Vortex I
vortex biodegradable festival life commonly known vortex weeklong rock festival oregon sponsored portland counterculture community help state oregon clackamas county near portland festival meant demonstrate positive side antiwar movement prevent violent protest planned appearance president richard nixon convention american legion nixon ended cancelling appearance due scheduling conflict vice president spiro agnew appearing instead remains statesponsored rock festival united state history president nixon scheduled appearance national american legion convention portland oregon order promote continuation vietnam war coalition portlandbased antivietnam war group called people army jamboree planned series demonstration antiwar activity held time convention law enforcement level expecting massive number protester side concerned largescale violence—an fbi report estimated potential crowd legionnaire antiwar protestors suggested result could worse protest democratic national convention chicago loose association portland counterculture group banded together devise strategy would highlight best part newlyevolving peace community koinonia house peaceactivist christian group hosted public meeting idea biodegradable festival life called vortex came mike carr lee meier kristen hansen nik hougen first go meet ed westerdahl discus concept people following meeting including bobby wehe kaushal yellin glen swift went meet governor tom mccall others began scout parkland nearby portland could accommodate event order keep peace mccall acted suggestion staffer ed westerdahl meeting vortex volunteer made agreement representative local antiwar faction permit rock festival held state park time nixon scheduled visit turn blind eye toward behavior widespread woodstock festival like nudity use marijuana mccall heard remark making agreement—less three month upcoming november vote running reelection—he committed political suicide festival held august september concurrent american legion convention attended event held milo mciver state park near city estacada admission free charge gate event monitored accurate attendance figure available busiest day festival line automobile ran mile km park gate southeast portland per agreement governor police oregon national guard largely ignored nonviolent offense drug use public nudity present festival festival became known governor pot party music festival primarily performed local act oregon band featured concert included brown sugar lloyd jones jacob ladder portland zu mixed blood concert opener tutu band medium reported many prominent national act time would appear including santana jefferson airplane grateful dead none nationally known artist perform though rock band included blue harmonica player singer charlie musselwhite blue band soulrb singer gene chandler also performed backed band funk ginger baker cream came visit event play little dampen enthusiasm attendee vortex festival essentially divided two area first higher elevation mciver park held huge homebuilt stage made huge oregon timber second clackamas river held sprawling encampment portland communitybased activist group tended collectively various need festival food coop organic restaurant put together facility provided free food ten thousand attendee community free clinic outside lookingglass provided medical care motor head parked car rock roll hall portland ran stage yoga group held class peace activist group sponsored teachins truly communitybased noncommercial event early pioneer rainbow gathering worked making information booth helping security lost child supply truck stage building took name rainbow family though doubt aided lastminute cancellation nixon event desired effect american legion convention antiwar activity jamboree carried without major incident concert considered many excellent mean preventing violence interpersonal violence harm damage property portland limited single broken window far committing political suicide mccall reelection november defeating opponent robert w straub handily mccall later told stud terkel damnedest confrontation youll ever see took park twenty mile km south portland turned overnight bivouac disco party…there lot pot smoking skinny dipping nobody killed event noncommercial commercial backer performer mostly local band mainstream press largely ignored music event focusing instead political aspect one largest rock roll festival era list historic rock festival list music festival vortex baptism matt love far man opb documentary look back oregon vortex rock festival oregonian vortex documentary produced oregon public broadcasting article estacada oregon