The Guts of the Democratic Party
“It was chaos. It was a battle. And yet, you almost instinctively knew none of it mattered at all did it?”
-Staffer to Fmr. Senator Kefauver quoted in The Politics of National Party Conventions
“DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION OPENS STRONG”
- “Chicago Tribune” headline, June 1952
“Stevenson’s opening speech is what really secured his nomination, I think. He was witty, he cracked like a whip, which is exactly what we needed to keep the Democratic coalition alive.”
-Jacob Arvey, head of the Illinois delegation for the convention quoted in “The Politics of National Party Conventions
“With the refusal of Eisenhower and the battle-scarred and contentious scenes of the Republican Convention, many Democrats came to Chicago thinking of 1952 as a won year. Yes, Truman’s policies weren’t all too popular anymore. And no, the Korean War was yet to be won. But surely the country wouldn’t abandon the coalition that had led them since the 1930’s. Surely it wouldn’t pick two no name governors over the most organized and powerful incumbent party. And in a way, that is what made this convention the battleground. Much like the Republican Convention, the Presidential candidate was an easy choice with Governor Stevenson of Illinois all but drafted to win. But the Vice-Presidential candidate gained new importance as many politicians saw this as the chance to build political success and acumen ahead of their own campaigns in 1956 or 1960.”
-Professor Broadwater in a lecture on the 1950’s Democratic Party
“Let me say, too, that I have been heartened by the conduct of this convention. You have argued and disagreed, because as Democrats you care, and you cared deeply. But you have disagreed and argued without calling each other liars and thieves, without despoiling our best traditions --you have not spoiled our best traditions in any naked struggles for power.”
-Governor Stevenson’s nomination acceptance speech, transcript taken from ABC Broadcasting
“What more can one ask for? Intellect, the man is a Rhodes Scholar and Oxford Graduate and has pushed for the expansion of education more than any other man in this room. Experience, he has plenty as a Representative, Senator, and Chairman. I am for Fulbright for a bright future.”
-Senator Kefauver advocating for the acceptance of Senator Fulbright as the VP Candidate
“She has shown her ability to win an election. She has shown a loyalty to progress. She has shown that she can capture the public eye. Now I believe it is time for her to show us her ability to capture the highest public office.”
-Vice Chairwoman India Edwards pushing to draft Senator Douglas for the 1952 ticket
“Of course, it didn’t really matter what happened on the floor. President Truman and a few others had already secluded with Stevenson to decide the fate of the party. Truman would have his day though, as Stevenson took very little activity and the other politicians deferred to him out of deference to the party. Truman pushed hard for Secretary of Commerce William Harriman and argued that a VP spot today would secure Harriman experience he would need to run in 1960. “
- Professor Broadwater in a lecture on the 1950’s Democratic Party
“I have in him my full confidence and I have seen him serve under me well. Now I wish to bid him to go on and carry the banner I once carried, and stand boldly for America”
-President Truman’s speech congratulating VP nominee William Harriman recorded by ABC
“I’d been there for both conventions. I saw a battle for the core of the Republican Party, a fight to determine the future of the whole thing. And then I watched the Democratic Convention. Though it was plenty formal and the whole thing was filled with great speeches and fine cigars, the underbelly of it was far more obvious. The Republicans fought for the heart and soul of their party, the Democrats were stuck over the guts and the entrails of what they thought would be easy pickings.”
-Journalist and TV executive, John Daly who was interviewed about his experience covering both conventions by and for ABC.
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