One of the decisive factors in convening both major party conventions in Philadelphia that year was that the eastern Pennsylvania area was part of the newly developing broadcast television market. In 1947, TV stations in New York City, Washington and Philadelphia were connected by a coaxial cable. By the summer of 1948 two of the three new television networks, NBC and CBS, had the ability to telecast along the east coast live gavel-to-gavel coverage of both conventions. In television's early days, live broadcasts were not routinely recorded, but a few minutes of Kinescope film of the conventions has survived.[1]
The convention was called to order by the permanent chairman, Senator Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky.[2] With delegates demoralized by Republican wins in 1946 that had given them control of Congress, and what appeared to be Truman's slim chance for reelection in his own right, on July 13 Barkley gave the keynote speech, as he had in 1932 and 1936.[2] He roused the delegates with his opening declaration "We have assembled here for a great purpose. We are here to give the American people an accounting of our stewardship in the administration of their affairs for sixteen outstanding, eventful years, for not one of which we make an apology!"[3] Barkley continued by recalling the bad times of the Great Depression of the 1930s to turn the Republicans' most-repeated attack back on them.[3] Republicans proposed "to clean the cobwebs" from the federal government.[3] Said Barkley: "I am not an expert on cobwebs. But if my memory does not betray me, when the Democratic party took over ... sixteen years ago, even the spiders were so weak from starvation they could not weave a cobweb in any department of the government in Washington!"[3] Barkley concluded his hour-long oration with a visionary call for the Democrats to "lead the children of men ... into a free world and a free life," which inspired the delegates to cheer for more than 30 minutes.[3] His rhetorical effort had the effect of energizing delegates, who began to recover their enthusiasm.[3] It also had the effect of propelling Barkley towards the vice presidential nomination.[3]
Dispute over civil rightsEdit
Hubert Humphrey speaks at the convention
On July 14, Northern Democrats led by Minneapolis MayorHubert Humphrey and Illinois Senate candidate Paul Douglas pushed for the convention to adopt a strong civil rights platform plank and endorse President Truman's pro-civil rights actions.[4] They were opposed by conservatives opposed to racial integration and by moderates who feared alienating Southern voters (regarded as essential to a Democratic victory), including some of Truman's own aides. They were supported by northeastern urban Democratic leaders, who thought the plank would appeal to the growing black vote in their cities, traditionally Republican.[5]
In a speech to the convention, Humphrey urged the Democratic Party to "get out of the shadow of states' rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights." The convention adopted the civil rights plank in a close vote (651½–582½).[6]
The southern delegates planned on conducting a walkout during the roll call vote on the party's platform starting with the Alabama delegation, but Sam Rayburn, chair of the convention, instead used a voice vote as he believed a walkout would ruin Truman's presidential campaign. Only 35 of the 278 southern delegates, thirteen from Alabama and the entire twenty-two member Mississippi delegation, left the convention on July 15. 23 of Alabama's 30 alternate delegates also left. The remaining southern delegates gave their support to Senator Richard Russell Jr. on the presidential ballot.[7][8][9]
The bolted delegates and other Southerners then formed the States' Rights Democratic Party ("Dixiecrats"), which nominated Strom Thurmond for president and Fielding L. Wright for vice president.
The fight over the civil rights plank at the 1948 convention was a launching point for Humphrey as a political figure of national stature. He was elected to the Senate in November, and in 1964, Vice President of the United States.
Balloting for president and vice president took place on July 15.[3] While Southerners who opposed the expansion of civil rights contested Truman for the nomination, he was easily nominated on the first ballot.[3]
BallotingEdit
In the absence of Southern delegates who walked out of the convention with Thurmond, Truman was nominated on a revised first ballot:
In addition, Truman tried to interest William O. Douglas in the nomination, but Douglas declined.[10] During the convention, Barkley's keynote speech won over the delegates,[10] and when it became clear Barkley had more than enough support to win the nomination, Truman agreed to accept him as his running mate.[10]
Truman was scheduled to give his acceptance speech at 10 pm on July 14, but the convention was behind schedule, so he spoke in the early morning hours of July 15.[12] In his opening, Truman told the delegates "Senator Barkley and I will win this election and make these Republicans like it — don't you forget that!"[12] His pugnacious attack on what he termed the "Do-Nothing 80th Congress", further energized the delegates who had not taken part in the Dixiecrat walkout.[12] Truman's speech was looked on in retrospect as the start of the "Give 'em Hell, Harry!" campaign theme that enabled Truman to win the November general election.[3]
^Simmons, Amy V. (August 5, 2016). "The first televised Democratic Convention, 70 years later: An unplanned delegate remembers". Philadelphia Sun. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
^ abTaylor, Jeff (2013). Politics on a Human Scale: The American Tradition of Decentralism. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books. p. 212. ISBN978-0-7391-7575-0.
^ abcdefghijShogan, Robert (June 1968). "1948 Election". American Heritage. Rockville, MD: American Heritage Publishing Company.
^Steve Inskeep, Ron Elving (August 27, 2008). "In 1948, Democrats Weathered Civil Rights Divide". npr.org.
