The Center for Politics' American Democracy Conference 1999 took place on December 6 with a few conclusions reached, some new questions raised, and one widely accepted sentiment best expressed by National Journal's Charlie Cook: "This election really is just huge." Panelists cited many reasons to keep an eye on this coming November, saying that the outcome would decide much about our nation's future.
Virginia Lieutenant Governor John Hager and former Colorado Governor Roy Romer, who both encouraged the importance of civic engagement in the political process, delivered lunchtime keynote addresses. During the final event of the Conference, an elegant Dome Room dinner in Mr. Jefferson's Rotunda, former Tennessee Governor and two-time presidential hopeful Lamar Alexander addressed the audience in the form of a Socratic dialogue, guided by Larry Sabato and Doug Bailey. Alexander encouraged improving the electoral process by removing all limits on campaign contributions and spreading out the presidential primaries so more Americans have a say in party nominations.
Panel discussions during the Conference focused on several subjects.
- Congress on the Cusp: The Battle for 2000, featuring Chuck Todd and Bob Franken, among others, showed that outcomes of only a few races might make a large difference in the upcoming election cycle.
- During The Road to Pennsylvania Avenue on the Media Bus, pundits and guests engaged in a discussion about media bias, reporters' ethics, and the impact of the Internet and "wallpaper coverage" of politics.
- Political "insiders," including Nelson Warfield, John Del Cecato, Curt Anderson, and Celinda Lake Participated in On the Campaign Trail: The Inside Scoop, assessing the campaigns and odds for the candidates in 2000.
- The Clinton Legacy, a crowd favorite, invited audience members and panelists to fill in the following statement: "Today in 2050 a monument was erected to President William Jefferson Clinton, who..."
Coverage of the Conference aired live on C-SPAN, and repeatedly over the following weeks on both C-SPAN and local public-access television. University of Virginia students and faculty participated in the events, and sponsors received extensive credit and coverage in the media.
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