George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, visited Penn State's University Park campus on Tuesday, June 14, 2005 to speak at the annual Pennsylvania FFA Convention in Eisenhower Auditorium. The following stories chronicle the president's visit.
Recent presidential visit proves an exciting event for University Park campus
June 22, 2005
Excitement permeated the air at Penn State's University Park campus last Tuesday (June 14) when President George W. Bush visited as part of the annual Pennsylvania FFA (formerly the Future Farmers of America) convention. The FFA has held its summer convention on the University Park campus for decades, but attendees of this year's event took home some extra-special memories courtesy of their prestigious guest. After Air Force One touched down at the University Park Airport on Tuesday afternoon, the president stepped through the door and was greeted by Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno, as well as U.S. Rep. John Peterson, State Sen. Jake Corman, State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, State Rep. Lynn Herman, Joyce Haas, chair of the Pennsylvania GOP Central Caucus, and Glenn Thompson, chair of the Centre County GOP. He was accompanied by Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum. A crowd of two dozen journalists, photographers and videographers captured the scene from a flatbed trailer about 400 feet from Air Force One before the president was whisked away to his address before more than 1,000 at the FFA convention in Eisenhower Auditorium.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12495
For photos of the president's visit to Univeristy Park, visit http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_06_14_bush/
Celebrating our sesquicentennial: Photos from the Penn State archives
June 21, 2005
When George W. Bush spoke at the Pennsylvania FFA summer convention last week, he became the fifth President of the United States to visit Penn State's University Park campus, following Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. (Other presidents, such as Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford, visited before or after serving as the nation's chief executive.) President Eisenhower made the first of several trips to University Park during his White House tenure on May 9, 1953. "Ike" and his wife, Mamie, came to see his brother, Milton, who was Penn State's president, and Milton's wife, Helen. It was an unusual visit in many ways.
Learn more at http://sesquicentennial.psu.edu/pix/archive/IkenMamie.html
President Bush addresses FFA convention at Penn State
June 14, 2005
Flanked by hundreds of future farmers from high schools around the state, President George W. Bush addressed a packed Eisenhower Auditorium today (June 14) on Penn State's University Park campus. "It is an honor for me to be here at Penn State University, one of the great universities of our country," said Bush in his opening remarks. The highlight of the annual FFA state convention held annually at Penn State, Bush spoke on issues ranging from homeland to American agriculture before launching into the focus of his remarks - social security reform. He also acknowledged a special guest in his motorcade from University Park Airport - Penn State football coach Joe Paterno. This was Bush's second visit to Penn State during his presidency. His first appearance was at Penn State Delaware County on April 2, 2002, where he spoke to a crowd of about 700 with a bipartisan message for reforming and bolstering early childhood education.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12416
President touches down at University Park Airport
June 14, 2005
President George W. Bush has arrived in Centre County. Air Force One touched down at 1:38 p.m. Tuesday at University Park airport. It taxied through the shimmering heat and haze to a stop in front of the General Aviation hangar. The president stepped through the door and was greeted by Penn State Head Football Coach Joe Paterno, as well as U.S. Rep. John Peterson, State Sen. Jake Corman, State Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, State Rep. Lynn Herman, Joyce Haas, chair of the Pennsylvania GOP Central Caucus, and Glenn Thompson, chair of the Centre County GOP. He was accompanied by Senators Arlen Specter, and Rick Santorum. A crowd of two dozen journalists, photographers and videographers captured the scene from a flatbed trailer about 400 feet from Air Force One. The president was whisked away from the hangar by Secret Service agents and headed for Eisenhower Auditorium via limousine for his appointment to speak with the state FFA convention. He was escorted by several police units and an ambulance.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12415
For photos of the president's landing and departure from University Park Airport, visit http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_06_14_bush2/
FFA Summer convention opens at Penn State
June 14, 2005
The FFA has held its summer convention on Penn State's University Park campus for decades, but attendees of this year's event will take home some extra-special memories, as they welcome President George W. Bush to their event. "I'm really excited to have the opportunity for the president to speak to our members. We always have a good convention, but this year we have something extra-special," said Michael Hess, state FFA president for 2004-05. The session started off with a very formal roll call of FFA officers, the recitation of the organization's creed and a reminder of the history of the organization. After the formal calling to order of the convention, the crowd -- which included local and state politicians, members of the media and White House employees, in addition to the FFA members -- was greeted by Penn State President Graham B. Spanier, who welcomed the group to Penn State's University Park campus.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12414
Presidential visit to be broadcast live
June 14, 2005
The University Park campus is abuzz this morning, as preparations are being finalized for this afternoon's visit by President George W. Bush to the campus. The president accepted an invitation by the Pennsylvania FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America), and will speak at the organization's Summer Convention today at Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus. Coverage of the president's address will be carried live starting at around 2 p.m. statewide on PCN, and some local television stations also may have live coverage. Check Penn State Live for story updates and photos from the event throughout the afternoon.
