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Day 3: Party Conventions Continue, Back to LBJ for Keynote Speaker

Following Monday's election of the Texas Boys State House and Senate, it was off to party conventions and the election of officials there. Neither the Federalists nor the Nationalists were able to elect their full complement of whips and a speaker on Monday, so it was back to work on Tuesday.

Statesmen not elected to the legislature returned to their respective parties to discuss platform items. Next up, it was time to move on to speeches from candidates for statewide elected office, including governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general. Though the list of activities does not sound like much, the party meetings are a necessary part to introduce statesmen to the painstaking process of electing government officials.

Part of the process of teaching 17 year-old young men about being responsible citizens and governing means also recognizing and respecting their need for leisure time. After lunch, and between the lengthy party sessions during the morning and evening, statesmen have a few hours to participate in the City Olympiad or the Boys State Band.

The Visiting Dignitary program continues Tuesday, June 10, with a long list of prominent Austin-area citizens tentatively scheduled to appear. You can find the full list by clicking here. Dignitaries are first introduced by a mayor, or mayors, from Boys State city, or cities, at that evening's lowering of the colors. From there, the dignitary is escorted to a classroom where they address statesmen from those same cities.

After dinner, statesmen will again trek to the LBJ Presidential Library Center to hear a keynote speaker. The scheduled speaker for Tuesday is Professor James Olson, a senior lecturer at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University. Olson teaches courses on  intelligence, national security, and international crisis management. To learn more about Mr. Olson, you can read a brief biography on the Bush School's website. Following Mr. Olson's presentation, it's back to the state party conventions where statesmen will hear speeches from candidates for attorney general, lieutenant governor, and governor.

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