drawings of the two ani-mals to Dr. Arc E. Ology. What are these symbols?
Can you unravel this mystery? Load BASIC on anIBM Personal Computer or an Apple Ile or 1k (withan 80-character screen) and enter this program.
(NOTE: Type in everything in bold print. Whenyou see a number before a " and a letter, hit theletter that many times. For example, 5 "Y" meansyou type "YYYYY" and return. Hit the space baronly when you see (sp).)
You and Dr. Arc. E. Ology discover(Answer on page 31.)
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History MakersBE A HISTORY MAKER! The Goldfinch wants toknow what you've discovered about Iowa's past. Hasyour class worked on special projects about Iowahistory? Are you helping to save something old? Haveyou found an old letter, diary, photograph orarrowhead that tells something about the past?
In the next two issues of The Goldfinch, we'll look atthe history of Des Moines and labor in Iowa. Send yourstories, letters, poems, or artwork to: History Makers,The Goldfinch, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, Iowa52240. See your work published!
Students Name CreekAmerican Indians and early settlersnamed many areas of Iowa whenthey arrived. A class of 28 studentsat Sioux Valley Elementary Schooljoined the ranks of these early-namegivers when they officially named astream "Bluebird Creek!" TeacherDiane Noll's second graders nameda stream that is a tributary of theLittle Sioux River in Buena Vistaand Clay Counties.
"It's a neat, fun place," studentJayce Anderson of Linn Grove told alocal reporter about the creek. "Ourclass is having fun because it makesus feel like we're making history."
The U.S. Board of GeographicNames in Virginia approved of thestudents' name last spring. Thename "Bluebird Creek' will appearin official topography (natural andman-made features) maps whenthey are revised in 1990.
The class project began when
Noll researched old maps at theBuena Vista County Court House,contacted the Iowa GeologicalSurvey Office in Iowa City, andfound that the stream was unnamed.The class chose to name the stream"Bluebird Creek," after thebluebirds that inhabit the area and tomake people aware of the presenceof the bluebirds. To get the nameaccepted on new, updated maps in1990, the class circulated petitionsto show public support for the name.
Who will make it to theWhite House?Art by Ryan Wiebers, 14Greenville (TX) Middle School
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Pass It OnBe a Newscaster!Give The Goldfinch Presidential Straw Poll toyour classmates or friends and write up theresults. Pretend you are a newscaster on the localevening TV news covering the election. Write upand present the results.
Read More About ItIt's a Free Country! A Young Person's Guide toPolitics & Elections by Cynthia K. Samuels (NY:Atheneum) 1988. This is a fun behind-the-sceneslook at how the political system works fromchoosing candidates and issues to the finalexcitement of a state or national campaign. It'spacked with photos.Facts and Fun About the Presidents by GeorgeSullivan (NY: Scholastic Inc.) 1987. Did youknow that Herbert Hoover's son, Allan, ownedtwo pet alligators that sometimes slinked aroundthe White House? If you like trivia, thispaperback is jammed with facts about thepresidents and their families.
Write to the President or First LadyDo you want to welcome the new President andFirst Lady to the White House? If so, address yourletter to:
The White House1600 Pennsylvania AvenueWashington, D.C. 20500
The salutation for the President should be Dear Siror Dear Mr. President. When writing the FirstLady, use Dear Mrs. (last name). HINT:Thousands of letters arrive at the White Houseevery day. Try to write a personal letter that onlythe President or First Lady can answer.
Oldfinches GoldfinchesAre you studying Iowa history and want to know
about topics that we have already covered? Youcan order back issues for a small fee. We have afree index to back issues that you can write awayfor. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to:The Goldfinch Index, State Historical Society ofIowa, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240.
See "39 Men!"Visit the "39 Men Memories and Mementos"exhibit at The Herbert Hoover PresidentialLibrary-Museum in West Branch, Iowa throughOctober 30. They conducted a scavenger huntand came up with personal items from all of thepresidents such as a 102-year-old piece of GroverCleveland's wedding cake!
