alternatehistory.com
Ready, Set, Go!
Ready, Set, Go!
Shortly after he received the news that the Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on april 4th, Bobby Kennedy decided to alter his speech in Philadelfia. There he would inform many of the audience of the tragedy, something not yet widespread across the nation. He would then give a short speech about how americans should unite on the face of adversity and pain, not give in to hatred, but to cling to hope. In a night full of riots across the nation, Philadelfia stood quiet. This extremely beloved speech would become the first of Kennedy's three Aeschylus, given this name for the quotation of the greek poet, Kennedy's favorite writer. A few days later Kennedy would deliver his second speech. But we're getting ahead of ourselfs. First one must examine the situation of the Democratic Party at that time.
Arleady on the campaign trail, Kennedy desired to take the nomination from Humphrey and McCarthy. When he got into the race, it was unlikely that he would be chosen over the president for the nomination. It was not only a uphill battle to take LBJ's hill, it was a batlle to redefine the position of the democratic party.
From the days of FDR the democratic party had been slowly transforming itself into the party of civil rights. It was not until men like Humphrey and later Kennedy, however, that the party really gained it's reputation. It was a complete turn in the history of the political entity, one of racism and segregation and social conservatism. And this change was clear in the contradiction that the party of civil rights had a huge power base in the south.
The separation between the southern democrats and the northern ones was a ancient affair. In the election of 1860, the party had been split when Stephen A. Douglas was chosen by the northern half of the party for the nomination, and John C. Breckinridge by the south. The result was Abraham Lincoln, the first republican president. Now the south, historicaly democratic was facing a party once again changed. A party that spearheaded the end of segregation. A party who placed a man like Kennedy on the whitesouse. Discontentment was evident for any man who looked.
One man who looked was Richard Nixon, and what resulted was the Southern Strategy. Appeal to racial tension as a way to move the south toward the republican front. It worked well in 1964 for Goldwater, thanks to a lot of efort on Tricky Dick's party. Unfortunately for Goldwater and the republicans, it was the only place that actually voted for the man. The irony of the 1964 election, where a southern democrat won everywhere but the deep south, is not lost to History.
Now it was 1968, and the rift beetwen the south and the north was only greater. By march 31st, the only southern democrat that could possibly win had decided not to run. The race now belonged to 3 northerners, and by April 10th, it belonged only to two. Robert F. Kennedy, and Eugene McCarthy. Both man stood on a campaign of civil rights and a end to Vietnam.
And so we arrive on April 11th, 1968. A Tuesday, and the day after LBJ's peaceful warrior speech before congress and the nation. Kennedy was still on Grady's memorial Hospital, where all the victims of the shooting had been taken. There he spoke to the family of Anna Sarley, one of the two casualities of the shooting. He would visit Minister Jesse Jackson, who rested in a coma, and then, with a bandaged shoulder would adress the massive crowd of reporters still outside.
The second Aeschylus speech need no repetition. In it, Kennedy spoke once more of the need for unity, for peace in America amongst all colors. It praised Hubert Humphrey's accomplishments as well as those of Martin Luther King. Most importantly of all, it pledged to the american people that Kennedy, if elected would do everything in his power to continue the fight for civil rights, end direct american involvment in Vietnam, and above all else, unite the nation.
From that point foward, Kennedy would be in the lead as the democratic nominee to many. As a more established politician, having worked closely in Washington with his brother in the past, and carrying a charisma and aura that only a Kennedy could muster, McCarthy would struggle behind, but by o means give up. A lot of things could happen in August 1968.
Regardless of whom got chosen as the Democratic nominee, it seemed clear that what had become the civil rights party was now also the anti-Vietnam Party. To many, this would bring unity for all americans that desired change, For those that wanted a end to the bloodly conflict, to all whom protested the war in college campuses and D.C., there was only one candidate.
Nixon saw this changes as troublesome but in the end pointless, in November the great silent majority would vote for the Candidate of law and order. The best course of action for the party would be to stand their ground.
Other's in the GOP were a bit more concerned.
Robert F. Kennedy delivering his first Aeschylus speech on April 4th, 1968
History of the Democratic Party, from Jackson to Clinton, Michael A. Cormack
..........
So, earlier than promised, thanks to a strike on College. Next one will arrive on the weekend and will talk about the GOP. Hope everyone enjoys.
