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Title: The 1968 Democratic National Convention

Subtitle: The History of America's Most Controversial Political Convention

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: Scott Clem

Format: Unabridged

Length: 1 hr and 28 mins

Language: English

Release date: 05-25-17

Publisher: Charles River Editors

Genres: History, 20th Century

Publisher's Summary:

In 1968, the Republican Convention was a display of congeniality and unity, despite the various factions each supporting a separate candidate. Choosing Spiro Agnew as his running mate, Richard Nixon won the nomination on the first ballot, with Ronald Reagan moving to make it unanimous. Conservatives such as Barry Goldwater and Strom Thurmond immediately joined in the support. From that moment, the results of Nixon's work since the 1962 defeat took effect, and he demonstrated himself to be a far more thoughtful and careful candidate than in the past. The image of a "New Nixon" emerged, "more statesmanlike, less combative, more mature and presidential". The Democrats, on the other hand, were in terrible disarray. The Vietnam War raged with no honorable end in sight, President Kennedy had been assassinated several years before, and public unrest at home grew by the day. Even still, when Senator Eugene McCarthy decided to throw his hat into the ring in 1968, it was a surprise, but it was an even greater one when he was only narrowly defeated in the first primary in New Hampshire on March 12th. Though President Lyndon B. Johnson had won the primary, the close margin made him appear vulnerable, an unusual position for a sitting president, and after McCarthy's close shave in New Hampshire, Senator Bobby Kennedy judged the time was right to enter the race.

Members Reviews:

A Bit Misleading

This book presents the tumultuous events that surrounded the 1968 Democratic Convention. The author draws a very good picture of the incredible times and the actions of key individuals. The divisive nature of the Vietnam war is fully discussed. The author does an excellent job of recreating the chaotic scenes in Chicago with straightforward prose and relevant quotations from individuals directly involved in the actual events. I especially appreciated the balance and objectivity that was embedded in the narrative.

However, I feel that the author omitted significant events, perspectives and viewpoints of the members INSIDE the convention hall itself that would give the reader a better understanding of the impact that the violence outside had on the Democratic ticket. I feel that this inclusion would have underscored the significance of the actions OUTSIDE the convention hall and been truer to the book's title. Accordingly, I don't think that this book is really about the 1968 Democratic Convention, but about the Chicago Riots at the 1968 Democrat Convention. Perhaps a more appropriate title.

1968 was one of the worst years I have lived trough since I was a ...

I lived through this & it was a very tense time. 1968 was one of the worst years I have lived trough since I was a voting adult. I was a Bobby Kennedy supporter so I was devastated by his death. I watched the convention & what went on outside with great pain. Reading about it was also painful. This book is a little miss-titled though because there is little about what went on inside. The book is good but is more about what went on outside than inside so the title is a little off. The book is more a biography of the protesters & of the police behavior than of the convention. It is still a very good read & I recommend it for anyone who wants to see the events from the other side. RAG

Chicago convention

I was living in Chicago at this time.