Democratic National Convention Records

Abstract

The 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago determined that Hubert Humphrey would be the Democratic candidate for president. Throughout the Convention, anti-war protestors demonstrated around Chicago and experienced police violence and arrests. The majority of this collection details the events and messages of the Convention itself through the officially produced material that was distributed to delegates and press. The protests surrounding the convention and the ensuing police crackdown are covered through a series of national alternative newspapers.

Biographical/Historical

The Democratic National Convention was witness to controversy and suspense both within the convention hall and without. Held in Chicago’s International Amphitheatre August 26-29, 1968, the Convention determined who would be the Democratic candidate for president. In March of that year, amid criticism over his handling of the Vietnam War, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced he would not seek a second term in office, leaving a field of multiple candidates vying for the position.

Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York was a strong candidate with a great deal of support. On June 5, 1968, however, shortly after winning the California Democratic primary, Kennedy was shot. He died on June 6. Entering the Democratic National Convention in August, it was still unclear which remaining candidates Kennedy’s supporters would endorse.

Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy, and South Dakota Senator George McGovern were the leading candidates at the Convention in Chicago. McCarthy ran as the anti-war candidate. Ultimately, Hubert Humphrey was nominated, with Maine Senator Edmund Muskie as his running mate. Humphrey went on to lose the presidential election in November to Republican Richard Nixon.

While the race for the nomination played out inside the convention hall, another story was unfolding outside. As the war in Vietnam escalated, so did anti-war sentiment among American citizens. Additionally, the recent assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4, 1968, was freshly fueling the Civil Rights movement. Two main groups of Vietnam War protesters—the Youth International Party, or Yippies, and the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, or MOBE—planned a series of protests throughout Chicago to coincide with the Convention.

Chicago’s mayor, Richard J. Daley, was aware of the protest plans and conscious of the racial climate in America’s urban centers. Race riots had occurred in Los Angeles in 1965, in Detroit in 1967 and around the country after King’s death, including in Chicago. Daley boldly advertised that his host city would maintain “law and order.” Yippies and other anti-war groups were repeatedly denied permits to assemble and to march, especially in African American neighborhoods, for fear that their purportedly peaceful movement would lead to riots and violence. Though a few events were granted permits, late August approached with antagonism and tension already sewn between city officials and protesters.

In the days leading up to the Convention, police increased their presence and instituted a curfew. On August 23, planned protests began. Most of the protest activity took place in Lincoln Park or Grant Park, both several miles north of the Convention site. Throughout the week, various bouts of violence broke out between the police and the protesters. Hundreds of people on both sides were injured, and hundreds more protesters were arrested. Eight leaders of the protest groups went on to face a years-long trial and appeal process with charges of crossing state lines to incite a riot, among others. Ultimately, the Chicago Seven, as this group of leaders came to be called, were acquitted of most charges and served nominal sentences, if any, for their convictions.

Scope and Contents

The majority of this collection details the events and messages of the Convention itself through the officially produced material that was distributed to delegates and press. Records include schedules, press releases, seating charts, committee information, speeches, statements, campaign literature, posters and reports. The protests surrounding the convention and the ensuing police crackdown are covered in Series 5: the Alternative Press Response, comprised of newspapers.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in 5 series. Folders within series are arranged alphabetically.

• Series 1: Democratic National Convention Records, 1968
• Series 2: Candidates, 1968
• Series 3: Speeches and Statements, 1968
• Series 4: Related and Participating Organizations, 1965, 1968
• Series 5: Alternative Press Response, 1968

Related Materials

Republican National Convention Records, 1958-1960 (Bulk date, 1960)

Subjects

• Vietnam War, 1961-1975
• Vietnam War, 1961-1975—Protests movements—United States
• Counterculture
• Political conventions
• Underground press publications

Collection Inventory

Series 1: Democratic National Convention, 1968

Scope and Contents

This series contains information distributed by the Democratic National Committee primarily in the form of press releases and schedules. Information about subcommittees also appears, especially information on the Rules Committee, the Platform Committee, the Credentials Committee and Mayor Daley’s Host Committee. Some information about a credential protest from Alabama is included, as well as information about resolutions and seating charts.

Arrangement

Files are arranged alphabetically

Series 2: Candidates, 1968

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of press releases, newsletters, campaign literature, posters, buttons, bumper stickers, speeches, statements and interviews primarily related to the three main candidates: Hubert Humphrey, Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern. One folder on Ted Kennedy also exists, as some people wanted him to run.

Arrangement

Files are arranged alphabetically by last name of candidate, with folders relating to multiple candidates coming at the front.

Series 3: Speeches and Statements, 1968

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of speech transcripts, printed statements and accompanying press releases for speeches given at the convention and statements made to various bodies at the convention, primarily the Platform Committee. Speakers and statement authors include politicians, leaders of interested and affiliated organizations and candidates.

Arrangement

This series is arranged alphabetically by speaker.

Series 4: Related and Participating Organizations

Scope and Contents

This series is mainly comprised of press releases, reports and statements put out by organizations participating in the Convention or related to the candidates or the Democratic Party. One folder on the Yippie movement includes fliers for protest events scheduled during the Convention.

Arrangement

The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 5: Alternative Press Response

Scope and Contents

This series is comprised of alternative, left-leaning newspapers from around the country, with the exception of one publication from the mainstream ABC News. The papers’ main audience appears to be counter culture and left-leaning readers, and the editions in this series focus on the experiences of protesters at the Convention.

Arrangement

Files are arranged alphabetically by title.