Newspaper Articles

One of the biggest crowds for a political rally in Wood county's history is expected Tuesday morning, when Vice President Richard M. Nixon and his wife, Pat, come to Parkersburg, Chairman John C. Butcher of the sponsoring Wood County Republican Executive Committee, said last night.

Motorcades from many of the surrounding counties, representing 400 cars or more, plus chartered buses, are expected to come to Parkersburg for the rally which begins at 9 a.m. outside the Wood county courthouse. In addition, Wood county school children who take written parental permission to classes today, will be excused Tuesday morning to attend the rally, and it also has been announced that Ritchie youngsters will be excused from classes if their parents desire to bring them here for the event.

Chairman Butcher said Secreitary [sic] of the Interior Fred A. Seaton may attend the rally, accompanying Mr. and Mrs. Nixon to Parkersburg, although he added that Secretary Seaton's attendance had not been officially confirmed as of last evening.

The vice president, who is the Republican nominee for President, will come to Parkersburg in a 10-car motorcade from Marietta, following a rally there. The motorcade, with State Police escort is expected to depart from Marietta about 9:30 a.m. and to be at the northern limits of Vienna around 9:40 a.m. By 9:45 am., it should be at the Neale School in Vienna, where according to Butcher, a considerable crowd may gather to see the Presidential nominee and Mrs. Nixon. He said it wasn't known whether or not the motorcade will stop at the school.

Moving through Vienna and than [sic] Maplewood and on into Parkersburg, the motorcade will go to the courthouse, where a platform has been erected at the east side of the building. Nixon's arrival is expected around 9:55 a.m.

Mrs. Nixon will be presented flowers by Mrs. William P. A. Nicely, president of the Wood County Republican Women's Service League.

Chairman Butcher is emphasizing that the rally starts at 9 a.m. There will be speeches by Gov Cecil H. Underwood, GOP candidate for U. S. Senate, Harold E. Neely, Republican gubernatorial nominee, and Clyde Pinson, candidate for U. S. House of Representatives, Fourth District, before Nixon's arrival. The Big Red Band of Parkersburg High School also will play.

After making his address, Nixon will go the the [sic] 6th St. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad station here to get aboard his train for a trip west. The train will have been brought here from Williamstownand [sic] turned around at Parkersburg while Nixon is speaking at Marietta, and will be ready for the westward journey by the time his speech is concluded here.

Among political figures expected in Parkersburg for the rally are Walter S. Hallanan, national Republican committeeman for West Virginia, Pearl T. Harmon, national GOP committeewoman from West Virginia, Dan Louchery, chairman of the West Virginia Republican Executive Committee, Don Beane, president of the Young Republicans Clubs of West Virginia, Mrs. Regis Heinzer, president of the Federation of State Republican Women's Clubs, and John D. Hoblitzell, Jr., former U. S. senator.

State Senator Joseph M. Handlan will serve as master of ceremonies.

State Police of Company B, plus, municipal police of Parkersburg, Williamstown and Vienna, Civil Defense personnel of Williamstown, B. and O. police, and the Wood county sheriff's department will handle traffic and perform other police tasks in connection with the motorcade and rally.