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https://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/files/original/fd61cb81fddc691c80e81fa5ef21f8cd.pdf
d0ede2f78614d266c77ddbb4b4659d90
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Text
FOIA Number: 2006-0458-F
FOIA
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Communications
Series/Staff Member:
Don Baer
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
10135
FolderiD:
Folder Title:
PBS January 21 -National Issues Convention
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
s
90
2
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�E X E C U T I V E
0 F F I C E
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T H E
P R E S I D E N T
19-Dec-1995 04:45pm
TO:
TO:
TO:
TO:
Donald A. Baer
Steven A. Cohen
Evelyn s. Lieberman
Teresa Wildman
FROM:
Barry J. Toiv
Office of the Chief of Staff
SUBJECT:
Issues Convention
What is the state of play with the President doing the PBS issues
convention in January in Austin? Under consideration? What have
we told them?
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- - - ...- ·- - · - · · · · - - - - - - - - - - - - ·N...;..AN_cY~~Y. Com,.~unt~_l.~Moe!. .. _ __
IssuEs CoNVENTION
A new experiment for American democracy
A mini·America will &\&semble in Austin
next month to talk issues. The aroup will
diacuaa a~d. reflect, read and. deliberate. Del·
: eaates··at the National Issues Convention
: will be latter-day .pioneers. exploring a new
: way for average Americana to particlpa~e in
:. polltics.
.
This innovative experiment has great
appeal in these clisaffected., hyper·partiaan
. times. Americana. have grown detached
·trom th~ir government - few people "'ote,
even fewer study Issues and discuss them
:·with frienr;ta, fa~ily members and col·
· .leasuea. But democracy is about parttcipa·
· tioni Americans ~ust re-enaaae themselvee
in the civic dialogue.
The National Issues Convention is an
.attempt at that.
· -we're trying to energize a new way of
Ulins television aDd involve people in a repreaentative way;• says the convention's
.executive director, University of Texas Pro·
··. fe110r James Fishkin.
.
Organizers invited.. a aoientifically
aeleeted sample of 600 Americans to travel to
.Auat~.. Attendees will study and discuss
· three
topics: the. economy;' the state of the
.
familyi ancl America's role in the poat·Col4
War wol"l4. All major presidential candl·
dates have been invited. to field questions.
Participants will ~e surveyed about their
opinioJl,s before and. after the conventioD. ·
Skeptics say the event ts too ·artificial to .
be tnstructiye. Few Americans ever receive
a free trip and $300 stipend to talk public
policy. PUblic radio and televiatoD.will also
broadcast portions ·ot the event live, whicl\
may alter how some pirticipant8 behave.
But these unusual circumstances do not
Jeopardize the experiment's !alue. .
What may undercut the convention ta
.presidential cancltdates' attitude toward. it.
So far, cancttdates sound unenthuaed. abo~t
this terrific opportunity ~ a chance to
interact wi~h ·. an ~ormed, representative·
sample of Americans.· The convention
d.oesn't seem to have the appeal of a.Sl,OOO.
per-plate fund-raiser or a straw poll in Flori·
da. Can4111ates ought to be srabbing Austin
hotel reservations while they can.
The rest of us should plan to· watoh u
much as of the conventioJ;J. u we can on pul>.
. lie television. The convention may help ua ·
re-learn how tcrparttcipite bt democracy.
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�P.O. Box 8120 • Austin, Texas 78713-8120 •
Convention
The University of Texas at Austin
January 18·21,
1r
512/475-8610 • ©512/475-8676
NATIONAL ISSUES CONVENTION
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q:
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL ISSUES CONVENTION?
A:
In an unprecedented experiment in the American democratic process, a national random sample of
U.S. citizens will be brought to the University of Texas at Austin to deliberate on major issues facing
I
the nation. The four-day gathering will take place January 18-21, 1996, and will feature an extended
dialogue between presidential candidates and informed citizens -live on national televisionand radio.
