Politics

5 of the Most Memorable Democratic Convention Moments

(AP) — Democrats have little hope of matching the fervor and historical import of their 2008 convention, when they made Barack Obama the first black presidential nominee of a major political party. Will they find some way to make an enduring mark in 2012? Here are five memorable moments from their earlier gatherings:

1932: Amid the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt invents the tradition of the nominee coming to the convention to accept the nomination with a speech, instead of waiting for a formal ceremony weeks later. “I pledge myself to a New Deal for the American people,” he says.

Top Moments from Democratic Conventions

This is a photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt taken on Jan. 19, 1937. (AP Photo)

1948: Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey declares it’s time to “get out of the shadow of states’ rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights.” When support for civil rights is added to the party platform, Mississippi‘s delegates and half of Alabama’s walk out.

Top Moments from Democratic Conventions

FILE - In this July 14, 1948, file photo, Mayor Hubert H. Humphrey of Minneapolis wears a Truman button as he addresses the Democratic National Convention at Philadelphia. (AP Photo/File)

1964: Delegates stand in tearful silence as Robert Kennedy quotes Shakespeare in tribute to his slain brother, President John F. Kennedy: “When he shall die, take him and cut him out into stars, and he shall make the face of heaven so fine that all the world will be in love with night and pay no worship to the garish sun.”

Top Moments from Democratic Conventions

FILE - In this Aug. 28, 1964, file photo, Sen. Robert Kennedy stands before the delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, N.J. (AP Photo)

1968: Vietnam War protesters are met with tear gas and billy clubs, leading a convention speaker to denounce “Gestapo tactics on the streets of Chicago.” Inside the convention hall, anti-war delegates engage in shouting matches with supporters of Vice President Hubert Humphrey, who wins the nomination. His televised speech is intercut with scenes of the melee outside.

Top Moments from Democratic Conventions

This photo shows Chicago policemen with nightsticks in hand confronting a demonstrator on the ground in Grant Park, Chicago, on August 26, 1968. The police force converged at Grant Park when protesters opposing the Vietnam War climbed on the statue of civil war Gen. John Logan. (AP Photo)

1980: When Ted Kennedy’s challenge to President Jimmy Carter falls short, he concedes with a defiant note: “The cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die.” In 2008, stricken by incurable brain cancer, Kennedy will echo these words as he passes the torch to Barack Obama: “The work begins anew, the hope rises again and the dream lives on.”

Comments (18)

  • Bohump
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 11:20am

    I often wounder, … What Color are the Trees in there World ?

    Report Post »  
  • Redrivermma
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 11:01am

    “The work begins anew, the hope rises again and the dream lives on.” Can they say anything, ever, that has any substance? They live their lives on emotion and ideology (which is based on their emotion); this is why they fall apart in any discussion with facts, and resort to bending the truth into a “he said, she said”, then flat out lies, then name calling and talking over anyone that states facts.

    Report Post » Redrivermma  
  • Rayblue
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 10:39am

    I accidentally dug out “The Best Comics of the Decade” today while looking for some “Weird Science” EC comic books. In it was the Spain Rodriguez cartoon account of the democratic convention in Chicago, 1968. He was covering the convention for the NY “East Village Other”. It gives a running in the street account of both sides. If you like seeing hippies getting beat up, this is the ticket. I never bought into the subversives at all when I was young. And the police were confronted with something similar to the occupiers. If you can find it, it’s a trite left leaning but is surprisingly pertinent.

    Report Post » Rayblue  
  • ktmrider1
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 10:22am

    it will now be rememebered as a meeting of the cause of left wing extremist

    Report Post » ktmrider1  
  • OKC08GT500
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 10:08am

    Psalm 109:8

    English Standard Version (ESV)

    8 May his days be few;
    may another take his office!

    Report Post » OKC08GT500  
  • ricckky
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 10:01am

    Who cares about the dnc convention-it will all be lies from beginning to end!!!! I am being serious when I say–” If someone offered me a $1000.00 to watch just one minute of the slimes, I would say no” And I could use the money!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • eyestoseeearstohear
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:59am

    The ONLY memorable moments under THIS Administration is when they sya or do
    something SO OUTRAGEOULY RIDICULOUS – JUST TO AVOID THE TRUTH!!

