Photo: Oberlin Mock Convention, 1940.
“Conventional Wisdom: What Happened at the Democratic National Convention and Who Wins Harris vs. Trump?”
A Zoom Conversation with Holly Fechner ’85 and John Lawrence ’70, both of whom have worked for Democratic lawmakers and retain connections to the Democratic Party, and Larry Jacobs ’81, University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Speculation swirls since President Biden decided to withdraw his candidacy for re-election and open the path for Vice President Harris to become the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. The Democrats will hold their convention August 19-22, in Chicago. How are the Democrats emerging from the convention and what are the prospects for Kamala Harris, the presumptive nominee, who was thrust into the lead role after an unprecedented whirlwind? To what extent will her campaign be burdened by perceptions of Biden’s legacy on key issues such as the economy and immigration? Can she inspire turnout? What does she have to do to win? What are Donald Trump’s advantages and vulnerabilities?
Join Holly Fechner, John Lawrence, and Larry Jacobs for a conversation about the Chicago convention and thoughts about the November elections. Holly intends to be present at the convention.
Holly Fechner ’85 is a partner at the firm Covington & Burling LLP. She leads teams that represent clients in significant policy and regulatory matters before Congress and the Executive Branch. Holly also is the Executive Director of Invent Together and a visiting lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She served as Policy Director for Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and as Chief Labor and Pensions Counsel for the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee. Holly majored in History at Oberlin and graduated from the University of Michigan Law School. She is married to Kevin Mills ’84.
John Lawrence ’70 is a Visiting Professor at the University of California’s Washington Center. He served for 38 years as a staff member in the U. S. House of Representatives, the last 8 as Chief of Staff to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. His books include “Arc of Power: Inside Nancy Pelosi’s Speakership 2005-2010,” “The Class of ’74: Congress After Watergate and the Roots of Partisanship” and numerous history-based Sherlock Holmes mysteries including “Sherlock Holmes and The Affair at Mayerling Lodge.” He blogs on Congress and politics at DOMEocracy. John majored in History at Oberlin and earned a PhD in History from the University of California Berkeley.
Larry Jacobs ’81 is the founder and director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota. He was appointed the Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs in 2005 where he holds the McKnight Presidential Chair. Larry is a prolific author and has offered commentary on American democracy, national and Minnesota elections, political communications, health care reform, and economic inequality. His most recent book is Democracy under Fire: Donald Trump and the Breaking of American History. At Oberlin, he majored in English and History. He earned his PhD in Political Science from Columbia University.