At the National Issues Convention (NIC), the 600 delegates will break into small discussion groups,
led by trained moderators, in which they will study and debate the issues. A focal point of the NIC
will be the "deliberative opinion poll," a new method of public opinion research designed to show
what people think about the issues as they become more informed.
Q:
WHAT IS A DELIBERATIVE POLL?
A:
The deliberative poll is different from ordinary polls, which offer only a snapshot of the current state
of public opinion. Developed by Professor James Fishkin of the University of Texas at Austin, the
deliberative poll is designed to sample public opinion toward specific issues both before and after
people have had the opportunity to learn about and discuss those issues.
Before the Convention, participants will be polled on their attitudes toward three broad issue areas: the
economy, the state of the family, and America's role in a post-Cold War world. At the conclusion of
the gathering, they will be polled again. The results of this "deliberative poll" seek to quantify the
impact of the deliberative process on the delegates' thinking.
Q:
HOW ARE CONVENTION DELEGATES BEING CHOSEN?
A:
A scientifically selected national random sample of people is being surveyed in face-to-face interviews
conducted at 100 sites nationwide; 600 respondents will be invited to attend the Austin weekend.
Citizens of voting age from all over the United States will have an equal chance of being asked to
participate in the Convention. Researchers began seeking participants November 1 in an exhaustive
process that will conclude in December.
Part of the PBS
DEMOCRACY
PROJECT
-more-
----·.
-------
•
�-3communities. The moderators have been trained through summer institutes that teach citizens the skills
of nonpartisan, deliberative moderating.
,
Q:
HAS THE DELffiERATIVE POLL EVER BEEN TRIED BEFORE?
A:
The deliberative poll has been tested twice on national television by Britain's Channel4, with
Professor Fishkin serving as academic advisor. In April 1994, the deliberative poll focused on the
issue of crime, and in May 1995, it focused on Britain's future in Europe. Each experiment was
broadcast for two hours during prime time.
Q:
WHO IS TELEVISING THE EVENT?
A:
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) will provide national television coverage of the National
Issues Convention, moderated by Jim Lehrer of The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. Convention
coverage will be produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. Lester M. Crystal is executive producer of
The NewsHour; Dan Werner, vice president of MacNeil/Lehrer productions, is executive producer of
the National Issues Convention broadcast.
Q:
WHAT IS THE BROADCAST SCHEDULE?
A:
The NIC will be broadcast as a three-part special. The first two programs, which will air live from the
University of Texas at Austin, will feature candidates' responses to questions from the delegates. The
third broadcast will chronicle the events of the Convention and include analysis and reporting
segments that reach beyond the Austin weekend, placing the deliberative poll in a broader national
context. The national broadcast schedule (subject to change) is as follows:
Saturday, January 20
8:00 - 11 :00 p.m. ET
Live coverage of Republican candidates
Sunday, January 21
10:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. ET
5:00 - 8:00p.m. ET
8:00 - 10:00 p.m. ET
Live coverage of Democratic candidate(s)
Taped coverage of Republican candidates
Taped coverage of Democratic candidate(s)
Friday, January 26
9:00 - 10:30 p.m. ET
Wrap-up documentary
-more---------
--
-----------------
�-4-
Q:
IS THE NATIONAL ISSUES CONVENTION OPEN TO THE PRESS?
A:
All print and broadcast media will have ample opportunity to cover the event. Because of the nature of
this experiment, though, there will be some ground rules and limitations on what portions of the event
the press may cover and when the delegates can be interviewed.
Q:
HOW IS THE NATIONAL ISSUES CONVENTION RELATED TO PBS'S
DEMOCRACY PROJECT?
A:
The Democracy Project is a special PBS initiative offering an enlivened, revitalized approach to news
and public affairs programming, with an emphasis on election coverage. Building upon PBS's
traditional strengths of in-depth programming and diversity of viewpoints, the Democracy Project
focuses on the power of the deliberative process among voters, rather than the pervasive sound bite.
The NIC is a major component of this multimedia effort.
Q:
WHO IS SPONSORING THE NATIONAL ISSUES CONVENTION?