^Steven White (March 15, 2013). ""The Crackpots Hope the South Will Bolt": Civil Rights Liberalism & Roll Call Voting by Northern State Delegations at the 1948 Democratic National Convention" (PDF). sas.upenn.edu.[permanent dead link]
^Katagiri, Yasuhiro. The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: Civil Rights and States' Rights Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2001; p. xxiv.
^"Scene Is Dramatic As Southerners Stalk Out Of Convention; Boos And Cheers Echo". Talladega Daily Home. July 15, 1948. p. 1. from the original on August 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcd"Truman Happy to Take Barkley After Trying to Stop Him". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, MO. July 13, 1948. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcPietrusza, David (2014). "Harry S. Truman's Speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention—Harry S. Truman (July 15, 1948)" (PDF). www.loc.gov. Washington, DC: Library of Congress. pp. 3, 4.
1948, democratic, national, convention, held, philadelphia, convention, hall, philadelphia, pennsylvania, from, july, july, 1948, resulted, nominations, president, harry, truman, full, term, senator, alben, barkley, kentucky, vice, president, 1948, presidentia. The 1948 Democratic National Convention was held at Philadelphia Convention Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania from July 12 to July 15 1948 and resulted in the nominations of President Harry S Truman for a full term and Senator Alben W Barkley of Kentucky for vice president in the 1948 presidential election 1948 Democratic National Convention1948 presidential electionNominees Truman and BarkleyConventionDate s July 12 15 1948CityPhiladelphia PennsylvaniaVenuePhiladelphia Convention HallCandidatesPresidential nomineeHarry S Truman of MissouriVice presidential nomineeAlben W Barkley of Kentucky 1944 1952 One of the decisive factors in convening both major party conventions in Philadelphia that year was that the eastern Pennsylvania area was part of the newly developing broadcast television market In 1947 TV stations in New York City Washington and Philadelphia were connected by a coaxial cable By the summer of 1948 two of the three new television networks NBC and CBS had the ability to telecast along the east coast live gavel to gavel coverage of both conventions In television s early days live broadcasts were not routinely recorded but a few minutes of Kinescope film of the conventions has survived 1 Contents 1 Organization 2 Dispute over civil rights 3 Presidential nomination 3 1 Presidential candidates 3 2 Balloting 4 Vice Presidential nomination 5 Truman s acceptance 6 See also 7 References 8 Works cited 9 External linksOrganization EditThe convention was called to order by the permanent chairman Senator Alben W Barkley of Kentucky 2 With delegates demoralized by Republican wins in 1946 that had given them control of Congress and what appeared to be Truman s slim chance for reelection in his own right on July 13 Barkley gave the keynote speech as he had in 1932 and 1936 2 He roused the delegates with his opening declaration We have assembled here for a great purpose We are here to give the American people an accounting of our stewardship in the administration of their affairs for sixteen outstanding eventful years for not one of which we make an apology 3 Barkley continued by recalling the bad times of the Great Depression of the 1930s to turn the Republicans most repeated attack back on them 3 Republicans proposed to clean the cobwebs from the federal government 3 Said Barkley I am not an expert on cobwebs But if my memory does not betray me when the Democratic party took over sixteen years ago even the spiders were so weak from starvation they could not weave a cobweb in any department of the government in Washington 3 Barkley concluded his hour long oration with a visionary call for the Democrats to lead the children of men into a free world and a free life which inspired the delegates to cheer for more than 30 minutes 3 His rhetorical effort had the effect of energizing delegates who began to recover their enthusiasm 3 It also had the effect of propelling Barkley towards the vice presidential nomination 3 Dispute over civil rights Edit nbsp Hubert Humphrey speaks at the conventionOn July 14 Northern Democrats led by Minneapolis Mayor Hubert Humphrey and Illinois Senate candidate Paul Douglas pushed for the convention to adopt a strong civil rights platform plank and endorse President Truman s pro civil rights actions 4 They were opposed by conservatives opposed to racial integration and by moderates who feared alienating Southern voters regarded as essential to a Democratic victory including some of Truman s own aides They were supported by northeastern urban Democratic leaders who thought the plank would appeal to the growing black vote in their cities traditionally Republican 5 In a speech to the convention Humphrey urged the Democratic Party to get out of the shadow of states rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights The convention adopted the civil rights plank in a close vote 651 582 6 The southern delegates planned on conducting a walkout during the roll call vote on the party s platform starting with the Alabama delegation but Sam Rayburn chair of the convention instead used a voice vote as he believed a walkout would ruin Truman s presidential campaign Only 35 of the 278 southern delegates thirteen from Alabama and the entire twenty two member Mississippi delegation left the convention on July 15 23 of Alabama s 30 alternate delegates also left The remaining southern delegates gave their support to Senator Richard Russell Jr on the presidential ballot 7 8 9 The bolted