George W. Bush the latest in long line of presidents to visit Penn State
June 13, 2005
President George W. Bush is scheduled to address the Pennsylvania FFA convention Tuesday, June 14, at Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus, the White House announced Friday. The president accepted an invitation from the FFA to speak at the meeting, and will focus his remarks on his proposals to reform Social Security. Penn State often is thrust into the national spotlight because of the work and accomplishments of its faculty and students, but visits from a number of U.S. presidents in recent decades also has focused national media attention on the University. Nearly every president from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush, as well as some presidential family members, have turned up on campus for commencement, speeches, campaign stops, fly-fishing and to visit family members.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12404
For photos of previous presidential visits to Penn State, visit http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_06_14_presidents/
Summer programs educate thousands, boost economy
June 13, 2005
University Park, Pa. -- When President George W. Bush spoke to the FFA (formerly Future Farmers of America) Convention on Tuesday, June 14, at Eisenhower Auditorium, he provided one of many highlights among the numerous summer events on Penn State's University Park campus. Along with independent conferences such as the FFA's, which has been held at Penn State for more than 20 years, a wide variety of Penn State summer programs keep the campus community abuzz while providing stimulating activities for people of all ages. Individuals looking for something to stimulate imagination, encourage creativity or improve athletic prowess have access to hundreds of academic and sport camps for K-12 youth, as well as a wide range of continuing professional education opportunities for adults.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12407
Traffic patterns to be altered Tuesday
June 13, 2005
Traffic patterns for motorists and pedestrians around Eisenhower Auditorium will be altered for most of the day Tuesday due to a speech by President George W. Bush to the annual FFA state convention. Most notably, Eisenhower Road between Bigler and Shortlidge Roads will be completely closed to vehicles and pedestrians. Several parking lots in the vicinity of the auditorium also will be closed. Visitors attending the event who are walking from east campus should follow Curtin Road to Shortlidge Road, and approach the auditorium along the west side of Shortlidge Road. Pedestrians also may use sidewalks south of the MBNA Career Services Building to reach Shortlidge Mall between Thomas Building and the Life Sciences Building. Individuals attending the FFA convention and speech should avoid bringing bags and backpacks, umbrellas, banners, and any other items that may be subject to search or prohibited.
For a map of roads and parking areas affected by the president's visit to Penn State, visit http://live.psu.edu/still_life/2005_06_13_map/
President to address FFA convention at Penn State
June 10, 2005
President George W. Bush is scheduled to address the Pennsylvania FFA convention Tuesday, June 14, at Eisenhower Auditorium on Penn State's University Park campus, the White House announced today. The president accepted an invitation from the FFA to speak at the meeting, and will focus his remarks on his proposals to reform Social Security. Bush is scheduled to fly back to Washington after his remarks to the group. This year's 2005 Pennsylvania FFA Summer Convention and Activities Week continues more than 20 years of sponsoring the event at University Park, and supports a long history between Pennsylvania FFA and the Agricultural and Extension Education Department in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. This is the fourth presidential visit by a sitting president to a Penn State campus in the past 10 years, and the second time that Bush has visited a Penn State campus. He visited Penn State Delaware County on April 2, 2002.
Traffic, parking changes to take place Tuesday
June 10, 2005
Several road closings and parking changes will be implemented on Tuesday to prepare for President George W. Bush's visit to Eisenhower Auditorium. The president will be on Penn State's University Park campus Tuesday afternoon to address the 2005 FFA conference. In advance of the president's visit, security officials will be closing Shortlidge Road between Curtin Road and Eisenhower Auditorium starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday. Sometime on Monday afternoon, Eisenhower Road, the road that runs along the MBNA Building, Eisenhower Parking Deck and Eisenhower Auditorium between Bigler Road and Shortlidge Road, will be blocked off from just past the service drive leading to the greenhouses, to the rear of the Eisenhower Auditorium. Traffic exiting Eisenhower Parking Deck and the surface lots in that area on Monday afternoon will need to exit onto Bigler Road. The entire road, and the parking areas accessed via the road, will be closed starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday. Both Eisenhower and Curtin roads will remain closed until Bush leaves campus late Tuesday. Other roads between the University Park Airport and campus also will close at various times to allow the president's motorcade to pass through.
Read the full story at http://live.psu.edu/story/12396