The Tom McCall Forum Collection includes video recordings, promotional material and photographs documenting the series of debates on political topics that were sponsored by Pacific University between 1982-2007. The promotional material, comprising items such as posters and printed programs, often feature illustrated caricatures of the participants and notes about the debate facilitators. The photographs are mostly candid snapshots taken during the debates and related receptions, as well as portraits used for creating promotional material. The video recordings, which make up the bulk of the collection, cover about 80% of the debates, and are a mix of original broadcast tapes (most often in U-matic tape format) and informals tapings from broadcast programs (most in VHS tape format). A selection of the video recordings have been reformatted as DVDs, which serve as access copies. Finally, there is a file of research notes regarding the Forum, which includes a bibliography of known newspaper articles about the debates that were published while it was active.
Pacific University hosted the Tom McCall Forum, an annual political debate series, from 1982-2007. It brought together prominent speakers representing liberal and conservative interests to debate political topics of national interest. Originally called the "Annual Politics and Law Forum," it was renamed in former Oregon Governor Tom Lawson McCall's honor after his death in 1983. Participants included Robert McNamara, Pat Buchanan, Tom Daschle, Howard Dean, Richard Ralph Nader, Newt Gingrich, Alan Dershowitz, James Carville, Mary Matalin, William Safire, John Sununu, Pierre Salinger, Robert Bork, Jesse Jackson, Mario Cuomo, Dan Quayle, William F. Buckley, and others. A full list of of participants and the titles of their debates are listed below.
The forum was a major annual event for students and faculty at Pacific University, and it also had considerable public exposure. The debate originally took place on the Pacific University campus in Forest Grove, Oregon. With its growing popularity, it was moved to Portland in the early 1990s. Local television stations often broadcast the debates, and C-SPAN broadcast several of the later debates to a national audience.
Chronological list of the forum dates, titles and participants:
1982, Feb. 9 (1st Annual Politics and Law Forum) “The Moral Majority: a Debate.” Cal Thomas v. Sam Brown
1983, Feb. 28 (2nd Annual Politics and Law Forum) “Total Disarmament: Hope, Hoax, or Utopia?” Howard Phillips, Mulford Q. Sibley, v. Adm. Noel Gayler
Note: Tom Lawson McCall dies Jan. 8, 1983, forum renamed in his honor.
1984, March 29 (1st Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “America’s Future: Is Liberal Politics Dead?” William F. Buckley v. Dick Clark
1985, Feb. 21 (2nd Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Economic & Environmental Progress: Is there a Free Lunch After All?” George McGovern v. James Watt
1986, March 6 (3rd Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Reagan’s Stewardship of the Economy.” Arthur Laffer v. Andrew Young
1987, March 19 (4th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Preventing Nuclear War: The ‘Star Wars’ Option.” Zbigniew Brzezinski v. Robert S. McNamara
1988, May 1 (5th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “American Foreign Policy in the 1990s: Who is the Enemy?” Jeane Kirkpatrick v. Patricia Shroeder
1989, March 9 (8th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Law of the Land: Politics in Courts?” Robert Heron Bork v. Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.
1990, March 29 (9th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Media in U.S. Politics: Powerbroker or Pawn?” Michael Deaver (originally Lee Atwater) v. Carl Bernstein Note: Atwater canceled due to health reasons relating to a brain tumor
(CANCELED)1991, March 11 (10th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Leadership in the 1990s: Democracy and the National Conscience.” Mario Cuomo v. George Will Note: Cause: Mario Cuomo canceled due to financial crisis, unable to find replacement in time.
1991, October 13 (10th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Leadership in the 1990s: Democracy and the National Conscience.” Geraldine Ferraro v. William Bennett
1992, Sept. 21 (11th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “America’s Cities: An Agenda for the Next President.” Jesse Jackson v. Peter Ueberroth
1994, Feb. 27 (12th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “The Presidency and The Press: Who Sets the Agenda?” John Sununu v. Pierre Salinger
1995, Feb. 22 (13th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Conservatism and the Future of G.O.P.” James Carville v. William Safire
1996, Feb. 21 (14th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “From New Hampshire to November: Values v. Votes.” Lynn Martin v. Mario Cuomo
1997, Feb. 19 (15th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Striking the Balance: The Economy & The Environment.” Dan Quayle v. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
1998, Feb. 18 (16th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Money and Politics.” Haley Barbour (originally Mary Matalin) v. Leon Panetta Note: Matalin canceled due to health reasons relating to her second pregnancy.