delegates and other Southerners then formed the States Rights Democratic Party Dixiecrats which nominated Strom Thurmond for president and Fielding L Wright for vice president The fight over the civil rights plank at the 1948 convention was a launching point for Humphrey as a political figure of national stature He was elected to the Senate in November and in 1964 Vice President of the United States Presidential nomination EditPresidential candidates Edit nbsp PresidentHarry S Trumanof Missouri nbsp SenatorRichard Russell Jr of Georgia nbsp Former RepresentativeJames A Roeof New York Not Nominated Supported Eisenhower Draft nbsp Former AmbassadorPaul V McNuttof Indiana nbsp GovernorBenjamin T Laneyof Arkansas Not Nominated nbsp GovernorEarl Longof Louisiana Not Nominated Balloting for president and vice president took place on July 15 3 While Southerners who opposed the expansion of civil rights contested Truman for the nomination he was easily nominated on the first ballot 3 Balloting Edit In the absence of Southern delegates who walked out of the convention with Thurmond Truman was nominated on a revised first ballot Presidential BallotingCandidate 1st Before Shifts 1st After Shifts Truman 926 947 5Russell 266 263Roe 15 0McNutt 2 5 0 5Barkley 1 0Absent 22 22Not Voting 1 5 1Presidential Balloting 4th Day of Convention July 15 1948 nbsp 1st Presidential Ballot Before Shifts nbsp 1st Presidential Ballot After Shifts Vice Presidential nomination Edit nbsp Truman and Barkley shaking hands at the conventionVarious Democratic Party leaders had promoted candidates for the vice presidential nomination including Alben W Barkley and Wilson W Wyatt of Kentucky William Preston Lane Jr and Millard Tydings of Maryland Oscar R Ewing of Iowa James Roosevelt of California and Joseph C O Mahoney of Wyoming 10 In addition Truman tried to interest William O Douglas in the nomination but Douglas declined 10 During the convention Barkley s keynote speech won over the delegates 10 and when it became clear Barkley had more than enough support to win the nomination Truman agreed to accept him as his running mate 10 Barkley was nominated by acclamation 11 Truman s acceptance EditTruman was scheduled to give his acceptance speech at 10 pm on July 14 but the convention was behind schedule so he spoke in the early morning hours of July 15 12 In his opening Truman told the delegates Senator Barkley and I will win this election and make these Republicans like it don t you forget that 12 His pugnacious attack on what he termed the Do Nothing 80th Congress further energized the delegates who had not taken part in the Dixiecrat walkout 12 Truman s speech was looked on in retrospect as the start of the Give em Hell Harry campaign theme that enabled Truman to win the November general election 3 See also EditHistory of the United States Democratic Party Democratic Party presidential primaries 1948 List of Democratic National Conventions U S presidential nomination convention 1948 Republican National Convention 1948 United States presidential election 22nd AmendmentReferences Edit Simmons Amy V August 5 2016 The first televised Democratic Convention 70 years later An unplanned delegate remembers Philadelphia Sun Retrieved August 6 2016 a b Taylor Jeff 2013 Politics on a Human Scale The American Tradition of Decentralism Lanham MD Lexington Books p 212 ISBN 978 0 7391 7575 0 a b c d e f g h i j Shogan Robert June 1968 1948 Election American Heritage Rockville MD American Heritage Publishing Company Steve Inskeep Ron Elving August 27 2008 In 1948 Democrats Weathered Civil Rights Divide npr org Steven White March 15 2013 The Crackpots Hope the South Will Bolt Civil Rights Liberalism amp Roll Call Voting by Northern State Delegations at the 1948 Democratic National Convention PDF sas upenn edu permanent dead link Katagiri Yasuhiro The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission Civil Rights and States Rights Jackson University Press of Mississippi 2001 p xxiv Black amp Black 1992 p 98 Hardeman amp Bacon 1990 p 336 338 Scene Is Dramatic As Southerners Stalk Out Of Convention Boos And Cheers Echo Talladega Daily Home July 15 1948 p 1 Archived from the original on August 6 2023 via Newspapers com a b c d Truman Happy to Take Barkley After Trying to Stop Him St Louis Post Dispatch St Louis MO July 13 1948 p 1 via Newspapers com Cornell Douglas B July 14 1948 Truman OK s Barkley Boom Owensboro Messenger Owensboro KY p 1 via Newspapers com a b c Pietrusza David 2014 Harry S Truman s Speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention Harry S Truman July 15 1948 PDF www loc gov Washington DC Library of Congress pp 3 4 Works cited EditBlack Earl Black Merle 1992 The Vital South How Presidents Are Elected Harvard University Press ISBN 0674941306 Hardeman D Bacon Donald 1990 Rayburn A Biopgrahy Texas Monthly ISBN 0932012035 External links EditDemocratic Party Platform of 1948 at The American Presidency Project Truman Nomination Acceptance Speech for President at DNC transcript at The American Presidency Project 1948 Democratic National Convention at Smithsonian Magazine President Truman s Address to the 1948 Democratic National Convention Archived January 30 2009 at the Wayback Machine Hubert Humphrey s Civil Rights Speech YouTube Video of Truman nomination acceptance speech for President at DNC via YouTube Audio of Truman nomination acceptance speech for President at DNC permanent dead link Race for the White House Truman vs Dewey YouTube Preceded by1944Chicago Illinois Democratic National Conventions Succeeded by1952Chicago Illinois Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1948 Democratic National Convention amp oldid 1178275742, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
