The 1968 Democratic National Convention, held in Chicago from August 26 to August 29, was one of the most tumultuous and consequential events in American political history. Taking place during a year marked by profound social and political upheaval, the convention became a flashpoint for the tensions and divisions within the United States. The impact of the events that unfolded in Chicago reverberated through the Democratic Party, American society, and the broader political landscape for years to come.
Background: A Nation in Crisis
The late 1960s were a period of intense turmoil in the United States. The country was deeply divided over the Vietnam War, which had escalated dramatically under President Lyndon B. Johnson. The war, which seemed to have no end in sight, was increasingly unpopular, especially among young Americans and the growing anti-war movement. At the same time, the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing, with African Americans and other marginalized groups demanding equality and an end to racial discrimination. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968 had only added to the sense of national crisis.
Against this backdrop, President Johnson, who had been expected to seek re-election, shocked the nation in March 1968 by announcing that he would not run for another term. This decision set the stage for a fiercely contested race for the Democratic nomination, with Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Senator Eugene McCarthy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy emerging as the leading contenders. The race took another tragic turn when Robert Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968, just after winning the California primary. His death left the Democratic Party in disarray, with no clear frontrunner.
The Convention: Inside the Halls of Power
As the Democratic National Convention approached, the party faced the daunting task of uniting its fractured base. Hubert Humphrey, who had not participated in the primaries, had emerged as the establishment candidate. However, he was closely associated with Johnson and his pro-war policies, making him a deeply unpopular choice among the anti-war wing of the party. Eugene McCarthy, who had campaigned on an anti-war platform, had garnered significant support but lacked the backing of the party establishment.
The convention itself was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, a city already on edge due to the ongoing protests against the war. Inside the convention hall, tensions were high as delegates debated the party’s platform and the nomination. Humphrey’s supporters, who controlled the convention machinery, ensured his nomination, but the process was marred by bitter infighting and accusations of unfair tactics. The convention’s televised proceedings revealed a party in chaos, with delegates shouting, arguing, and even coming to blows over the direction of the party.
One of the most contentious issues was the platform plank on Vietnam. The anti-war faction, led by McCarthy’s supporters, pushed for a strong statement calling for an immediate end to the war. However, Humphrey’s forces, aligned with the Johnson administration, favored a more moderate position that left room for continued military involvement. In the end, the pro-war plank prevailed, further alienating the anti-war wing of the party.
The Protests: The Battle in the Streets
While the convention was unfolding inside the International Amphitheatre, the streets of Chicago were the scene of intense and often violent confrontations between protesters and the police. Thousands of demonstrators, including members of the Youth International Party (Yippies), the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (Mobe), and other anti-war and civil rights groups, had descended on Chicago to voice their opposition to the Vietnam War and demand a change in the country’s direction.
Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley, determined to maintain order, had deployed thousands of police officers, as well as the Illinois National Guard, to control the situation. The police response to the protests was harsh and often brutal. On August 28, the most infamous night of the convention, what began as a peaceful rally in Grant Park escalated into a violent clash between protesters and police. As the demonstrators attempted to march to the convention site, they were met with tear gas, batons, and mass arrests. The images of police officers beating unarmed protesters were broadcast live on television, shocking the nation and leading to widespread condemnation.
The events in Chicago were quickly labeled a “police riot” by many observers, including a commission established by the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, which later investigated the events. The brutality displayed by the police and the heavy-handed tactics of Mayor Daley’s administration were widely criticized, both within the United States and internationally.
The Aftermath: A Divided Party
The Democratic National Convention of 1968 had a profound impact on the party and the country. Hubert Humphrey secured the nomination, but the bitter divisions within the party severely hampered his campaign. Many anti-war Democrats, disillusioned by the events in Chicago, refused to support Humphrey in the general election. This fracture in the party contributed to the victory of the Republican candidate, Richard Nixon, who ran on a platform of “law and order” and a promise to restore stability to a nation in turmoil.
Nixon’s victory marked a significant shift in American politics. The Republican Party, which had been out of power for much of the post-World War II era, began a period of dominance that would last for decades. Nixon’s election also signaled the beginning of the “Southern Strategy,” a Republican effort to attract white voters in the South by appealing to racial fears and opposition to civil rights reforms.
For the Democratic Party, the 1968 convention was a moment of reckoning. The events in Chicago highlighted the deep divisions within the party, particularly between its establishment wing and the emerging New Left. In the years that followed, the party underwent significant changes as it sought to rebuild and redefine itself in the wake of its 1968 defeat.
The Legacy: Lessons and Reforms
The legacy of the 1968 Democratic National Convention is far-reaching. The chaos and violence of the convention led to a reevaluation of how political conventions were conducted. In the aftermath of the convention, the Democratic Party implemented a series of reforms aimed at making the nominating process more transparent and democratic. These reforms included the establishment of primary elections as the primary means of selecting delegates, rather than relying on party bosses and backroom deals.
The convention also had a lasting impact on the role of the media in American politics. The extensive television coverage of the protests and the convention proceedings brought the raw reality of political conflict into American living rooms. The images of police brutality and the chaos in the streets contributed to a growing sense of disillusionment with the political system, particularly among younger Americans. This disillusionment would continue to shape American politics in the years that followed, fueling the rise of new political movements and a more skeptical and cynical view of government.
In a broader sense, the 1968 Democratic National Convention reflected the deep divisions and conflicts that were roiling American society at the time. The Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the countercultural revolution were all converging, leading to a period of intense social and political change. The events in Chicago were a microcosm of this larger struggle, a moment when the nation’s deep-seated tensions boiled over into violence and chaos.
Conclusion
The 1968 Democratic National Convention stands as a pivotal moment in American history. It was a convention that laid bare the deep divisions within the Democratic Party and the country as a whole. The chaos and violence that unfolded in Chicago had a lasting impact on American politics, contributing to the election of Richard Nixon and prompting significant reforms within the Democratic Party. The legacy of the convention is still felt today, serving as a reminder of the challenges of political division and the importance of transparency and democracy in the political process.