Cochran, who had waved a large American flagduring the rally, used the tip of his flagpole topop some of the largest balloons, which wereemblazoned with the word "Bush".
"I love the balloons," Cochran told TheCrimson. "This is a party, but it's the beginningof a lot of hard work."
Earlier in the Republican National Convention'sconcluding session, Vice president Dan Quayle alsoaccepted his renomination and told Democrats that"America is the greatest nation in the word, andthat's one thing you're not going to change."
Mirroring the Democratic emphasis last month onfamily values, both the president and vicepresident stressed the need for keeping the familyunit an integral pat of the nation's socialstructure, repeating the theme from Wednesdaynight's session that featured Barbara Bush'sspeech.
Quayle, in an emotional segment reminiscent ofthe story Democratic vice president candidate Sen.Albert A. Gore Jr. '69 told last month at theDemocratic convention, explained how his familylearned about the devastating efforts of diseasewhen his mother-in-low died of breast cancer. Hesaid he and his wife host an annual road race thatbenefits cancer research organizations.
"By leading the battle against breast Cancer inmemory of her mother, Marilyn has taken a familytragedy and turned it into a hope for others,"Quayle said.
Also echoing the Democratic convention was afilm about Dan Quayle, vice president, his wifeand his mother. The film included home moviefootage of Dan Quayle the toddler falling to theground on roller skates and picking himself upagain.
Following an introduction from Sen. JohnDanforth (R-Mo.) that defended Quayle's characterand competency, the vice president lashed outagainst the negative press that has plagued himfor the last four years.
"I know my critics wish I were not standinghere tonight..That is why, when someone confrontsthem and challenges them, they will stop atnothing to destroy him. To them I will say: youhave failed. I stand before you, and before theAmerican people--unbowed, unbroken and ready tokeep fighting for our beliefs."
Quayle also took his own shot at the Democraticticket, injecting some humor into the evening thatbrought roars of laughter from the crowd. "Formore than a month the media have been telling usthat Bill Clinton and Al Gore are 'moderates'.Well, if they're moderates, I'm a world-championspeller," Quayle said.
After an energetic speech from Senate MinorityLeader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) that touted Bush as "thereal comeback kid," the president was introducedby a film of his own that featured historicalclips of the great American president and theiraccomplishments.
Former President Gerald Ford, the lastRepublican candidate to lose a presidentialelection, began the final session of theconvention with a speech that chornicled thesuccessful Republican presidential terms and endedwith a quote from Former President John Adamsabout who should reside in the White House: "Maynone but honest and wise men ever rule under thisroof."
Joanna M. Weiss contributed to the reportingof this article.