1968 Democratic Convention

Since its beginnings, television in the United States has been intertwined with the political process. From its early position as a new medium in the 1950s, television quickly supplanted radio and eventually newspapers to become the major source of public information about politics.

Every four years, this becomes clear as the two major parties gather for their nominating conventions. These affairs have become increasingly more scripted as the parties attempt to control the visual images broadcast to voters.

At times, however, no one is able to control the conventions as political officials and network executives alike are caught up in events beyond their control. This was certainly the case during the 1968 Democratic Convention.

As anti-war protesters demonstrated in the streets of Chicago, the conflict inside the International Amphitheatre resulted in charges and counter-charges, name-calling and recrimination. Much of this activity was caught on camera, but the sense was that even the TV cameras were reacting rather than controlling.

Watch excerpts from NBC coverage of the 1968 Democratic Convention

Watch a short clip of CBS coverage

To watch extended footage of the NBC coverage of the convention, click on the links below:

Read the “Presidential Nominating Conventions and Television” article from the Encyclopedia of Television

Read the “Political Processes and Television” article from the Encyclopedia of Television