1980 Democratic National Convention

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1980 Democratic National Convention
1980 presidential election
1980 DNC logo mark 1.jpg
DP1980.png DV1976.png
Nominees
Carter and Mondale
Convention
Date(s)August 11–14, 1980
City New York, New York
Venue Madison Square Garden
Notable speakers Ted Kennedy
Abe Beame
Geraldine Ferraro
Bruce Sundlun
Ruth Messinger
Thomas Addison
Ed Koch
Robert Abrams
Bella Abzug
Mario Biaggi
Steve Westly
Howard Dean
Candidates
Presidential nominee Jimmy Carter of Georgia
Vice-presidential nominee Walter Mondale of Minnesota
Voting
Total delegates3,346
Votes needed for nomination1,674
Results (president) Carter (Georgia): 2,129.02 (63.63%)
Kennedy (Massachusetts): 1,150.48 (34.38%)
Carey (New York): 16 (0.48%)
Proxmire (Wisconsin): 10 (0.30%)
Others: 40.5 (1.21%)
Results (vice president) Mondale (Minnesota): 2,428.7 (72.91%)
Not Voting: 723.3 (21.72%)
Scattering: 179 (5.37%)
Ballots1
‹  1976  ·  1984  ›
Madison Square Garden was the site of the 1980 Democratic National Convention Madisonsquaregarden.jpg
Madison Square Garden was the site of the 1980 Democratic National Convention
Carter and Mondale stand together at the end of the convention DNC Nlc18572-21.jpg
Carter and Mondale stand together at the end of the convention

The 1980 Democratic National Convention nominated President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale for reelection. The convention was held in Madison Square Garden in New York City from August 11 to August 14, 1980.

Contents

The 1980 convention was notable as it was the last time in the 20th century, for either major party, that a candidate tried to get delegates released from their voting commitments. This was done by Senator Ted Kennedy, Carter's chief rival for the nomination in the Democratic primaries, who sought the votes of delegates held by Carter.

Notable speakers

After losing his challenge for the nomination earlier that day, Ted Kennedy spoke on August 12 and delivered a speech in support of President Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Kennedy's famous speech eventually closed with the lines: "For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." His speech was written by Bob Shrum. [1]

Various prominent delegates to this convention included Abe Beame, Geraldine Ferraro, Bruce Sundlun, Ruth Messinger, Thomas Addison, Ed Koch, Robert Abrams, Bella Abzug, Mario Biaggi, Steve Westly, and Howard Dean.[ citation needed ]

Voting

Candidates

President

Delegate voting results [2]

Democratic National Convention presidential vote, 1980
CandidateVotesPercentage
Jimmy Carter (inc.)2,12364.04%
Ted Kennedy 1,15134.72%
William Proxmire 100.30%
Koryne Kaneski Horbal 50.15%
Scott M. Matheson 50.15%
Ron Dellums 30.09%
Robert Byrd 20.06%
John Culver 20.06%
Kent Hance 20.06%
Jennings Randolph 20.06%
Warren Spannaus 20.06%
Alice Tripp 20.06%
Jerry Brown 10.03%
Dale Bumpers 10.03%
Hugh L. Carey 10.03%
Walter Mondale 10.03%
Edmund Muskie 10.03%
Thomas J. Steed 10.03%
Totals3,315100.00%

Vice president

After Ted Kennedy lost the presidential nomination contest, over 700 of his delegates walked out of the convention, and the rest decided to scatter their votes. It took several roll calls to conclude the ballot.

As of 2024, this is the last time that the Democratic Party has required a roll call for the vice presidential spot.

Vice Presidential tally: [3]

Democratic National Convention Vice presidential vote, 1980
CandidateVotespercentage
Walter Mondale (inc.)2,42972.90%
Melvin Boozer 481.44%
Ed Rendell 280.84%
Roberto A. Mondragon 190.57%
Patricia Stone Simon110.33%
Tom Daschle (under 35 years old)100.30%
Ted Kulongoski 80.24%
Shirley Chisholm 60.18%
Terry Chisholm60.18%
Barbara Jordan 40.12%
Richard M. Nolan 40.12%
Patrick Joseph Lucey 30.09%
Jerry Brown 20.06%
George McGovern 20.06%
Eric Tovar20.06%
Mo Udall 20.06%
Les Aspin 10.03%
Mario Biaggi 10.03%
George S. Broody10.03%
Michelle Kathleen Gray (under 35 years old)10.03%
Michael J. Harrington 10.03%
Frank Johnson10.03%
Eunice Kennedy Shriver 10.03%
Dennis Krumm10.03%
Mary Ann Kuharski10.03%
Jim McDermott 10.03%
Barbara Mikulski 10.03%
Gaylord Nelson 10.03%
George Orwell (non-American, deceased)10.03%
Charles Prine Sr.10.03%
William A. Redmond 10.03%
Jim Thomas10.03%
Elly Uharis10.03%
Jim Weaver 10.03%
William Winpisinger 10.03%
Abstained/absent72821.85%

The President's acceptance speech

President Carter gave his speech accepting the party's nomination on August 14. This was notable for his gaffe intended to be a tribute to Hubert Humphrey, whom he referred to as "Hubert Horatio Hornblower". [4]

On November 4, President Carter and Vice President Mondale lost to Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush in the general election, having lost both the popular election by 8,423,115 votes and the Electoral College by 440 votes. [5]

Platform

Abortion

In addition to its 1976 stance that merely opposed overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1980 platform for the first time explicitly supported the Roe decision as the law of the land.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Auletta, Ken. "Kerry's Brain." The New Yorker. 20 Sept. 2004.
  2. ↑ "US President - D Convention Race - Aug 11, 1980". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  3. ↑ Our Campaigns - US Vice President - D Convention Race - Aug 11, 1980
  4. ↑ "Carter Blows the Horn Of the Wrong Horatio". The New York Times . August 15, 1980.
  5. ↑ 1980 Presidential General Election Results
Preceded by
1976
New York, New York 		Democratic National Conventions Succeeded by
1984
San Francisco, California
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