First day of the Republican National Convention.

St. Paul, Minnesota -- With little fanfare, the Republican National Convention opened September 1 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Political speeches, a trademark of the modern convention, were called off as Americans turned their attention to a hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast.

For what might be the first time in U.S. political history, a natural disaster derailed national convention plans. Hurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast -- the same region devastated by Hurricane Katrina three years ago -- on the first day of the Republican convention.

Although St. Paul is more than 1,600 kilometers north of the affected region, presumed Republican nominee John McCain and party leaders felt it would be inappropriate to hold a celebration at such a time. All nonessential party business was postponed.

“This is a time where we have to do away with our party politics and act as Americans," McCain said via satellite from St. Louis, Missouri, August 31.

“In order for the Republican Party to officially exist and for Senator McCain to qualify for the ballot, we are, by law, required to conduct specific official business,” McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said in a press briefing August 31. Most convention activities on opening day were limited to that business, and a planned seven hours of activities were pared down to about two and a half hours.

Despite the changed agenda, delegates sporting McCain pins enthusiastically entered the Xcel Energy Center, which will host official convention events. Most delegates, like 25-year-old Jesse Petrilla of California, felt it was appropriate to limit political events, saying the change of plans provided “lots of opportunity to bring relief” to those who might need it.

Inside the convention hall, electronic signs displaying McCain’s chosen slogan for the convention -- “Country First” -- were visible on nearly every wall. Delegates cheered following a voice vote approving the party’s platform, which is a nonbinding statement of the organization’s beliefs and goals for the next four years. Party leaders call the 2008 platform “the most grassroots-driven platform development effort in the history of American politics” because the party allowed ordinary party members to submit ideas via the Internet. The 67-page platform deals with security, environmental, educational, economic and social issues.

Other business included formally approving delegates and committee leaders and passing party rules -- such as a measure that requires Iowa and New Hampshire to again hold the first Republican nominating contests in 2012.

Delegates cheered even more loudly for first lady Laura Bush and potential first lady Cindy McCain, who concluded the shortened schedule of events with information on how delegates could donate to hurricane victims.

“The effect of Hurricane Gustav is just now being measured. When such events occur, we are reminded that first, we are all Americans, and that our shared American ideals will always transcend political parties and partisanship,” Laura Bush said.

"I would ask that each one of us commit to join together to aid those in need as quickly as possible,” Cindy McCain said. As she spoke, the convention’s large high-definition television screen flashed the address of the website www.CauseGreater.com for those interested in donating to relief efforts.

Governors of four states affected by Hurricane Gustav -- Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas -- spoke to delegates via satellite, having cancelled their plans to attend the convention.

Addressing the convention, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour said delegates “can understand why I miss being there, but I know you understand even better why I'm here with our people, and will be here until all is clear in Mississippi and until we've done what we can to help our sister states.”

Most people associate national conventions with the political speeches, videos and musical performances designed to excite the party and allow the country to get to know the presidential and vice presidential nominees, but these activities are optional.

The only required convention business not yet conducted is the formal nomination and approval of McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin. This is tentatively scheduled for September 3.

All other activities -- including the highly anticipated acceptance speeches from the candidates -- are not required. In fact, until Franklin D. Roosevelt gave his acceptance speech in 1932, presidential nominees did not address the convention. Campaign manager Davis stressed it was too soon to determine if the hurricane would affect McCain's plans to accept his party's nomination on September 4.

President Bush and Vice President Cheney were scheduled to address the convention September 1, but cancelled their visits due to the hurricane.

Democrats who planned to counter Republican messages with events of their own in St. Paul cancelled their September 1 activities as well.

On September 2, the party decided to resume the convention as scheduled. President Bush will address delegates via satellite.