The Dorchester Conference is America’s oldest annual political conference. Then-State Representative Bob Packwood founded the conference in 1965. Packwood invited Republicans from around the state to the Dorchester House in Lincoln City, Oregon.

The first conference attracted about 200 participants for a lively discussion around the future of the politics in Oregon. At the end of the conference, delegates knew that this gathering was something special and would, in fact, be a driving force for years to come.

The early years of the Dorchester Conference were chaired by Bob Packwood, and the Conference is now run by a volunteer Board of Directors.
Throughout the years, many changes have taken place, including the addition of college students, the establishment of a scholarship fund, relocation to Seaside, and the creation of the (almost) always popular Tent Show.

Since its inception, Dorchester has sought to have lively debate among political activists about timely issues facing the state, nation and world. Many major issues have made repeat visits, sometimes taking on different forms given the decade. Property tax limitations, sales taxes, financial support for education, and abortion are a few examples of issues debated at early Dorchester Conferences as well as more recent ones.

The lively debate, intellectual conversation, humor, and camaraderie result in hundreds of Oregonians registering for the Conference each year. Dorchester is the only grassroots political conference of its kind in the nation and still thrives as it approaches its golden anniversary.

Dorchester IV marked the first year the conference began attracting nationally recognized speakers when Governor George Romney, a presidential candidate, became the keynote speaker. Over the years, Dorchester has hosted luminaries such as Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Nelson Rockefeller, Jack Kemp, Elizabeth Dole, Karl Rove, William Kristol and Gale Norton.

Notable Oregonians such as Tom McCall, Mark Hatfield, Norma Paulus, Gordon Smith, Clay Meyers, and Dave Frohnmeyer have also been a part of Dorchester; and Greg Walden, Bob Packwood and Vic Atiyeh all participate on a regular basis.

The format of the conference has changed over the years, but has always been designed to involve all attendees in the discussion and voting on various issues. Political activists and leaders from throughout the state gather together on equal footing. One delegate remarked, “I was amazed that my opinion counted as much as that of the state legislator in our group.”

Encouraging participation and underlining the fun of politics have been two of the keys to the conference’s longevity.