What is the Jefferson-Jackson Dinner?

ryanteaguebeckwith — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:00:02 -0400

Answer:

An annual dinner held in the spring or Raleigh by the state Democratic Party since 1930.

The event serves three purposes: Raising money for the party, rallying the faithful ahead of the May primaries and serving as a platform for state candidates.

Speakers have included Vice Presidents Lyndon Johnson in 1963 and Walter Mondale in 1977; Democratic presidential candidates Al Gore, Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson in 1988; Texas Gov. Ann Richards in 1998; U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh in 2006; and U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in 2008.

The next dinner will be held in Durham on May 2, 2009, with Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine as the keynote speaker.

The event began in 1930 as the annual Jackson Dinner held by the Young Democrats and named for former President Andrew Jackson, who may or may not have been born in North Carolina.

A decade later, the state Democratic Party began its annual Jefferson Dinner in honor of former President Thomas Jefferson.

In 1948, the two events merged.

It is usually held in Raleigh in April or May, although it has been held in Cary as well.

A similar event, the Vance-Aycock Dinner, is held in Asheville every year.

Brief:

An annual dinner held in the spring or Raleigh by the state Democratic Party since 1930.

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