Vice president visits Knoxville for Baker Center groundbreaking

Vice president visits Knoxville for Baker Center groundbreaking

November 15, 2005

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Vice President Dick Cheney came to Knoxville Tuesday to help celebrate the groundbreaking of the Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy on the University of Tennessee campus.

It was Cheney's first visit to Knoxville in 11 years.

Air Force 2 landed at McGhee Tyson Air Base around 10 a.m. It was the first time since the Clinton-Gore administration a vice president has flown to Knoxville.

After a smooth landing Cheney was rushed by motorcade to Thompson-Boling Arena where the "groundbreaking" was held.

It was an event planned to the very last detail. An appreciative, if small, invited audience of some 500 close friends and supporters was there.

Besides the vice president, the speakers included Gov. Phil Bredesen, Sen. Lamar Alexander, and Rep. John Duncan.

UT President Dr. John Petersen was the event's emcee.

The event even had an international flair The head of Tokyo Electric Power, the world's largest power company with more than 20 million customers, was there.

Also in the audience was the head of Toyota North America, described as a "generous" donor to the Baker Center.

Protestors heckle Cheney's speech

The event proceeded smoothly until halfway into the vice president's speech. Hecklers shouted phrases like, "War - what is it good for?" at the vice president.

In all, about a dozen people participated in the outburst. Most were sitting in the arena stands, but some were sitting just a few feet from the stage.

The chanting lasted only about a minute. The protestors were then quickly escorted out by police officers. But just few minutes later another group unfolded a handmade banner that said "Peace Now" and chanted "Stop the war!"

After being removed from the arena, the protesters were patted a down by Secret Service agents, but none will face any charges.

For his part, Cheney didn't hesitate during his speech. He continued his prepared remarks, never once acknowledging the protesters.

Cheney honored Baker, recognizing his "deep belief in the nobility of public service."

Afterwards, Sen. Baker reflected on the disturbance, saying, "It's part of public service these days that people have the opportunity to express themselves in different ways in different places and different volumes of intensity. I understand that. I don't begrudge them that."

Tight security throughout the area

Security was tight around the arena, so tight in fact that 6 News was not allowed to shoot pictures of the area.

People entering the arena were required to go through metal detectors, similar to devices used in airport screenings.

One woman told 6 News officers would not allow her to carry an apple into the arena, fearing it could be used as a weapon.

Baker Center to open in two years

The new center will be built on the corner of Cumberland Avenue and Melrose Place.

The $15 million, 53,000 square foot facility will include a museum to tell the story of Baker's life and explore Tennessee politics.

It will also house a 200 seat auditorium and a modern political archives collection.

Construction is expected to take at least two years.

The event was scheduled to coincide with Howard Baker's 80th birthday.

Baker is an East Tennessee native and longtime public servant. He's a former U.S. senator from Tennessee, served as President Richard Nixon's chief of staff and recently retired as ambassador to Japan.

6 News anchor/reporter Gene Patterson, and reporters Catharyn Campbell, Erica Estep, and Jeff Lennox contributed to this report.