The Modern Era, 1968 and Afterwards
How did a crisis at a nominating convention change how candidates were selected?
The trend of states holding some form of primary election continued. However, there remained the reality that party conventions still held more sway over who would win a party’s nomination.
Examine selected primary sources and come to conclusions about how the nomination process has changed over time. In this section, consider how events at a particular nominating convention changed the process for nominating candidates.
The following process can support exploring and analyzing each source:
- Observe: What do you see? Look for how the information is arranged on the page. What text to do you notice first? What details indicate when and where this is published? What people and objects (if any) are shown? How are they positioned? What is the physical setting? What other details can you see?
- Reflect: Think about the purpose of the source, who created it, and the intended audience. What can you tell about the point of view of the people who produced this? Consider the larger story and historical context.
- Question: What new questions do these sources raise about the role of the people in elections?
Record thoughts on the Primary Source Analysis Tool from the Library of Congress
Illinois delegates at convention, 1968
The 1968 Democratic National Convention was a turning point for the Democratic party’s nomination process. Only months before the August Democratic National Convention, the leading Democratic candidate, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated. This left open the question of who would win the party’s nomination. Many of the Democratic party elites wanted Hubert Humphrey to win the nomination. Others in the party believed that anti-Vietnam war candidate Eugene McCarthy would be a better pick. The sides clashed during the August convention.
This photograph shows one scene from the floor of the convention. The photographer, Warren Leffler, worked for U.S. News and World Report. He was known for his photographic coverage of pivotal events during the African American Civil Rights Movement.
Source Analysis
- What details most stand out in the photograph and why?
- How would you describe what is happening in this photograph?
- What can you infer about the mood of the convention based on this photograph?
- How can the mood or tone of an event impact how people experience it? Why might that matter in this context?
Protesters outside convention, 1968
The media’s coverage of the 1968 Convention included footage of events unfolding outside the convention’s halls. Protestors had gathered to express outrage at government’s continued role and actions in the Vietnam War. During the convention, the party crafted their platform in addition to nominating a candidate. A party’s platform names priorities for the party and outlines their position on different issues, including foreign policy.
Photographer Warren Leffler took this image on the last day of the Convention. Coverage of the events influenced how everyday people understood the actions of the Chicago police and the protestors, as well as what was happening inside the convention hall.
Source Analysis
- Describe what you see. What do you notice first?
- How are people arranged in the photograph? Why does that matter?
- What can you learn from this photograph about the mood outside the Democratic convention?
- How might the mood outside the hall influence the nomination process inside the Convention?
Remarks on convention news coverage, 1968
Media coverage of the chaotic convention and reports of violent clashes between protestors and police brought questions about the stability of democracy and the Democratic Party’s process for selecting their nominee.
This excerpt from the Congressional Record (Extension of Remarks) gives a glimpse into the discussion among Congressmen after the convention. As part of their remarks, Congressmen submitted reports from journalists who attended the convention.
Source Analysis
- What words or phrases most stand out and why?
- What can you tell about the point of view of the journalist whose reporting was included in the extension of remarks? Why is that significant?
- What clues does this report give about when, how, or why the nominating process changed?
- What additional questions come from reading this report?
Remarks on Democratic Party reforms, 1971
During and after the 1968 Democratic Convention there was a call for reform of how conventions were run. A commission formed to study how past conventions had been run, the process for selecting delegates, and the tensions between the preferences of the voters versus decisions made at the nominating convention. The commission reported to Congress on the changes they felt were needed to the Democratic Party’s primary elections and the party’s nominating convention.
While the commission could only speak for the Democratic Party’s policies, the recommendations influenced how the Republican Party structured its nominating process.
The following quotes come from leaders in the Democratic Party, speaking about the significance of the reforms to the nomination process.
Source Analysis
- What words or phrases most stand out and why?
- Are the quotes from members of the Democratic Party persuasive? Why or why not?
- What can you learn about changes to the nomination process from these quotes? What is missing?
- What additional questions does this source raise about how and why the nomination process changed?
Forming Conclusions: The Modern Campaign Era
Think about the sources you examined in this section.
- What patterns did you notice about the cause or causes of change?
- How did the sources you study support or challenge what you already knew about the modern campaign era and how candidates were chosen?
- Based on the sources you reviewed, what conclusions can you make about what can accelerate change?
- What else do you want to know or have new questions about?