1999, March 4 (17th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Health Care: Right or Responsibility?” C. Everett Koop v. Joseph Califano
2000, Feb. 17 (18th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Leadership for the 21st Century: Campaign 2000.” James Carville (originally Molly Ivins) v. Mary Matalin Note: Ivins canceled after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
2001, Feb. 22 (19th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Religion, Politics, & The Constitution.” Alan Dershowitz v. Ralph Reed
2002, Feb. 21 (20th Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Who Rules America? Power in the New Millenium.” Ralph Nader v. Newt Gingrich
2003, Feb. 13 (21st Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Assessing the Bush Presidency: 9/11 to Enron.” Bill Bradley v. David Gergen
2004, Feb. 19 (22nd Annual Tom Lawson McCall Forum) “Election 2004: Winners and Losers.” Molly Ivins v. William Kristol
2005, Feb. 17 (23rd Annual Tom Lawson Forum) “American Foreign Policy Post 9/11.” Governor Howard Dean v. Richard Perle
2006, Feb. 22 (24th Annual Tom Lawson Forum) “Democracy at the Crossroads: Does Our System Work?” Patrick J. Buchanan v. Thomas A. Daschle
(CANCELED) 2007, March 8 (25th Annual Tom Lawson Forum) “Reclaiming the American Dream in a Divided Nation.” John Edwards v. Jack Kemp Note: Cause: Edwards withdrew after announcing his candidacy for president due to federal and campaign and finance laws
2007, Nov. 7 (25th Annual Tom Lawson Forum) “U.S. Foreign Policy Post ’08.” John Bolton v. Lee Hamilton
Additional accruals are expected.
Additional printed materials related to the Tom McCall Forum are hanging in a permanent framed display on the second floor of Marsh Hall, next to the Library on the Pacific University Campus. They cover additional years of the forum beyond what exists in this collection.
Most of the materials in this collection was transferred to the Archives from various Pacific University offices. Several items were donated by individuals, including Russ Dondero, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Politics and Government, who was instrumental in organizing the forum.
Collection is open for research.
Pacific University owns the copyright to some, but not all, of the materials housed in its archives. Copyright for materials authored or otherwise produced as official business of Pacific University is retained by Pacific University and requires its permission for publication. Copyright status for other collection materials varies. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Additional items housed in Oversized Folder 1.
Additional items housed in Oversized Folder 1.
Additional items housed in Oversized Folder 1
Additional items housed in Oversized Folder 1.
Also includes snapshots of the 2002 and 2004 forums in TIFF format on CD-ROM.
Approximately 50 photographic prints of scattered years of the forum, including snapshots from the events and promotional headshots of the speakers; and 2 negatives.
Snapshots of the 2002 and 2004 forums in TIFF format.
"Side 3." Probably Part 3 of the recording; Parts 1-2 are not present. 1 audio cassette tape.
1 VHS tape.
1 VHS tape.
"Master, Tape No. 2." 1 U-matic videotape. -- "VHS Master." 1 VHS tape; and 2 other copies of the debate on VHS tape. -- DVD dubbed from the VHS tape: 1 master / 1 use copies. Dubbed 2011. In box 2: DVD case.
"Tom McCall Forum - 1986?" 4 reels numbered 1-4, 1/4 inch audio tape. -- 1 VHS tape.
"Star Wars Debate. In-house master." Title is scratched out and replaced with label: W.S. Coffin. 2 U-matic tapes numbered 1-2. -- "Star Wars Debate. Cablecast master." 1 U-matic tape, numbered 1/2. 60:45 minutes. -- "Work tape #1; Dubbed ... for Sound Mix @ Rex." 1 U-matic tape. "Star Wars debate. VHS Master." 1 VHS tape; and 1 apparent copy on VHS tape. -- DVDs dubbed from the VHS tape: 1 master / 2 use copies. Dubbed 2011. In box 2: DVD case.
