"Actually, a few years ago President Ford imbued me with a love for Michigan football," Cheney told the crowd from atop an antique fire truck. "A very close friend and former colleague of mine has been Peter McPherson, the president of Michigan State."



"Actually, a few years ago President Ford imbued me with a love for Michigan football," Cheney told the crowd from atop an antique fire truck. "A very close friend and former colleague of mine has been Peter McPherson, the president of Michigan State."

Cheney tailgates, watches game

By Hanna LoPatin

Daily Staff Reporter

Vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney speaks outside Michigan Stadium before Saturday's football game. Photo: RACHEL FEIERMAN/Daily

It is an old and bitter rivalry - two teams fighting for control of the state of Michigan, and one of the teams made their latest punch Saturday.

But unlike the Wolverines' 14-0 victory over the Spartans, this game won't be decided until Nov. 7.

In the hours before kickoff Saturday, Republican vice-presidential candidate Dick Cheney made his way through tailgate parties and rallies outside the stadium to win respect - and votes - for himself and running mate George W. Bush in what has been called the most important state in this election.

Cheney said he was excited to get a chance to watch a football game. "I've been pretty busy campaigning this fall, so I haven't gotten as many ball games in as I like," he said. "And of course the Michigan-Michigan State football game's always of interest to anybody who's a fan."

Insisting he was "officially and scrupulously neutral" in the Wolverine-Spartan rivalry, Cheney said being at the Big House gave him a unique opportunity to campaign. "If nothing else, it's a fun day," he said. "But I also get to meet a lot of great people, do a little bit of campaigning so it's not wasted effort."

Cheney came to Ann Arbor after making a bus tour to Plymouth and Flint in the morning with Gov. John Engler, state Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle Creek) and U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). McCain returned home for a family commitment before the tour arrived in Ann Arbor. Schwarz said he and Engler knew Cheney was planning to be in Michigan on Saturday and urged the former defense secretary to come to the game.

"This is the place to be in Michigan for this game," he said. "A hundred ten thousand voters are going to be here." The University is a good place to campaign, Engler said. "It's a big campus. It's a prestigious campus," he said. Bush "wants to compete for votes on this campus. He thinks he's got a greater appeal to younger voters."

An EPIC/MRA poll released Friday shows the presidential race even, with both Bush and Vice President Al Gore receiving 43 percent of the vote.

Although Cheney refused to take sides in the game, neither Engler, a Michigan State alum, nor Schwarz, a University of Michigan alum, tried to hide their biases. "He's trying to play mind games with the Michigan fans," Schwarz said of Engler.

But even Engler couldn't deny that the 16-point spread put the Wolverines into favor. "I'm afraid this is going to be a Wolverine day from start to finish," he said. "It's going to be tough for the Spartans, but we'll do our best."

Upon arriving in Ann Arbor, the Republican contingency attended a tailgate party in the parking lot near Crisler Arena, where they shook hands and Cheney indulged himself in a bratwurst and Diet Coke.

After interviews with reporters, Cheney spoke briefly to a crowd of more than 1,000 outside the stadium.

"Actually, a few years ago President Ford imbued me with a love for Michigan football," Cheney told the crowd from atop an antique fire truck. "A very close friend and former colleague of mine has been Peter McPherson, the president of Michigan State."

Cheney flew back to Texas after watching Michigan take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter of the football game.

When this story was posted in March 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Peace Corps Library Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in over 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related reference material in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about RPCVs who have your same interests, who served in your Country of Service, or who serve in your state.

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RPCVs in Congress ask colleagues to support PC RPCVs Sam Farr, Chris Shays, Thomas Petri, James Walsh, and Mike Honda have asked their colleagues in Congress to add their names to a letter they have written to the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee, asking for full funding of $345 M for the Peace Corps in 2006. As a follow-on to Peace Corps week, please read the letter and call your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to add their name to the letter.

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Add your info now to the RPCV Directory Call Harris Publishing at 800-414-4608 right away to add your name or make changes to your listing in the newest edition of the NPCA's Directory of Peace Corps Volunteers and Former Staff. Then read our story on how you can get access to the book after it is published. The deadline for inclusion is May 16 so call now.

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March 12, 2005: This Week's Top Stories The Coyne Column: Read Winning Essay by PCV 12 Mar Laura Germino helps Migrant Workers Advocacy Group 12 Mar Sam Farr impresses medical-pot advocacy group 11 Mar Fred O'Regan writes Op-Ed on Canada seal hunt 11 Mar Fern Holland remembered In Oklahoma 10 Mar Mountaineer Charles Houston receives honorary degree 10 Mar Elaine Chao led delegation for President's inauguration 10 Mar Chris Dodd wins Hispanic Capital Award 9 Mar Pat Waak is new Colorado Democratic Party Chair 9 Mar Chris Matthews withdraws from Florida Event 9 Mar Timothy J. O'Brien returns to Korea 8 Mar Tomas Belsky's paintings inspired by service in Brazil 7 Mar Christopher Hill to be Assistant Secretary of State 7 Mar Allen Moore is Sen Frist's Deputy Chief of Staff 7 Mar Jim Doyle heads trade delegation to Mexico 5 Mar Al Kamen says Narcissus Is Now Greek AND Roman 4 Mar Diana Gomez says to do something about Peace 4 Mar

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March 12, 2005: RPCV Groups in the News San Diego RPCVs host reception with Gaddi Vasquez on March 6 4 Mar Alaska RPCVs speak for dividend 4 Mar Western North Carolina's RPCVs sponsor Africa Night on March 6 3 Mar Maryland RPCVs lobby their Senators for Peace Corps 3 Mar Connecticut RPCVs hold fundraiser on March 5 3 Mar Charles Baquet speaks at Louisiana PC Breakfast on March 4 28 Feb RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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March 1: National Day of Action Tuesday, March 1, is the NPCA's National Day of Action. Please call your Senators and ask them to support the President's proposed $27 Million budget increase for the Peace Corps for FY2006 and ask them to oppose the elimination of Perkins loans that benefit Peace Corps volunteers from low-income backgrounds. Follow this link for step-by-step information on how to make your calls. Then take our poll and leave feedback on how the calls went.

Make a call for the Peace Corps PCOL is a strong supporter of the NPCA's National Day of Action and encourages every RPCV to spend ten minutes on Tuesday, March 1 making a call to your Representatives and ask them to support President Bush's budget proposal of $345 Million to expand the Peace Corps. Take our Poll: Click here to take our poll. We'll send out a reminder and have more details early next week.

Peace Corps Calendar: Tempest in a Teapot? Bulgarian writer Ognyan Georgiev has written a story which has made the front page of the newspaper "Telegraf" criticizing the photo selection for his country in the 2005 "Peace Corps Calendar" published by RPCVs of Madison, Wisconsin. RPCV Betsy Sergeant Snow, who submitted the photograph for the calendar, has published her reply. Read the stories and leave your comments.

WWII participants became RPCVs Read about two RPCVs who participated in World War II in very different ways long before there was a Peace Corps. Retired Rear Adm. Francis J. Thomas (RPCV Fiji), a decorated hero of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2005 at 100. Mary Smeltzer (RPCV Botswana), 89, followed her Japanese students into WWII internment camps. We honor both RPCVs for their service.

Bush's FY06 Budget for the Peace Corps The White House is proposing $345 Million for the Peace Corps for FY06 - a $27.7 Million (8.7%) increase that would allow at least two new posts and maintain the existing number of volunteers at approximately 7,700. Bush's 2002 proposal to double the Peace Corps to 14,000 volunteers appears to have been forgotten. The proposed budget still needs to be approved by Congress.

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