Ten great Democratic convention moments

The 1920 Convention in San Francisco

Hillary Clinton may be speaking at this year's Convention but back in 1920, she would still have been waiting for the right to vote. The Democrats created quite a stir by supporting female suffrage and even casting a single vote for a female delegate

The 1932 Convention in Chicago

The first presidential candidate ever to accept his nomination in person did it in style. Franklin Delano Roosevelt flew into Chicago, making him the first airborne nominee and wowing his voters. 

The 1968 Convention in Chicago

The rioters snatched the limelight from the candidates in 1968. Robert Kennedy had been assassinated earlier that year. Protests against the Vietnam War were orchestrated by the Yippes who took to the street and mobilised the media. The shooting of a 17-year-old boy fuelled the fire.

The 1988 Convention in Atlanta

This wasn't quite the reception that Bill Clinton would get used to. The only cheer for his speech in Atlanta came when the then Arkansas Governor spoke the words 'And finally' in his disastrous Dukakis endorsement. They'd waited long enough. The speech went on for 32 minutes.

The 2004 Convention in Boston

It was a bit of a gamble for the Democrats. Few had even heard of Barack Obama, a new candidate for the Senate. But his landmark speech in 2004 introduced him to America. And here we all are.

The 1972 Convention in Florida

George McGovern learned a valuable lesson in 1972. Don't let the debate over your vice president go on for so long that you miss all the prime television spots. McGovern found himself speaking to a largely sleeping nation at 2.30 in the morning. Given his message this may have increased his vote.

The 1980 Convention in New York

It was the dynasty's final shot at the White House. Senator Ted Kennedy lost the nomination to Jimmy Carter. But his rallying cry, penned by Bob Shrum, that "the dream will never die" has lasted longer than any of Carter's words.

The 1960 Convention in Los Angeles

Kennedy defeated Lyndon Johnson for the nomination. When Adlai Stevenson realised that, despite a huge floor demonstration for his candidacy, he couldn't find any delegates to back him he commented - "whatever shall I tell Eleanor"? Mrs Roosevelt, who hated Joe Kennedy, wanted Adlai to stop JFK.

The 1988 Convention in Atlanta

Ann Richards raised the biggest laugh at this convention when she lobbed her brand of spiky Texan humour at Republican nominee George W. Bush. The takeaway line?

Poor George, he can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth.

Six years later, the Bush family got their revenge. After four years in office, Richards was evicted from the Texas Governor's mansion by George W.

The 1984 Convention in San Francisco

Jesse Jackson had marred his presidential race with anti-Semitic statements. His speech at the Convention attempted to heal these wounds. As he apologised over and over, more and more Americans turned on their televisions. By the end, he had secured 33 million viewers and a huge boost in popularity.

Comments

[Candadai Tirumalai]

John Kennedy liked to tell the story of the 1924 Democratic Convention, which failed to produce a nominee even after a hundred ballots. The Massachusetts delegation was short of money, when its Chairman said, "We either have to find a less expensive hotel or a more liberal candidate." Al Smith, a Catholic, was finally nominated (the first ever), but he lost the general election to Calvin Coolidge.

[David Buckley]

Not to split hairs, but Ann Richards' comment was actually directed at George H W Bush, the then Vice President and Republican nominee.

[Fred Schubert]

Wrong! The Democratic nominee in 1924 was John W. Davis, a conservative lawyer (and former Ambassador to the UK) from West Virginia. Al Smith ran in 1928, and lost to Herbert Hoover.

[Phil Walberg]

Funny that the 1984 Keynote by Mario Cuomo was left off. It's still probably the best speech give by a Democrat at a convention in the 20th century. And the historical fact-checking on this article is a little appalling.