Ready, Set, Go!
Shortly after he received the news that the Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on april 4th, Bobby Kennedy decided to alter his speech in Philadelfia. There he would inform many of the audience of the tragedy, something not yet widespread across the nation. He would then give a short speech about how americans should unite on the face of adversity and pain, not give in to hatred, but to cling to hope. In a night full of riots across the nation, Philadelfia stood quiet. This extremely beloved speech would become the first of Kennedy's three Aeschylus, given this name for the quotation of the greek poet, Kennedy's favorite writer. A few days later Kennedy would deliver his second speech. But we're getting ahead of ourselfs. First one must examine the situation of the Democratic Party at that time.
Arleady on the campaign trail, Kennedy desired to take the nomination from Humphrey and McCarthy. When he got into the race, it was unlikely that he would be chosen over the president for the nomination. It was not only a uphill battle to take LBJ's hill, it was a batlle to redefine the position of the democratic party.
From the days of FDR the democratic party had been slowly transforming itself into the party of civil rights. It was not until men like Humphrey and later Kennedy, however, that the party really gained it's reputation. It was a complete turn in the history of the political entity, one of racism and segregation and social conservatism. And this change was clear in the contradiction that the party of civil rights had a huge power base in the south.
The separation between the southern democrats and the northern ones was a ancient affair. In the election of 1860, the party had been split when Stephen A. Douglas was chosen by the northern half of the party for the nomination, and John C. Breckinridge by the south. The result was Abraham Lincoln, the first republican president. Now the south, historicaly democratic was facing a party once again changed. A party that spearheaded the end of segregation. A party who placed a man like Kennedy on the whitesouse. Discontentment was evident for any man who looked.
One man who looked was Richard Nixon, and what resulted was the Southern Strategy. Appeal to racial tension as a way to move the south toward the republican front. It worked well in 1964 for Goldwater, thanks to a lot of efort on Tricky Dick's party. Unfortunately for Goldwater and the republicans, it was the only place that actually voted for the man. The irony of the 1964 election, where a southern democrat won everywhere but the deep south, is not lost to History.
Now it was 1968, and the rift beetwen the south and the north was only greater. By march 31st, the only southern democrat that could possibly win had decided not to run. The race now belonged to 3 northerners, and by April 10th, it belonged only to two. Robert F. Kennedy, and Eugene McCarthy. Both man stood on a campaign of civil rights and a end to Vietnam.
And so we arrive on April 11th, 1968. A Tuesday, and the day after LBJ's peaceful warrior speech before congress and the nation. Kennedy was still on Grady's memorial Hospital, where all the victims of the shooting had been taken. There he spoke to the family of Anna Sarley, one of the two casualities of the shooting. He would visit Minister Jesse Jackson, who rested in a coma, and then, with a bandaged shoulder would adress the massive crowd of reporters still outside.
The second Aeschylus speech need no repetition. In it, Kennedy spoke once more of the need for unity, for peace in America amongst all colors. It praised Hubert Humphrey's accomplishments as well as those of Martin Luther King. Most importantly of all, it pledged to the american people that Kennedy, if elected would do everything in his power to continue the fight for civil rights, end direct american involvment in Vietnam, and above all else, unite the nation.
From that point foward, Kennedy would be in the lead as the democratic nominee to many. As a more established politician, having worked closely in Washington with his brother in the past, and carrying a charisma and aura that only a Kennedy could muster, McCarthy would struggle behind, but by o means give up. A lot of things could happen in August 1968.
Regardless of whom got chosen as the Democratic nominee, it seemed clear that what had become the civil rights party was now also the anti-Vietnam Party. To many, this would bring unity for all americans that desired change, For those that wanted a end to the bloodly conflict, to all whom protested the war in college campuses and D.C., there was only one candidate.
Nixon saw this changes as troublesome but in the end pointless, in November the great silent majority would vote for the Candidate of law and order. The best course of action for the party would be to stand their ground.
Other's in the GOP were a bit more concerned.
Robert F. Kennedy delivering his first Aeschylus speech on April 4th, 1968
History of the Democratic Party, from Jackson to Clinton, Michael A. Cormack
..........
So, earlier than promised, thanks to a strike on College. Next one will arrive on the weekend and will talk about the GOP. Hope everyone enjoys.