1948 Democratic National Convention

Last updated

1948 Democratic National Convention
1948 presidential election
Truman 58-766-09 (3x4 C).jpg 35 Alben Barkley 3x4.jpg
Nominees
Truman and Barkley
Convention
Date(s)July 12–15, 1948
City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue Philadelphia Convention Hall
Candidates
Presidential nominee Harry S. Truman of Missouri
Vice presidential nominee Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky
‹  1944  ·  1952  ›

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.

Contents

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]

Organization

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 rights

Hubert Humphrey speaks at the convention Hubert H. Humphrey--1948 Democratic National Convention--.jpg
Hubert Humphrey speaks at the convention

On 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 (651½–582½). [6]

DNC vote on the civil rights plank at the 1948 DNC by state delegation 1948 Civil Rights Plank Map.png
DNC vote on the civil rights plank at the 1948 DNC by state delegation

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

Presidential candidates

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

In the absence of Southern delegates who walked out of the convention with Thurmond, Truman was nominated on a revised first ballot:

Presidential Balloting
Candidate1st (Before Shifts)1st (After Shifts)
Truman 926947.5
Russell 266263
Roe 150
McNutt 2.50.5
Barkley 10
Absent2222
Not Voting1.51

Presidential Balloting / 4th Day of Convention (July 15, 1948)

Vice presidential nomination

Truman and Barkley shaking hands at the convention Truman and Barkley shaking hands 61-116-23.jpg
Truman and Barkley shaking hands at the convention

Various 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

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]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 United States presidential election</span> 41st quadrennial U.S. presidential election

The 1948 United States presidential election was the 41st quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 1948. In one of the greatest election upsets in American history, incumbent President Harry S. Truman, the Democratic nominee, defeated heavily favored Republican Governor of New York Thomas E. Dewey, and third-party candidates, becoming the third president to succeed to the presidency upon his predecessor's death and be elected to a full term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alben W. Barkley</span> Vice president of the United States from 1949 to 1953

Alben William Barkley was an American lawyer and politician from Kentucky who served as the 35th vice president of the United States from 1949 to 1953 under President Harry S. Truman. In 1905, he was elected to local offices and in 1912 as a U.S. representative. Serving in both houses of Congress, he was a liberal Democrat, supporting President Woodrow Wilson's New Freedom domestic agenda and foreign policy.

Washington and Lee Mock Convention is a simulated presidential nominating convention and is held every four years, during the early stages of the U.S. Presidential Primary, at Washington and Lee University. Although Oberlin College has the distinction of having the oldest student-run mock political convention in the country, W&L's convention has the reputation for being the most accurate. It often receives gavel-to-gavel coverage on C-SPAN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 Republican National Convention</span> Political convention

The 1948 Republican National Convention was held at the Municipal Auditorium, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 21 to 25, 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1964 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Atlantic City, New Jersey

The 1964 Democratic National Convention of the Democratic Party, took place at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from August 24 to 27, 1964. President Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated for a full term. Senator Hubert H. Humphrey of Minnesota was nominated for vice president. The convention took place less than a year after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, and Kennedy's legacy was present throughout the convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Madison Square Garden in New York City

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1960 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Los Angeles, California

The 1960 Democratic National Convention was held in Los Angeles, California, on July 11–15, 1960. It nominated Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts for president and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas for vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Chicago, Illinois

The 1956 Democratic National Convention nominated former Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois for president and Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee for vice president. It was held in the International Amphitheatre on the South Side of Chicago from August 13 to August 17, 1956. Unsuccessful candidates for the presidential nomination included Governor W. Averell Harriman of New York, Senator Lyndon B. Johnson of Texas, and Senator Stuart Symington of Missouri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Chicago, Illinois

The 1952 Democratic National Convention was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois from July 21 to July 26, 1952, which was the same arena the Republicans had gathered in a few weeks earlier for their national convention from July 7 to July 11, 1952. Four major candidates sought the presidential nomination: U.S. Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee, Governor Adlai Stevenson II of Illinois, Senator Richard Russell of Georgia and Averell Harriman of New York.

The 1936 Democratic National Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from June 23 to 27, 1936. The convention resulted in the nomination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Vice President John N. Garner for reelection.

