1988 Democratic National Convention : Convention Chief Blows Whistle on Taped Rendition of ‘Dixie’
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ATLANTA — Delegates arriving for Tuesday’s session of the Democratic National Convention were greeted by the strains of “Dixie” as they entered the Omni convention hall, but not for long.
Don Fowler, chief executive officer of the convention, was standing backstage talking with Paul G. Kirk Jr., chairman of the Democratic National Committee, when the taped music started.
“I gotta go,” Fowler said and dashed out onto the podium, waving his arms at the sound technician, who was perched atop a camera stand about 80 feet away.
The sound technician failed to see the frantic signals and so Fowler picked up an in-house telephone and called him. The music ended abruptly a few notes later.
“I like the song myself,” said Fowler, who is from Columbia, S.C. But he acknowledged that some convention delegates might not agree.
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