Powell Will Be Featured Speaker at GOP Convention

Retired Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Colin L. Powell will be featured speaker on the opening night of the Republican National Convention next month, part of a plan by convention organizers to show an instant contrast to the 1992 convention in Houston.

The prominent role assigned Powell represents another decision by presumptive GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole and his campaign to feature moderate Republicans who support abortion rights at the San Diego convention. Dole announced Monday that Rep. Susan Molinari (R-N.Y.), who favors abortion rights, will deliver the keynote address on the second night of the convention.

“The whole look is designed to contrast with Houston,” one Republican familiar with the convention planning said, referring to a convention that even some Republicans criticized as too strident.

Republican officials said Thursday that Dole telephoned Powell over the weekend to ask the retired general to give the concluding speech on the opening night in order to portray the Republican Party as conservative but mainstream.

Powell will follow speeches by former Presidents Ford and Bush, a filmed tribute to former President Reagan and an appearance by former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

Powell recently indicated he would not play a prominent role at the convention, nor would he campaign actively for Dole. His comments touched off speculation that he was attempting to distance himself from Dole, who trails badly in the polls against President Clinton.

But Dole officials and other Republicans said Powell earlier had agreed to a speaking role in San Diego and said he simply was trying to suggest he would not deliver the keynote address or Dole’s nominating speech.

Four years ago, the opening night in Houston included a prime-time speech by conservative commentator Patrick J. Buchanan that later was criticized, even by many Republicans, as too harsh and intolerant. This year, convention planners say they have no plans for Buchanan, the runner-up in the battle for the Republican presidential nomination, even to address the convention.

Buchanan has talked about staging his own rally in San Diego if Republicans refuse to give him a speaking role, and one GOP official Thursday seemed delighted at the prospect of Buchanan complaining that the GOP convention was too centrist or moderate.