1968 Democratic National Convention

1968 Democratic National Convention
Unknown author · Public domain · source
Name	1968 Democratic National Convention
Party	Democratic
Date	August 26–29, 1968
Venue	International Amphitheatre
City	Chicago, Illinois
Chairman	Carl Albert
Presidential nominee	Hubert Humphrey
Presidential nominee state	Minnesota
Vice presidential nominee	Edmund Muskie
Vice presidential nominee state	Maine
Prevconvention	1964 Democratic National Convention
Nextconvention	1972 Democratic National Convention

1968 Democratic National Convention. Held from August 26 to 29 at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, this gathering of the Democratic Party was one of the most tumultuous in American political history. The convention nominated Hubert Humphrey for President and Edmund Muskie for Vice President amidst deep internal divisions over the Vietnam War and widespread civil unrest in the city's streets. The violent clashes between police, protesters, and journalists broadcast live on national television came to define the event, profoundly impacting the presidential election and the party's future.

Background and context

The convention occurred during a year of extraordinary national upheaval, marked by the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April and the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in June, the latter just after winning the California Democratic primary. Public sentiment was heavily polarized over the Vietnam War, with incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson having announced he would not seek re-election following a strong challenge from anti-war candidate Eugene McCarthy in the New Hampshire primary. The subsequent entry of Robert F. Kennedy into the race had galvanized the anti-war movement until his death. Meanwhile, Hubert Humphrey, Johnson's vice president, entered the race late and secured delegate support through the party establishment without competing in most primaries, a point of major contention for reformers. This backdrop of grief, political division, and anger over the war set the stage for a confrontational gathering in Chicago, whose mayor, Richard J. Daley, was determined to maintain order.

Convention proceedings

Inside the heavily secured International Amphitheatre, the proceedings were rancorous and chaotic. The convention was chaired by House Majority Leader Carl Albert. Key battles were fought over the party platform, particularly the Vietnam War plank, where a minority report advocating for an immediate end to the bombing of North Vietnam and a negotiated withdrawal was defeated after a bitter floor fight, solidifying the pro-administration stance. The credentials committee also faced challenges, notably surrounding the official delegation from Mississippi, which was contested by the integrated Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Despite emotional nominating speeches for the fallen Robert F. Kennedy and for George McGovern, who had inherited much of Kennedy's anti-war support, Hubert Humphrey easily won the nomination on the first ballot. His selection of Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine as his running mate was intended to unify the fractured party.

Protests and police response

Outside the convention hall, the city became a battleground. Thousands of protesters, including groups like the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (the Mobe) and the Youth International Party (Yippies) led by Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, converged on Chicago to demonstrate against the war and the political establishment. Mayor Richard J. Daley had refused protest permits and deployed over 23,000 police and National Guard troops. The ensuing violence, often described as a "police riot," reached its peak on the night of August 28 during a rally at Grant Park. Police used tear gas, batons, and mass arrests against protesters, bystanders, and journalists from major networks like CBS News. The scenes, broadcast by anchors such as Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, shocked the nation and led to official investigations, including the later Walker Report, which labeled the events a "police riot."

Aftermath and legacy

The convention had immediate and lasting consequences. The divisive imagery severely damaged Hubert Humphrey's campaign, from which he never fully recovered, contributing to his narrow loss to Richard Nixon in the 1968 United States presidential election. In response, the party established the McGovern–Fraser Commission, which radically reformed the delegate selection process to prioritize primaries and caucuses over party insider control, a change that directly shaped the 1972 nomination of George McGovern. The event became a symbol of the generational and ideological conflicts of the 1960s, examined in works like Norman Mailer's Miami and the Siege of Chicago and the film Medium Cool. It also spurred numerous legal cases, including the Chicago Seven trial, and left an enduring mark on the Democratic Party's approach to internal democracy and public order at political events.

Category:1968 in American politics Category:Democratic National Conventions Category:1968 in Chicago Category:August 1968 events in the United States