Conventions ain't what they used to be

I saw my first convention on a small black and white screen TV in 1956. I saw then President Eisenhower make his way in a cavalcade of motor vehicles to the Republican convention site at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. That’s right, the Cow Palace. I saw his opponent, Adlai Stevenson, campaign in Boston’s Mechanics Hall. He tried to “talk sense to the American people”, but lost handily.

The next convention of memory was the Democrats of 1960. Kennedy had the nomination locked up, so only the VP pick remained. Kennedy picked rival Lyndon Johnson and the convention erupted in boos. 

1968 was a year to remember in many ways. The Democratic Convention in Chicago takes the prize for drama. LBJ had dropped out; Bobby Kennedy had been assassinated. There were lots of loose delegates which headed toward VP Hubert Humphrey. The backdrop however, was the Vietnam War and the hippy movement. Humphrey carried the burden of Johnson’s war and so became a target of protest. And protest there was inside and outside the hall. Outside, there  was a mix of high jinx and violent protest that was met with overwhelming police and National Guard presence. The most memorable incident inside was to lipread Mayor Daley’s “F—k You” directed at Senator Abe Ribicoff. Nixon went on to win the general election. 

Since the 60’s, the convention suspense has focused on the candidates pick for vice president. There have been such notables as Barry Goldwater’s choice of William Miller (who later had to hawk American Express cards to reestablish his identity). Spiro Agnew who had to resign before Nixon did. Sargent Shriver on George McGovern’s ticket who had to replace Tom Eagleton who had undergone electroconvulsive therapy . Leslie Stahl’s scoop that Reagan’s choice was Bush I. Mondale’s selection was Geraldine Ferraro. Dan Quayle, remember him?  Dick Cheney’s VP search team for Bush II finding just the man, Dick Cheney. And best of all, JohnMcCain’s pick of Sarah Palin. 

Other than that, there just isn’t much to a convention anymore. It’s a chance to grab as much free time from the networks to showcase your party’s personalities.

The Democrats with Biden, Harris and the Obamas have won on substance. 

The Republicans with their Cecil B. DeMille-size Hollywood-Superbowl concluding extra-legal extravaganza at the White House have won the showmanship award. 


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