As the presidential election progressed this summer, both the Republicans and Democrats held their highly anticipated national conventions. The Republican National Convention (RNC) took place from July 15-18 in Milwaukee, while the Democratic National Convention (DNC) was hosted from August 19-22 in Chicago. These conventions are key events for officially nominating candidates and finalizing party platforms. The New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP)’s archive interns spent the summer delving into the history of past conventions, uncovering fascinating stories and insights.
Isabella Langella ’25, a history and secondary education major, and Michael McLaughlin ’25, a history and finance double major, combed through the archives for historic convention memorabilia. They also engaged with local Granite Staters who have served as convention delegates in the past. By documenting oral histories from two local political figures, Steve Duprey and Terry Shumaker, they gathered a wealth of knowledge for the archives.
Duprey, a former national committeeman for the Republican Party of New Hampshire and one of the youngest individuals ever elected to the NH State Legislature at just 19, shared his convention experiences. He fondly recalled a memorable moment from the 2008 RNC in St. Paul, Minnesota, when his friend John McCain became the nominee. “John made me one of the two deputy convention chair people, which was a great honor. I got to sit in a wonderful front-and-center seat while John McCain delivered his acceptance speech.”
From the Democratic perspective, Shumaker, a former U.S. Ambassador and co-chair of President Bill Clinton's New Hampshire campaigns, shared his experience. He said, “The first time I was a delegate in 1992, I just ran. I was a Clinton supporter, and I was on the campaign, but there were a whole bunch of other Clinton supporters running to be a delegate. I was lucky enough to be in the top three in Merrimack County. Clinton won all three delegates in the second congressional district.”
Although conventions have changed over the years, Shumaker emphasized that they are still relevant. “The conventions are still very important because the party needs to solidify what its message is going to be. There used to be a big deal surrounding the party platform, which is a written document that has kind of gone a little by the wayside.”
In addition to personal anecdotes, the interns explored the specific procedures and rules of both parties' conventions. “As I spoke with Steve Duprey and Terry Shumaker, I was struck by how different the DNC and RNC conduct their conventions. It is very interesting how the rules vary between the RNC and DNC, especially regarding delegate elections and expectations,” said Langella.
"My favorite fun fact from our research would have to be that the DNC is one of the oldest political parties in the world,” added McLaughlin. “I really enjoy working in the Institute’s archives because they are filled with fascinating pieces of history and enabled me to take part in memorable events and meet important political figures.”