Jackson campaigned in Oregon prior to the state's May 19, 1988 primary, including this stop at OSU in front of an audience of more than 7,000 people. Jackson polled 38% of the vote in the Oregon primary. He also made appearances at OSU in 1992 and 1996.
OSU’s Trysting Tree was a popular gathering spot on campus that dates back almost to the university’s origins as Oregon Agricultural College. The nickname evolved around 1900 when President Thomas Gatch admonished two students who were regularly meeting there for romantic purposes. The original gray poplar had to be removed in 1987 due to advanced disease, but prior to that cuttings from it had been used to establish a replacement tree which is located near present day Furman Hall.