The 1932 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois June 27 – July 2, 1932. The convention resulted in the nomination of Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt of New York for president and Speaker of the House John N. Garner from Texas for vice president. Beulah Rebecca Hooks Hannah Tingley was a member of the Democratic National Committee and Chair of the Democratic Party of Florida. She seconded the nomination of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, becoming the second woman to address a Democratic National Convention. According to the White House Historical Association, Happy Days Are Here Again was the campaign song of the convention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1940 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Chicago, Illinois

The 1940 Democratic National Convention was held at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois from July 15 to July 18, 1940. The convention resulted in the nomination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented third term. Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace from Iowa was nominated for vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1944 Democratic National Convention</span> U.S. political event held in Chicago, Illinois

The 1944 Democratic National Convention was held at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois from July 19 to July 21, 1944. The convention resulted in the nomination of President Franklin D. Roosevelt for an unprecedented fourth term. Senator Harry S. Truman of Missouri was nominated for vice president. Including Roosevelt's nomination for the vice-presidency in 1920, it was the fifth time Roosevelt had been nominated on a national ticket. The keynote address was given by Governor Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma, in which he "gave tribute to Roosevelt's war leadership and New Deal policies."

The 1928 Democratic National Convention was held at Sam Houston Hall in Houston, Texas, June 26–28, 1928. The keynote speaker was Claude G. Bowers. The convention resulted in the nomination of Governor Alfred E. Smith of New York for president and Senator Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas for vice president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electoral history of Harry S. Truman</span> List of political elections featuring Harry S. Truman as a candidate

Electoral history of Harry S. Truman, who served as the 33rd president of the United States (1945–1953), the 34th vice president (1945), and as a United States senator from Missouri (1935–1945)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 Progressive National Convention</span>

The 1948 Progressive National Convention was held in Philadelphia from July 23 to 25, 1948. The convention ratified the candidacies of former Vice President Henry A. Wallace from Iowa for president and U.S. Senator Glen H. Taylor of Idaho for vice president. The Progressive Party's platform opposed the Cold War and emphasized foreign policy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1952 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1952 election. After winning the presidential nomination on the third ballot of the 1952 Democratic National Convention, Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson consulted with Democratic Party leaders such as President Harry S. Truman and Speaker Sam Rayburn. Stevenson chose Alabama Senator John Sparkman, a Southern centrist, as his running mate. Sparkman won the vice presidential nomination on the first ballot as no serious rival tried to displace Stevenson's choice. However, many Northerners were not enthused with the choice of Sparkman due to Sparkman's stance on civil rights. During the 1952 convention, Sparkman, who had supported Senator Richard Russell for president, played a part in watering down the party's platform on civil rights. New York Representative Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and others walked out of the convention after the choice of Sparkman was announced. The Democratic ticket lost the 1952 election to the Republican ticket of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1948 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection</span>

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 1948 election. At the 1948 Democratic National Convention, President Harry S. Truman won nomination for a full term. Truman had become president upon the death of his predecessor and 1944 running mate, Franklin D. Roosevelt. As the 25th Amendment had not yet been passed, there was no method for filling a vice presidential vacancy, and Truman served without a vice president during his first term. Truman's nomination faced significant opposition from the South, as did the party's platform on civil rights. Though Truman attempted to convince Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas to join the ticket, Douglas declined. Truman instead selected Senate Minority Leader Alben W. Barkley, the preferred choice of many Democratic delegates, and a border state Senator who could appeal to both the Northern and Southern wings of the party. The Truman–Barkley ticket won the 1948 election, defeating the Republican (Dewey–Warren), Progressive (Wallace–Taylor), and Dixiecrat (Thurmond–Wright) tickets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harry S. Truman 1948 presidential campaign</span>

In 1948, Harry S. Truman and Alben W. Barkley were elected president and vice president of the United States, defeating Republican nominees Thomas E. Dewey and Earl Warren. Truman, a Democrat and vice president under Franklin D. Roosevelt, had ascended to the presidency upon Roosevelt's death in 1945. He announced his candidacy for election on March 8, 1948. Unchallenged by any major nominee in the Democratic primaries, he won almost all of them easily; however, many Democrats like James Roosevelt opposed his candidacy and urged former Chief of Staff of the United States Army Dwight D. Eisenhower to run instead.

References

  1. ↑ Simmons, Amy V. (August 5, 2016). "The first televised Democratic Convention, 70 years later: An unplanned delegate remembers". Philadelphia Sun. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  2. 1 2 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.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shogan, Robert (June 1968). "1948 Election". American Heritage . Rockville, MD: American Heritage Publishing Company.
  4. ↑ Steve Inskeep, Ron Elving (August 27, 2008). "In 1948, Democrats Weathered Civil Rights Divide". npr.org.
  5. ↑ 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 ]
  6. ↑ Katagiri, Yasuhiro. The Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission: Civil Rights and States' Rights Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2001; p. xxiv.
  7. ↑ Black & Black 1992, p. 98.
  8. ↑ Hardeman & Bacon 1990, p. 336-338.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "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.
  11. ↑ Cornell, Douglas B. (July 14, 1948). "Truman OK's Barkley Boom" . Owensboro Messenger . Owensboro, KY. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. 1 2 3 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

Preceded by
1944
Chicago, Illinois 		Democratic National Conventions Succeeded by
1952
Chicago, Illinois
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.