Mark Shaw (left) of Lake Forest and his son A.J. Shaw take a moment alone at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland July 18. Photo courtesy of Mark Shaw.
A Lake Forest resident and alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention sees similarities to the campaigns of his party’s presumptive nominee Donald J. Trump and the one waged 36 years ago by former President Ronald Reagan.
Mark Shaw, who first got involved in Republican politics campaigning for Reagan while a college student in 1980, said the GOP is more unified at its convention July 18-21 in Cleveland than at any time since the Reagan presidency.
“This is a very unified convention,” Shaw said. “This is the most unified I’ve seen the party since Ronald Reagan. People are looking for a leader. Despite what you’ve heard about Donald Trump on issues or his personality, people are looking for a leader and that’s what he is.”
Shaw also said he remembers skepticism about Reagan’s viability as a candidate. He said the country was looking for a leader with Iran holding American diplomats hostage in the United States Embassy in Tehran.
“The Democrats said they wanted to run against Reagan,” Shaw said. “They thought he would be easy to beat. Look how it turned out. It was a landslide. That could happen again like it did in the early ’80s.”
Though an activist in local politics since 1993, Shaw said his involvement started with Reagan more than 10 years before. This is the first convention for Shaw, who is chairman of the Lake County Republican Central Committee and state central committeeman for the 10th Congressional District.
One special moment for Shaw during the convention’s opening night came when Trump made an appearance on stage when his wife, Malania Trump, was speaking. He heard it might happen but was taken aback when it did.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Shaw said. “I don’t think a nominee has ever appeared at the convention on the first day. You didn’t know who it was through that smoky haze or what he would say. He was true to form. He said he would talk about his wife and that’s what he basically did.”
Though there were reports of protestors surrounding the Quicken Loans Arena where the convention is being held, Shaw said what he observed was tame. He had a chance to see what they were doing as he had to travel for more than an hour to get from the arena to his hotel.
“There weren’t that many,” Shaw said. “Some of them were talking about Jesus Christ, not Democrats or Republicans. We saw some on the train with Black Lives Matter signs. They were just sitting there.”
The 2016 convention is Shaw’s first. He said he applied to be an at-large delegate because he wanted to witness what he expected to be a historic convention first hand. He also decided to take his son, A.J. Shaw, who will start his freshman year at Lake Forest High School in August.
“I wanted him to have the experience too,” Shaw said of his son. “It’s very exciting. I’ve seen them on television but you don’t really know what it’s like until you get there. We’re meeting people from all over the country.”
As an alternate delegate, Shaw said he attends all meetings and sits in a section of the arena 35 feet from the floor set aside for alternates from all the states.
“If one of the delegates can’t attend a committee meeting, you go. If they can’t vote, you vote,” Shaw said. “We’re a little elevated. We have a better view,” he added referring to his seats.
Of Illinois’ 73 delegates and alternates, 64 were elected in the March primary. Shaw said he applied to be an at-large delegate and was chosen out of 110 people at the state convention in May in Peoria.
Shaw is not alone among North Shore residents representing their constituents at the convention. Reeve Waud of Lake Forest and Todd Rickets of Wilmette are delegates pledged to trump. They were not available for interviews.
A.J. Shaw (left) walks through Cleveland with Todd Rickets, delegate to the Republican National Convention pledged to Donald J. Trump and an owner of the Chicago Cubs. Photo courtesy of Mark Shaw.