Debate on 2 U-matic tapes, numbered 1-2. -- "VHS Master (for making dubs)." 1 VHS tape. -- "McCall Forum. Dub." Produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting, KOAP TV10. 1 VHS tape. 55:55 minutes; and 3 apparent copies on VHS tape. -- DVD dubbed from one of the VHS tapes: 1 master / 2 use copies. Dubbed 2011. In box 2: DVD case.
"Promo tape - Edited Master." Produced by Mercury Productions. 9 minutes. 1 U-matic tape; and 2 copies on U-matic and VHS tapes. -- Debate on 2 U-matic tapes numbered 1-2.
"Full tape." 1 VHS tape. -- 2 copies of the debate on VHS tape. 2 hours. -- "KATU-0-95; Common Ground PII." 1 VHS tape.
"Unedited Master, Tape 1 of 3." Produced by Pacific Productions. 1 U-matic tape. -- "HGW Ch. 8, 11:02 pm, Portland Television News." 1 VHS tape. Approximately 5 minutes. 1 VHS tape. -- 6 copies of the debate on VHS tape. -- DVDs created from the "Dub" VHS tape: 1 master / 2 use copies. Dubbed 2011. In box 2: DVD case.
"Production c92-012." 1 VHS tape.
"Intro: No KEX or KATU. Dub Master." White Horse Studios. 1 VHS tape. 5 minutes; and another copy on 1 VHS tape. -- "Intro: w/ KATU & KEX. Master." White Horse Studios. 1 VHS tape. 5 minutes; and another copy on 1 VHS tape. -- "Intro." White Horse Studios. 1 VHS tape. 5 minutes. -- Introduction. "Produced by Gard Strang Edwards & Aldridge." KATU2. 1 VHS tape. 9:30 minutes. -- "Tom McCall Forum 1995: A Brief History of Debate." 1 VHS tape. 5 minutes. -- 4 copies of the debate on VHS tape. -- DVD dubbed from one of the debate recording on VHS tape: 1 master / 2 use copies. Dubbed 2011. In box 2: DVD case.
Promotional video: "Debate Night: 'Top 10 Oregon Debates.' Video Intro." Produced by Mercury Productions. 2 copies on VHS tape. -- "Master." 1 VHS tape and another copy on 1 VHS tape. -- "CSPAN." 2 copies on VHS tape.
"Master." 1 VHS tape. -- Short tape, probably an introduction or promotion. 1 VHS tape. -- 4 additional copies of the debate on VHS tape.
"Duplication Master." Produced by Allied Video Productions. 1 VHS tape. -- "Dub from Master." 1 VHS tape. -- 2 additional VHS tape copies.
"Introduction: Marketing 101." Produced by Mercury Productions. 1 VHS tape. 7 minutes. -- "Barbour v. Panetta." 2 copies of 1 VHS tape.
"Introduction: Preview copy." Produced by Mercury Productions Inc. 1 VHS tape. 14:36 minutes.
An introduction or advertisement? 2 copies of 1 VHS tape. 8:40 minutes.
"Promo/ad." 1 VHS tape. -- "Video open." [i.e. Introduction?] Produced by Mercury Productions, Inc. 1 VHS tape. -- Debate. Produced by Mercury Productions, Inc. 1 VHS tape.
Produced by Tualatin Valley Community Access. 1 VHS tape.
"American Foreign Policy Post September 11." Produced by C-SPAN. 2 copies of 1 DVD. -- DVD copy dubbed from original: 1 use copy. -- 1 VHS tape.
Unknown year: "McCall Forum Mini - Dave Decker." 1 VHS tape. -- Possibly 1989?: "Tom McCall Forum." Numbered 1-6. 6 U-matic tapes. -- 1989?: "#3, Rough cut." 1 U-matic tape. -- 1987 or 1989?: "Worktape #2." 1 U-matic tape.