1968 Democratic National Convention

1968 Democratic National Convention
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Name	1968 Democratic National Convention
Caption	Anti-war protesters confront police outside the convention.
Date	August 26–29, 1968
Venue	International Amphitheatre
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Coordinates	41, 51, 47, N...
Participants	Democratic Party delegates, anti-war protesters, Chicago Police Department
Outcome	Nomination of Hubert Humphrey for President

1968 Democratic National Convention The 1968 Democratic National Convention was the presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party, held from August 26 to 29 in Chicago, Illinois. It is remembered as a pivotal and violent event that exposed deep fractures within the party and the nation over the Vietnam War and the struggle for civil rights. The convention's clashes between police and protesters, broadcast live on national television, became a symbol of a country in crisis and significantly influenced the subsequent presidential election.

Background and Political Context

The convention occurred during one of the most tumultuous years in modern American history. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April and the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy in June had devastated the Civil Rights Movement and the liberal wing of the Democratic Party. President Lyndon B. Johnson, facing intense opposition to the Vietnam War, had announced he would not seek re-election in March. This created a chaotic primary season where anti-war candidates like Eugene McCarthy and, until his death, Robert Kennedy, challenged the party establishment. The nation was also reeling from widespread urban unrest, including riots in over 100 cities following King's assassination, amplifying demands for racial and economic justice. The choice of Chicago, under the firm control of Mayor Richard J. Daley, as the host city set the stage for a confrontation between anti-war activists and political authorities.

Protests and Police Response

For weeks prior, thousands of anti-war demonstrators, organized by groups like the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (the Mobe) and the Youth International Party (Yippies), converged on Chicago. They planned massive protests to demand the Democratic Party adopt an immediate withdrawal from Vietnam. Mayor Daley refused permits for marches and rallies, mobilized over 12,000 Chicago Police Department officers, and called in thousands of Illinois National Guard and U.S. Army troops. The situation erupted on the evening of August 28, later termed a "police riot" by an official investigation. In what was broadcast as the "Battle of Michigan Avenue," police violently clubbed, tear-gassed, and arrested protesters, journalists, and bystanders in Grant Park and near the convention hall. The images of excessive force, occurring while delegates nominated a presidential candidate inside, shocked the nation and dominated media coverage of the convention itself.

Internal Party Divisions

Inside the International Amphitheatre, the party was bitterly divided. The primary process had been largely dominated by party insiders, with many delegates selected by state conventions rather than primaries. This left supporters of the anti-war candidates, particularly the late Robert F. Kennedy, feeling disenfranchised. A major floor fight erupted over the party's platform, specifically the Vietnam War plank. A minority plank, championed by delegates like Julian Bond and Allard Lowenstein, called for an immediate end to bombing and a negotiated withdrawal. It was defeated by a vote of 1,567¾ to 1,041¼, a clear victory for the pro-administration stance supported by the eventual nominee, Hubert Humphrey. This defeat highlighted the disconnect between the party's base, which was increasingly anti-war, and its power structure. Further tensions arose over the composition of the all-white Mississippi Democratic Party delegation, which was challenged and partially seated alongside an integrated delegation led by civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, echoing the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party challenge.

Nomination of Hubert Humphrey

Vice President Hubert Humphrey secured the presidential nomination on the first ballot, having entered no primaries but winning the support of the party establishment and labor unions like the AFL–CIO. His chief rivals, Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern (who had entered after Kennedy's death), could not consolidate the anti-war vote. Humphrey selected Maine Senator Edmund Muskie as his running mate. However, his nomination was deeply tarnished. He was closely associated with President Johnson's unpopular war policy, and his victory speech was drowned out by the sounds of protest and police violence outside the hall. The convention failed to unify the party, leaving many liberal, young, and anti-war Democrats alienated and disillusioned.

Impact on the Civil Rights Movement

The convention had a complex impact on the Civil Rights Movement. The violent suppression of protest was seen by many activists as an extension of the state violence used against civil rights marchers in Selma and Birmingham. It reinforced a growing belief among younger, more radical activists in groups like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Black Panther Party that working within the traditional political system was futile. The platform debates and delegate challenges kept issues of racial representation and social justice at the forefront of the party's internal struggle. However, the chaos also diverted national attention from ongoing movement goals and contributed to a political climate where law and order rhetoric, later used effectively by Richard Nixon, gained traction with many white voters, undermining demands for racial equity.

Legacy and Television and Media Coverage

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