#1960 Democratic National Convention

[deadpresidents]

[Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, Governor Pat Brown of California, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, and Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri, at the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, June 1960.]

"Several nights ago, I dreamed that the good Lord touched me on the shoulder and said, 'Don't worry, you'll be the Democratic Presidential nominee in 1960. What's more, you'll be elected.' I told Stu Symington about my dream. 'Funny thing,' said Stu, 'I had the exact same dream myself.' We both told our dreams to Lyndon Johnson, and Johnson said, 'That's funny. For the life of me, I can't remember tapping either of you two boys for the job.'"

-- Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts, joking about his fellow candidates for the Democratic Presidential nomination, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, and Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri, shortly before the 1960 Democratic National Convention.

[american-troubadour]

Phil Ochs at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. August 28, 1968.

Photographed by Ron Pownall

[agelessphotography]

John F. Kennedy, Democratic National Convention, Garry Winogrand, 1960

[todaysdocument]

Chicago Police Department Officers confront protestors in Grant Park during the Democratic National Convention, August 28, 1968. 

Record Group 21: Records of District Courts of the United States

Series: Criminal Case Files

File Unit: United States v Dellinger, et al.

Image description: Zoomed-in portion of photo, showing two rows police officers in helmets, carrying batons. They are moving forward against a large crowd of protestors, who are retreating. 

Image description: Panoramic photo of rows of police officers in helmets, carrying batons, moving forward against a large crowd of protestors, who are retreating. In the background is a stage. 

[joannkennedy]

original caption: In Atlantic City last night- Mrs. Joan Kennedy, wife of Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, sat beside Gov. Endicott Peabody and other Bay State delegates at the Democratic National Convention. She was named a delegate to replace her brother-in-law, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who resigned as a delegate to seek the Democratic nomination of Senator from New York. August 26, 1964.

[jfkkennedy]

Senator John F. Kennedy and Senator Lyndon B. Johnson debate in front of the Texas delegation during the Democratic National Convention at the Biltmore hotel, Los Angeles, California, 12th July 1960🤍

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

THE HIGHEST GROSSING FILM OF 1960, AND REPORTEDLY THE FIRST THEATRICAL FILM JFK EVER WATCHED DURING HIS PRESIDENCY.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on theatrical poster art for "Spartacus," the 1960 American epic historical drama film starring Kirk Douglas in the title role of the slave who leads a rebellion against Rome and the events of the Third Servile War.

PIC #2: 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy (1917-1963), photographed during the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles, California. 📸: Elliott Erwitt.

OVERVEIW: "The very first movie President Kennedy watched while in office wasn’t at the White House at all. Instead, Kennedy had to slip out to see director Stanley Kubrick’s "Spartacus" (1960), which White House projectionist Paul Fischer didn’t have a copy of, on account of the film’s 70mm projection requirements. The White House theater’s projectors could only handle 35mm films.

Kennedy crossed a picket line to watch Spartacus on Feb. 3, 1961 at the Warner Theatre, not far from the White House, though it wasn’t over a labor dispute. The American Legion was picketing the film over the film’s writer, Dalton Trumbo, who was a Communist caught up in the anti-Communist fervor of Hollywood in the 1950s.

Kennedy went to "Spartacus" with a friend, Paul “Red” Fay, who the president knew through his service in World War II. Fay was tasked with buying the tickets so that nobody would know the president would be in attendance. But the theater’s management found out somehow, as Fay would recall years later in an oral history, perhaps because Secret Service had to ensure the theater was safe. The President and Fay arrived a little late to the screening, hoping to sneak in without being noticed, but it was clear everyone was waiting for him. They even stopped the movie and rewound it to start from the beginning, something Kennedy only learned about later."

-- FORBES, "Every Movie President John F. Kennedy Watched While in Office," by Matt Novak, published March 27, 2023

Sources: www.forbes.com/sites/mattnovak/2023/03/27/every-movie-president-john-f-kennedy-watched-while-in-office/amp, 1stDibs, Swords and Sandals (blogspot), various, etc...

