The 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago
The events of the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, August 21-26, dramatically illustrated the
depth of the divisions in the Party and society at large when it erupted into violence. Anti-war activists
planned a massive demonstration outside convention venues and radicals such as Abbie Hoffman
planned demonstrative antics. In response, Chicago's Mayor Richard Daley (one of the last remaining
political bosses) refused all parade permits and mobilized over 20,000 law enforcement personnel,
including local police, the National Guard, and US Army. On August 28, as demonstrators marched
toward the convention arena, what was later described as a "police riot" occurred as officers fired tear
gas and beat protesters and reporters indiscriminately. Inside the convention hall, as Senator Abraham
Ribicoff denounced the "Gestapo tactics" of the police, Mayor Daley was caught on camera saying,
"You Jew son of ..., go home!" A young Dan Rather was punched by a security guard on
the convention floor. Hubert Humphrey won the nomination, but the Democratic party was hopelessly
fractured.
1. What do the events at the 1968
Convention reveal about the
Democratic Party, American society,
and the outcome of the election?
2. What did Senator Ribicoff mean by
“Gestapo tactics?” What was he
referring to?
3. How many, and what kind, of law
enforcement personnel did Mayor
Richard Daley use to “keep protestors
from getting out of control” during
the convention?