Shawyer dissertation May 2008 final version - The University of ...

ut the Yippies’ signs supported a mock candidate, and called for a platform of“garbage.” The use of such a formal public space for such a tongue-in-cheek eventunderscored the Yippie frustration with and distrust of the Establishment. The Yippiesridiculed the authority of the City of Chicago and the United States political system bydisrupting the public space.The event itself went by in a flash. As the Yippies waited for Pigasus to arrive, thepolice watched nervously and the press swarmed around wondering what would happen.When the old station wagon carrying Pigasus pulled up alongside the Plaza, the Yippieshastened to formally present the Youth International Party candidate and his platform,and asked for the same Secret Service protection for Pigasus as the legitimate candidateshad. As soon as the car door opened, the Chicago police pounced on Pigasus and seven ofthe Yippie ringleaders. The arrested Yippies included Gayle Albin, driver of the stationwagon, Rubin, Albert, and Ochs. But by then the Yippies had made their point, andjournalists were already scribbling in their notebooks. The triumphant Yippies troopedoff to Police Headquarters to pay the $25 bond for each of their arrested comrades (“7Yippies” A6).Even though it was over in mere minutes, the Yippies deemed the mock pressconference a success. They had achieved the national media attention they sought,mocked the Presidential nomination process, and had a good time to boot. In Steal ThisBook Abbie Hoffman explains how to create a successful Yippie-style press conference:Everything about a successful press conference must be dramatic, from theannouncements and phone calls to the statements themselves. Nothing163