Ten great Republican convention moments

Now that the Democrats are done, the Republicans are gearing up for their Minnesota moment.

Here are ten of the most memorable Republican conventions.

1860 Republican Convention, Chicago

It came as a shock to everyone when an unknown politician from a Kentucky log cabin beat out the favourite candidate. Still, Abraham Lincoln didn't prove such a bad choice. And he deserves bonus points for picking a VP who rejoiced in the name Hannibal. 

1940 Republican Convention, Philadelphia

Not so notable for its content - who now remembers Wendell Willkie and Charles McNary? But this was the Convention that ushered in the all-singing, all-dancing spectacle we enjoy today. Why? Well, it was the first one to appear live on national television.

1912 Republican Convention, Chicago

President took on President in this most bitter of convention face-offs. Teddy Roosevelt had high progressive hopes for William Taft when he succeeded Roosevelt in the Oval Office. But the disillusioned master returned to haunt his pupil in 1912. Despite public adoration, Roosevelt lagged at the Convention and eventually walked out with his delegates. His subsequent formation of the Bull Moose Party cost Taft the election.

1952 Republican Convention, Chicago

Senator Taft had power, respect and a great political heritage (see above). After two failed nomination bids, he was sure the third would succeeed. But he didn't count on Ike. Eisenhower's complaints about stolen delegates swung the balance against Taft. He retreated to his summer home and sulked.

1980 National Convention, Detroit

America almost had two presidents for the price of one long before the Clintons. In 1980 Ronald Reagan was on the verge of picking former-president Gerald Ford as his deputy. But when Ford began to make demands, Reagan became anxious that he would have to share his powers. With just 24 hours to go, he picked George H.W. Bush.

1864 Republican Convention, Baltimore

The only political Convention at which Democrats have happily sat next to Republicans. This National Union Convention (as it became known) took place in the middle of the Civil War and brought all the North together. War Democrat Andrew Johnson joined the Lincoln on the bi-partisan ticket.

1964 Republican Convention, San Francisco

Another convention. Another infighting session. This time the contest was between Nelson Rockefeller, the more liberal candidate, and Barry Goldwater. Goldwater won the nomination and took the prize for most memorable line:

I would remind you that extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

Not everyone was impressed. Richard Nixon sat in the front row refusing to applaud.

1888 Republican Convention, Chicago

While Barack Obama battles it out with John McCain, he might want to cast his mind back to 1888. This was the year that Frederick Douglass became the first African American to receive a presidential nomination (and a single vote from Kentucky.)

1992 Republican Convention, Houston

This convention kicked off a war, the culture war to be precise. Pat Buchanan's doctrinaire keynote address reverberated around the Astrodome. His threats of abortions on demand in a Clinton administration widened the split in American values. Many believe his hostility derailed George H.W. Bush's candidacy.

2004 Republican Convention, New York

Zell Miller didn't pull any punches in this keynote speech. The Democratic Senator committed the worst kind of political treachery when he let loose in Boston last time round:

No pair have been more wrong, more loudly, more often than the two senators from Massachusetts - Ted Kennedy and John Kerry.

After slamming Kerry's record on security, he then attempted to challenge Chris Matthews to a duel in a post-match interview. One for the history books. 

Comments

[Candadai Tirumalai]

Regarding Richard Nixon's refusal to applaud Goldwater in 1964. Perhaps the Arizona Senator was too right-wing even for Nixon, who told people that in 1952-60 president Eisenhower used him to satisfy the more conservative elements in his party, and said to Mao Tse Tung that only a right-winger like himself had the political credentials to risk the opening to China. (Mao confessed that he liked right-wingers.)
I remember that in 1964 a lot of people voted for Lyndon Johnson because they could not bring themselves to vote for Goldwater.

[nigel]

Please correct the typo: it's Frederick Douglass, not "Douglas". Shame on the Times for (apparently) not knowing how to spell the name of such an important figure in 19th-century American history.