Mitchell reports on current political picture

Nearly 150 people filled the Warwick Hotel last Thursday to hear NBC News's Andrea Mitchell, a University trustee, lecture on the current state of American politics. The 1967 College for Women graduate briefed the crowd on what she sees as the major issues of this year's presidential campaign. Mitchell began her reporting career at University-owned WXPN-FM, which was run by students when she was an undergraduate. Originally intending to major in English and pursue a career in teaching, Mitchell decided instead to enter the field of broadcast journalism. She took a summer job at Philadelphia radio station KYW-FM while still a student at Penn. Thus began her path to becoming chief congressional correspondent for NBC. Today, she covers foreign affairs for the network. Last week's function began with a wine and cheese reception, where conversation mirrored the topics of Mitchell's speech. A former Penn student said he came because of the "topical nature" of the speech, as well as to hear Mitchell's "incisive analysis." English Professor Peter Conn introduced Mitchell. "I think she is a thoroughly accomplished professional, one of the best broadcasting journalists we have," he said. "I am delighted that she is a Penn graduate." The NBC reporter gave her opinion of this year's presidential candidates, as well as her predictions of the election's outcome. "This country seems to be feeling good about itself," Mitchell said, adding that because the electorate is satisfied with the status quo, people are tending to support President Clinton. But she called Clinton's current lead "very wide, but not very deep." According to Mitchell, though Clinton leads by at least 20 points in most national polls, he has not really gripped the public. Clinton is hard to support because he has frequently shifted his fundamental beliefs, she said. "I have never seen a president who could simultaneously support midnight basketball and a teenage curfew," Mitchell added. As for Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole, Mitchell expressed a similar concern that he too often shifts his positions. She predicted that in the next few weeks, Dole is going to toughen up, without getting personal. "If he is going to lose, he will do it in a classy way," she said. The speech then shifted to Mitchell's opinions of today's media coverage. She explained that broadcast journalists are forced to use "omission" rather than "commission." Because they have to compress very complicated subject matter into very short periods of time, it is often better to leave certain details out completely, Mitchell explained. "Thank you for this wonderful welcome home," Mitchell said in conclusion. The College Alumni Society and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia sponsored the event. The World Affairs Council is a non-profit, non-partisan organization intended to educate the general public about current national and international issues. In the past, it has hosted talks by Dole and Russian President Boris Yeltsin, among others.