Iowa Republican Convention

Governor Terry Branstad (R-IA) opened the straw-poll meeting. Then several of the people on the ballot spoke successively during the voting. Former Education Secretary Lamar Alexander spoke about the need for Republicans to describe what they propose for the future of America rather than simply criticizing the Clinton administration. He mentioned such things as moral regeneration and less government and more individual initiative. Columnist Pat Buchanan spoke about the need for Republican unity and the need for a vision that combines morals and traditional conservative values. Former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney criticized the Clinton administration’s approach to government with too much bureaucracy. He contrasted this with Republican notions of individual initiative and a strong foreign policy. Sen. Phil Gramm (R-TX) criticized the Clinton administration’s policies, but he also emphasized the need to distinguish the Republican platform from the Democratic platform. close