Lets win it for the Hump!
The 1968 Democratic National Convention began on August 26st and, unlike it's republican counterpart earlier that month, was a event many believed brought great unity for the party. Held in the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, it attracted a massive number of onlookers and supporters for both Kennedy and McCarthy.
Although the most likely candidate, Kennedy had not yet won. Senator Eugene MacCarthy refused to give up, even after losing most primaries and being considerably behind with the delegate numbers. Although both candidates fought each other with vigor, both agreed about the main issue of their respective campaigns: The Vietnam War. Althought the specifics differed, both men desired a end to the conflict, and that brought a certain degree of mutual respect between the two.
The so called "Host" of the convention was Mayor Richard Daley, a man of considerable power in the party politics, and with some personal connections to the Kennedy family. For Daley, the convention was a way of him displaying the city to spectators from around the country. The mayor desired for the country to know the improvements he had brought to Chicago, and for that, he would pack the city with cameras. And Those cameras would indeed capture Chicago, but also much more.
The Counterculture of the 1960's and early 1970's is believed to have been one of the main forces behind the fight to end the war in Vietnam. Now the Democratic party represented that fight, and the "movement" would show up to support it. From around the country they came, from college campuses, from farms and from cities, they filled the streets of Chicago with posters that showed support for Kennedy, or McCarthy, or both. Parks were covered, streets closed, it was like a great migration.
The so called "Hippies" were not the only ones arriving in the city. Groups representing multiple minorities were also in attendence. These showed up mostly for Kennedy. They were his base of support in this campaign, and they certainly showed it in Chicago.
Minister Jesse Jackson, who, along with Kennedy, had been shot during the infamous Morehouse Shooting, would give a public speech in Douglas Park. It was crowded with people from all colors and all walks of live.
"Fight for change!" The minister would proclaim. "Bleed for change, suffer for change, do not surrender until change has been accomplished, and your duty will have been served!". The crowd hearing the speech of course cheered the Minister on. A beloved figure among many, he now used a cane to move, after spending over 2 weeks in a coma following the shooting. Those words meant more coming from him then from most, and it made a impact.
The streets, were not crowded only with supporters, however. Mayor Daley cared a lot for the image of his city, and he would not have it be covered in more violence. Discretly, but surely, the police department moved along the streets and avenues and parks, under express orders not to incite any incidents, but also not condoning any violent criminal activities. Inside the Convention Hall, the great spectacle rolled on,
Many figures would speak during the evenings of August 26 to 29, among then Senator Edmund Muskie from Maine, Senator George McGovern from South Dakota and, maybe more importantly, Senator Daniel Inouye from Hawaii, the first Japanese american to obtain such a high ranking position in american politics. Inouye would give a lenghty speech about the need for change regarding race in the country, and is today considered to have been the keynote speaker of the convention.
Some notably not present were Dixiecrats. The race between Kennedy and McCarthy had left many of the Segregationists southern democrats alienated with the party. Their absence
en masse was well noted. And many worried the south would migrate to the Republicans.
It was arleady well know that George McGovern, would trow his support behind Kennedy. It was therefore, no great surprise when it was announced Kennedy chose him as his running mate.
Another great boost for the Kennedy campaign was the workings of Mayor Daley. Arleady stated above as a friend of the Kennedy family, the mayor would go out of his way to lobby for votes for the man.
Eventually, his large lead ahead, combined with these factors was more than enough to take victory from Senator McCarthy sight.
On the first ballot Robert F. Kennedy, brother of a deceased president and senator from Massachusetts would be nominated for the Presidency of the United States.
His Speech would be much more simple than anyone would have expected for a Kennedy. He would accept the nomination and repeat his pledges to fight for change and for a end to the reckless war abroad. He would also, more famously, declare that it was now the democratic party duty to "Win for Humphrey". The catchphrase, along with some variations, would gain popularity.
The convention would thus end in a positive note, with many clamoring change. It would certainly be very different from the caos from it's Republican couterpart earlier that month.
Slowly the legion of supporters that invaded the city left. Many of the "Hippies" would remain for a while, camping in the parks. There's a very popular story in Chicago, as well as in Washington, that when Mayor Daley saw the ammount of garbage and dirt covering the city in national television, he had a minor Heart attack.
History of the Democratic Party, from Jackson to Clinton, Michael A. Cormack
Democratic candidate for President of
the United States
..............
So, this was the DNC!!! Next week: The republican mess.