A:
The event is co-sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin and the nation's 11 Presidential
Libraries. Major funding and in-kind support are being provided by Freddie Mac (Federal Home
Loan Mortgage Corporation), the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Southwestern Bell, American Airlines,
and the City of Austin. PBS is underwriting television coverage of the National Issues Convention.
'•
There is a distinguished bi-partisan National Advisory Committee for the National Issues
Convention. Its co-chairs are Charls Walker and Newton Minow, who also co-chaired the 1976
Presidential Debate Commission.
Q:
WHOM SHALL I CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION?
A:
NIC event and methodology:
Jim Fishkin
National Issues Convention
Ed Hersh
Hill & Knowlton Public Relations
512/471-5121 or 512/475-8610
212/885-0320
Media logistics:
Bob Neuman
Neuman and Company
202/628-2075
PBS broadcast:
Dara Goldberg
Rene Schneider
PBS
The NewsHour
703n39-5031
703/998-2175
###
1218/95
�P.O. Box 8120 • Austin, Texas 78713·8120 •
Convention
.
The University of Texas at Austin
January 18-21,
CONTACT:
NIC Broadcast:
NIC Event:
TI'
512/475-8610 • ©512/475-8676
Dara Goldberg, PBS
Rene Schneider, The NewsHour
Bob Neuman
Ed Hersh
703n39-5031
703/998-2175
202/628-2075
212/885-0320
'I
.I
THE NATIONAL ISSUES CONVENTION ON PBS SET TO
LAUNCH 1996 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN SEASON
-Why is the "Deliberative Poll" different from all other polls?(WASHINGTON D.C., December 8, 1995) -The Florida straw poll is over; an army of surveyors
has descended on more than 100 communities nationwide in search of citizen delegates; and National
Public Radio (NPR) has signed on as a simulcast partner with the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS).
The National Issues Convention is fast approaching.
In a groundbreaking experiment in American democracy, 600 citizens - a scientifically selected
representative sample of the U.S. population- will convene in Austin, Texas, to deliberate on some of
the key issues facing the nation. As part of the project, they will question the 1996 presidential
candidates directly about those issues -on live television and radio. The National Issues Convention
(NIC), set for January 18-21, 1996, at the University of Texas at Austin, is co-sponsored by the
University and the nation's 11 Presidential Libraries. PBS will televise the proceedings in three national
broadcasts- Jan. 20, 21 and 26- produced by MacNeiVLehrer Productions and moderated by Jim
Lehrer of The Newshour With Jim Lehrer.
The focal point of the Convention is the "deliberative poll," a new method of public opinion research.
Unlike ordinary surveys, which offer only a snapshot of what the public is thinking, the deliberative
poll will show what citizens think about the issues as they become more informed about them through
study and deliberation. Conceived by University of Texas professor James Fishkin, the NIC
deliberative poll will measure participants' attitudes both before and after the Austin gathering, seeking
to quantify the impact of the deliberative process on delegates' thinking. The NIC poll and discussions
will focus on three broad issue areas: the economy; the state of the family; and America's role in a postCold War world.
-morePart of the PBS
DEMOCRACY
PROJECT
•
�-2-
I
.
1
At a time when the public seems disenchanted with political campaigns and how they are covered, this
innovative and provocative forum will offer a unique opportunity for an unfiltered exchange between an
informed and truly representative sample of the American people and those who seek their votes.
Professor Fishkin, who tested his deliberative poll concept with a national sample of British voters
broadcast on Britain's Channel4 in April1994 and May 1995, said, "For the first time in American
history, we will assemble a microcosm of the entire country in one room to deliberate on key issues in a
presidential campaign. It's a daunting challenge, but one that will move the discussion beyond slogans
and negative ads."
The Convention sessions with the presidential candidates will air in both live and repeat PBS broadcasts
on Saturday and Sunday, January 20-21, 1996 (see page 3 for schedule). A 90-minute wrap-up report,
which will reveal the results of the follow-up deliberative poll, will air on Friday, January 26, 1996, at
9:00p.m. ET. The program will reach beyond the Austin weekend, placing the results of the
deliberative poll in a broader national context.