[thenewdemocratus]

Passionate Patriots: 1968 DNC Nightmare in Chicago

. Source:FRS FreeState The Democratic Party cost themselves the presidential election of 1968 and a chance to win the White House for a third straight time and 8-10 presidential elections, going back to 1932 with FDR. To go along with another Democratic Congress because of how divided they were on the Vietnam War. A lot of that can be blamed on President Johnson’s handling of the Vietnam War, but…

[wilwheaton]

And, after decades in which Republicans claimed the mantle of patriotism, now that the fate of democracy itself is on the line, Democrats are joyfully claiming the symbols and the principles of American democracy for their own. During the Vietnam War in the 1960s and early 1970s, many Democrats shied away from symbols of patriotism because they seemed to support imperialism. Then, in the 1980s, Reagan and his supporters wrapped themselves in the flag and claimed it for their own. That impulse to define “Americans” as those who vote for Republicans has led us to a place where a small minority claims the right to rule over the rest of us. The Democratic National Convention has powerfully illustrated that the rest of us are finally reclaiming the country and its symbols. The convention has been full of references to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the American Revolution, the national anthem, and the pledge of allegiance. Tonight, attendees chanting “USA” waved signs emblazoned with the letters. Speakers, many of whom are military veterans, have testified that they are proud to be Americans. The theme of patriotism was even in one of tonight’s afterparties: Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean played The Star Spangled Banner with an interpretation that recalled Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock. “America is the best place to be,” he said. “I’m the best of the American dream. Welcome to America…. You know what makes America great? We’re a bunch of immigrants.”

August 21, 2024 - by Heather Cox Richardson

[batboyblog]

As President Biden gets ready to say goodbye at the Democratic National Convention, a little reminder of an an extraordinary progressive Presidency

The Lowest unemployment rate since the 1960s, the lowest black unemployment rate EVER

massive investment in Infrastructure which has been neglected since the Reagan Administration

Passed the biggest climate action bill in Human History

Record numbers of Americans signed up for Obamacare, brought down the cost of insulin to $35 for millions of Americans, allowed Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the first time in history

expanded VA benefits to cover vets exposed to toxic chemicals

The first major Gun Control law in 30 years

Biden steadfastly stood by our allies, support Ukraine against Russian aggression and grew NATO to include Finland and Sweden

Signed a massive investment in high tech manufacturing

stepped up to protect marriage equality from a run away conservative court

took steps to try to protect abortion health care, even in states that try to ban it.

appointed the first ever black woman to the Supreme Court, Is the first President in history to have a majority of his federal judge appoints not be white men having appointed more women and non-white people to the bench than ANY President.

[kennedy-family-library]

Picture 1: Senator John F. Kennedy speaking at 1956 Democratic National Convention.

Picture 2: Senator John F. Kennedy, Democratic nominee for President speaking at 1960 Democratic National Convention.

[deadpresidents]

So prior to 1960, presidential debates didn't exist?

No, not between the general election candidates. There were a couple of debates before 1960 between candidates during the Presidential primaries: Republican candidates Thomas Dewey and Harold Stassen in 1948, Democratic candidates Adlai Stevenson and Estes Kefauver in 1956, and Democrats JFK and Hubert Humphrey in 1960.

There was also something close to a debate between JFK and LBJ the week of the 1960 Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. LBJ had hesitated and hesitated about jumping into the campaign in 1960, but finally tried to get in at the last minute before the Convention. To make a splash, LBJ challenged Kennedy to a debate and JFK accepted. But it was really just a poorly-organized, last-minute exchange of views in front of Democratic delegates -- mainly from the Texas delegation instead of a formal, strictly moderated back-and-forth with clearly set ground rules. It was too late for LBJ to realistically get the Presidential nomination and JFK came across so well in their "debate" that he not only won over most of the delegates in the room but also impressed LBJ. To illustrate how last-minute the debate and LBJ's official entrance into the campaign was, the debate took place on July 12, 1960, which was already two days into the Democratic Convention. JFK was nominated for President on the first ballot the following day, and ended up choosing LBJ as his running mate.

[american-troubadour]

Phil Ochs performing at Chicago Coliseum for LBJ's Unbirthday Party during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. August 27, 1968.

Photographed by Roz Payne

Press and Sun-Bulletin | Binghamton, New York | Thu, Aug 29, 1968:

Chicago Tribune | Chicago, Illinois | Wed, Aug 28, 1968:

The Boston Globe | Boston, Massachusetts | Wed, Aug 28, 1968:

[agelessphotography]

Frustrated peace demonstrators refused permission to march to the convention hall, are hemmed in by grim lines of blue-helmeted Chicago police, Leonard McCombe, 1968

[dreamofstarlight]

Senator Lyndon Johnson of Texas, Senator John F Kennedy of Massachusetts, and Robert Kennedy talk during the Democratic National Convention - 1960

[joannkennedy]

Joan Kennedy photographed with Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Bobby Shriver at Boston Logan Airport on July 7th, 1960 on their way to the Democratic National Convention in California.