    I pray their NEXT most memorable moment is WHEN ROMNEY WINS
    AND THEY ALL FALL LIKE DOMINOES! :)

    Report Post »  
  • eyestoseeearstohear
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:55am

    The Economy went UP & WORSE under Obama.
    He’s surpassed blaming GW Bush and has implied it goes further back!
    HOW FAR BACK does it need to go to CLEAR HIM? To George Washington?

    He must think we are Sad & Seriously Stupid People to believe ANYTHING from him.

    He can say he had LOT’S to deal with in 2008 OR spent too much time on ObamaCare
    or whatever – FACT IS – he wanted the Job, said he could do it BETTER –
    PLUS Presidents MUST be able to do more than ONE THING AT A TIME.
    A Presidents JOB IS TO MAINTAIN a healthy Economy, Military, etc.-
    NOT set them aside & BUY AUTO INDUSTRIES, BAILS OUT BANKS, ETC.
    Nor is it to stir up controversy, discord, divide, deceive, disrupt or declare Welfare,
    Racial or Religious Wars on the People or Institutions.
    He’s done everything EXCEPT his Constitutional duty.

    It’s NEVER been his desire to improve the Economy.
    2008
    Unemployment rate -Dec. 2008 = 7.3%

    2012
    Unemployment rate is currently 8.3%.

    * Black Unemployment – ABSOLUTE HIGHEST. * 16%

    Question, “Are we better off today than 4 Yrs. ago?
    Axelrod said, “We’re in a BETTER POSITION than 4 yrs. ago”.

    A “BETTER POSITION” for what?
    A Controlled Government Take Over -bringing the Economy AND the People
    under its control FOR SOCIALISM?

    A “Better Position” for Redistribution of Wealth? NOPE!
    If that was true, it still would be NO DIFFERENCE. PROBLEMS remain.

    Obama‘s gotta’ GO!

    Report Post »  
  • TWO BITS
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:41am

    On behalf of my well-educated, experienced family members who are without employment, this household is a democrat free zone. We will not watch one second of their convention. Clint, crosswords, cleaning, and apple pie will keep us calm and sated.

    Report Post » TWO BITS  
  • MLeo
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:24am

    Make the most memorable part of this DNC convention National Empty Chair Day.

    Today is National Empty Chair Day.

    Put out yours.

    Empty Chair Day has a facebook page and several twitter feeds going, like this one: http://mobile.twitter.com/go_galt

    Also see http://www.legalinsurrection.com

    Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:20am

    Obama’s America
    For Obama to accomplish his goal of fundamentally transforming the USA, first he
    had to render congress irrelevant.
    To do this he had to become a member of a political party. He chose to use the
    democrat party because their liberal ideas would be useful in helping him get a
    foothold. He used the past three and a half years to do this. The democrats
    allowed themselves to be used, thinking they could get what they want and then
    control him. Democrats, and the failed leadership of the Republican party in
    congress, in fact helped him make them irrelevant. If reelected, their
    irrelevancy will become visible to all and there is nothing that can be done
    about this. His overheard remark to Russia (that after the election he would
    have more flexibility) was far more telling than most want to accept. He has
    already started doing small things bypasssing congress and has gotten little
    kickback. After the election the, democrat party can kiss the love affair with
    him good bye they will not be needed. America will see the real fundamental
    transformation Obama had in mind. Obama’s America- He will dictate to and use
    what he now controls to the fullest.
    DOJ,EPA,IRS,DHS and TSA – He has his people running these departments and they
    now only report to him and congress can’t block their actions. That will be how
    history writes DICTATOR OBAMA coming into power.

    Report Post »  
  • TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:14am

    “1968: Vietnam War protesters are met with tear gas and billy clubs..”

    I didn’t see a problem with that. I was kind of hoping the Left/Right (Code Pink/Ron Paul Liberty Movement R3volutionaries) anti-war/Military alliance would act up and catch a beat-down in Tampa…

    There’s always a next time…

    Report Post » TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 9:06am

    Teddy Kennedy with a lampshade on his head was pretty memorable.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on September 3, 2012 at 8:49am

    Memorable moments? Maybe once upon a time they told the truth? Now, THAT would be a memorable moment!

    Report Post »  

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