Held every four years, Washington and Lee’s Mock Convention is the country's most accurate simulation of the presidential nominating convention. W&L students predict the primary nominee for the party currently not in office. This exhibit compares and contrasts Washington and Lee's 17th and 27th Mock Conventions. Chairmen from W&L's 1980 Mock Convention -- the 17th convention -- said that "despite the rich tradition that ties all of these quadrennial events together, each in its own way displays a distinctive personality." This exhibit examines the similarities, differences, and the progression of technology's role in two successful Mock Conventions held in 1980 and 2020.
1980
2020
1980
2020