Cambridge Dems Join The Convention Party

NEW YORK--At a press conference here last week, Democratic National Committee Chair Ronald H. Brown made much of the "diversity" of today's Democratic party. He could have been describing the Cambridge delegation.

Eight Cambridge residents were here to represent the city at the convention. They include multi-millionaire Ronald Shaich, a 1978 graduate of Harvard Business School who is co-chair and chief executive of Au Bon Pain. Former Cambridge Mayor and current councillor Alice K. Wolf was a delegate, as was Magdalena Geddis, manager of the Harvard Information Center in Holyoke Center. Also a delegate was House Speaker Charles Flaherty.

The entire 135-member Massachusetts delegation was lodged at the Sheraton Manhattan hotel and spent considerable time travelling and partying together in the Big Apple.

On Sunday, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy `54-'56 sponsored a cruise around New York Harbor for the delegation. Later that day the group enjoyed a lavish dinner reception complete with a donkey-shaped ice sculpture at the Laura Belle super club.

Monday morning, a breakfast meeting for the Massachusetts delegation featured remarks by Kennedy and Sen. Paul Simon (D-Ill).

Early in the week, at least, the agenda had been light, and the focus had been on fun.

"This is Ron Shaich. I am out of the room at another party," was the recorded answer at one Cambridge delegate's hotel room telephone.

Symbolic of the ebullient tone was Monday's breakfast concert. The Massachusetts delegation, clad in "Boston" T-shirts and Red Sox. caps, sang "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day," for CBS Morning News.

But the week wasn't just about parties; it was about politics. Even the parties were about politics. At the breakfast meeting, Kennedy referred to the cruise he and his new wife Victoria Reggie hosted.

"Just remember who sponsored you the other day," Kennedy said in a plea for political support.

And Democrats say that the bottom line thisweek is not fun or politics, but America's future.

Wolf, who arrived at the convention straightfrom a meeting of the National League of Cities,said "Elected officers from the cities thinkthere's a lot to do."

"Jobs, education, health care--those are thethings that people in Cambridge, Massachusettswant to see on a federal level," Wolf said

And Democrats say that the bottom line thisweek is not fun or politics, but America's future.

Wolf, who arrived at the convention straightfrom a meeting of the National League of Cities,said "Elected officers from the cities thinkthere's a lot to do."

"Jobs, education, health care--those are thethings that people in Cambridge, Massachusettswant to see on a federal level," Wolf said