"We're proud to be a partner in this exciting undertaking," said Ervin S. Duggan, PBS president and
CEO. "The NIC has the potential to help encourage deliberative discourse at a key point in the campaign
season. It will also demonstrate, in a profound and immediate way,·how public television can encourage
understanding by featuring sound analysis rather than sound bites."
Co-chairs of the National Advisory Committee for the NIC are Charls Walker and Newton Minow, who
also co-chaired the 1976 Presidential Debate Commission. A bipartisan committee chaired by former
members of Congress Barbara Jordan (D-TX) and Bill Frenzel (R-MN) has reviewed all briefing
materials. The poll research and delegate recruiting is being conducted by the National Opinion Research
Center (NORC) of the University of Chicago. The design of the delegate questionnaire and other aspects
of the research are being supervised by a team led by University of Michigan's Professor Philip
Converse, a leading authority in public opinion research.
Researchers began seeking participants November 1 in an exhaustive process that will conclude in
December. Public Agenda and the Kettering Foundation have developed the materials for the smallgroup discussions to be led by trained moderators from the National Issues Forums, a
-more-
�-3non-partisan network of citizen organizations that regularly convenes deliberative forums on a wide
range of issues.
I
~
Major funding and in-kind support are being provided by Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage
Corporation), the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Southwestern Bell, American Airlines, and the City of
Austin. PBS is underwriting television coverage of the event.
The NIC is produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. Lester M. Crystal is executive producer of The
Newshour With Jim Lehrer, Dan Werner, vice president of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, is executive
producer of the National Issues Convention broadcast.
The National Issues Convention is a major component of the Democracy Project, a special PBS
multimedia initiative offering an enlivened, revitalized approached to news and public affairs
programming, with an emphasis on election coverage. Building upon PBS's traditional strengths of indepth programming and diversity of viewpoints, the Democracy Project focuses on the power of the
deliberative process among voters, rather than the pervasive sound bite. The Democracy Project is
funded in part by The CIT Group.
The current schedule for PBS coverage of the National Issues Convention follows.
Times and lengths may change; please check local listings. NPR will simulcast the live sessions.
• Saturday, January 20, 8:00 p.m. ET- LIVE coverage of the Republican Presidential
candidates' appearance before the Convention (3 hours)
• Sunday, January 21, 10:00 a.m. ET- LIVE coverage of the Democratic Presidential
candidate(s)' appearance before the Convention (2 hours)
• Sunday, January 21, 5:00p.m. ET- REPEAT broadcast of the Republican Presidential
candidates (3 hours)
• Sunday, January 21, 8:00p.m. ET- REPEAT broadcast of the Democratic Presidential
candidate(s) (2 hours)
• Friday, January 26, 9:00p.m. ET- Wrap-up documentary (90 minutes)
###
�
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Title
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Don Baer
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Office of Communications
Don Baer
Date
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1994-1997
Is Part Of
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<a href="http://clinton.presidentiallibraries.us/items/show/36008" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7431981" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Identifier
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2006-0458-F
Description
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Donald Baer was Assistant to the President and Director of Communications in the White House Communications Office. The records in this collection contain copies of speeches, speech drafts, talking points, letters, notes, memoranda, background material, correspondence, reports, excerpts from manuscripts and books, news articles, presidential schedules, telephone message forms, and telephone call lists.
Provenance
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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537 folders in 34 boxes
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PBS January 21 - National Issues Convention
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Office of Communications
Don Baer
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2006-0458-F
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Box 15
<a href="http://www.clintonlibrary.gov/assets/Documents/Finding-Aids/2006/2006-0458-F.pdf" target="_blank">Collection Finding Aid</a>
<a href="https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7431981" target="_blank">National Archives Catalog Description</a>
Provenance
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Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
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William J. Clinton Presidential Library & Museum
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42-t-7431981-20060458F-015-014-2014
7431981