1968 Democratic National Convention

1968 Democratic National Convention
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Name	1968 Democratic National Convention
Date	August 26–29, 1968
Venue	International Amphitheatre
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Type	Political convention
Cause	1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries
Motive	Nominate a presidential candidate
Organizers	Democratic National Committee
Participants	Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, Richard J. Daley
Outcome	Nomination of Hubert Humphrey and Edmund Muskie
Arrests	668

Contents

Background and Political Context
Protests and Police Response
Internal Party Divisions
Key Speeches and Platform Debates
Nomination of Hubert Humphrey

1968 Democratic National Convention The 1968 Democratic National Convention was the presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party, held from August 26 to 29 at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois. It is historically significant for the violent clashes between police and anti-war protesters outside the hall and for the deep internal divisions over the Vietnam War and civil rights that it exposed within the party. The convention's chaotic proceedings and the nomination of Hubert Humphrey, who had not competed in the primaries, profoundly impacted the 1968 presidential election and the future direction of American politics.

Background and Political Context

The convention occurred during one of the most tumultuous years in modern American history. The nation was deeply divided over the Vietnam War, which had escalated under Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson. Following the Tet Offensive in early 1968, anti-war sentiment grew, leading Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota to challenge Johnson in the New Hampshire primary. Johnson's subsequent withdrawal from the race in March created a political vacuum. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April and the subsequent King assassination riots across more than 100 cities, followed by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in June after his victory in the California primary, left the nation and the Democratic Party in a state of shock and grief. The party's establishment, including Democratic National Committee leaders and powerful city bosses like Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, sought to maintain control and ensure stability amidst this crisis.

Protests and Police Response

Chicago became the focal point for thousands of protesters from various New Left and anti-war groups, including the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (the Mobe) and the Youth International Party (Yippies). They converged to demand an immediate end to the Vietnam War and to protest what they saw as an undemocratic political process. Mayor Daley, determined to maintain order, refused permits for marches and rallies and deployed over 23,000 police and National Guard troops. The situation erupted into what an official later report termed a "police riot." From August 26-29, police used clubs, tear gas, and mace against protesters and bystanders in Lincoln Park, Grant Park, and along Michigan Avenue. The violent images, broadcast live on national television by networks like CBS and NBC, shocked the American public and starkly contrasted with the party's official proceedings.

Internal Party Divisions

Inside the convention hall, the party was fractured along ideological and generational lines. A major conflict was over the party's platform, specifically the Vietnam War plank. Anti-war delegates, largely supporting McCarthy or the late Robert Kennedy, fought for a platform calling for an immediate cessation of bombing and a negotiated withdrawal. The party establishment, backing Humphrey, supported the continuation of President Johnson's policies, favoring a negotiated peace. Another intense battle was over the composition of state delegations, particularly the challenge by the integrated Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party against the all-white, pro-segregationist regular delegation from Mississippi. These fights highlighted the struggle between the party's old guard, which emphasized unity and traditional political machinery, and a new coalition of anti-war activists, youth, and civil rights proponents.

Key Speeches and Platform Debates

The convention's speeches reflected the deep fissures. Senator Abraham Ribicoff of Connecticut, while nominating Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, famously decried the "Gestapo tactics on the streets of Chicago," a direct rebuke to Mayor Daley, who shouted back from the floor. The most contentious platform debate centered on the Vietnam War. After a dramatic floor vote, the pro-administration plank, endorsing a bombing halt as a negotiating step but not an unconditional end, passed by a margin of 1,567¾ to 1,041¼. This defeat for the anti-war faction cemented the perception that the convention was ignoring the will of millions of Democratic primary voters who had supported McCarthy and Kennedy. Other platform debates addressed law and order, a response to the summer's urban unrest, and civil rights.

Nomination of Hubert Humphrey