CBS NEWS CAMPAIGN '68: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, DAY 2 {1968} (TV)
Summary
Day two of this live coverage of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Tape one of seven. CBS News correspondent Walter Cronkite notes the evening's agenda. Dan Rather, Mike Wallace, and John Hart report on anti-war delegates, and Cronkite notes restrictions on press coverage. A videotape is shown of Sen. George McGovern's remarks after the defeat of a minority plank on Vietnam. Roger Mudd listens to Art Buchwald for the humorist's view of the candidates, Harry Reasoner and Hughes Rudd report on convention activities, and Wallace interviews McCarthy delegate Allard K. Lowenstein of New York. Ike Pappas then reports on convention security. Daniel Schorr interviews black caucus presidential candidate Rev. Channing E. Philips of Washington D.C., the first black to be so nominated.
A video clip is played of California delegate Jesse Unruh's press conference on the defeat of the minority plank on Vietnam. House Majority Leader Rep. Carl Albert of Oklahoma introduces Paul Newman, Dore Schary, and Ralph Bellamy, who present a tribute to Adlai Stevenson. Eric Sevareid then comments on the Stevenson legacy. Cronkite summarizes the anti-war demonstrations taking place in Chicago and then reviews the convention agenda. Dan Rather interviews members of the Humphrey family, including Mrs. Hubert Humphrey. Roger Mudd discusses charges that the convention is "controlled" and Joe Benti reports on the "packing" of non-delegate areas.
Ike Pappas talks with delegate Andy Williams about Robert and Ted Kennedy, and Rep. Carl Albert of Oklahoma reads a telegram from President Lyndon B. Johnson. Dan Rather interviews Sen. George McGovern and supporter Dick Tuck on the caprices of floor security. After roll call begins, Rather speaks with favorite son North Carolina Gov. Dan Moore and Pappas interviews Vice President Hubert Humphrey's sister. Mike Wallace and Rather cover the ejection of New York delegate Alex Rosenberg by Chicago police, Daniel Schorr interviews a UPI messenger who was also ejected, and Cronkite comments on the "strong-arm tactics." Iowa Gov. Harold Hughes nominates Minnesota Sen. Eugene J. McCarthy for president.
CBS correspondent Walter Cronkite comments as videotape of street demonstrations and Chicago police actions is telecast. Georgia State Rep. Julian Bond seconds the nomination of Sen. Eugene McCarthy for president, and Dan Rather speaks with New York delegate Paul O'Dwyer on convention security. San Francisco Mayor Joseph Alioto nominates Vice President Hubert Humphrey for president. Cronkite reviews videotaped scenes of "naked violence" in the streets, including Bert Quint's report as National Guardsmen with bayonets move on the demonstrators amid cries of "Sieg Heil." Rather interviews Chicago Mayor Richard Daley about the demonstrations. Also, Cleveland Mayor Carl Stokes seconds the Humphrey nomination.
Next, John Hart, Ike Pappas, Hal Walker, and Joseph Benti provide several reports on the possible walkout by some delegates in protest against the treatment of anti-war demonstrators by police and National Guardsmen. Highlights include the following: Sen. Abraham Ribicoff (Conn.) nominates Sen. George McGovern (S.D.) for president; Ribicoff departs from his speech and cites "Gestapo tactics in the streets of Chicago," followed by Mayor Richard J. Daley's reaction; Cronkite reviews the rough handling of CBS correspondent Mike Wallace by convention security; Frank Mankiewicz seconds McGovern; and Phil Stern nominates the Rev. Channing E. Phillips, the first black to be so nominated. Also featured is footage of demonstrations in the streets of Chicago. In the meantime, U.S. Rep. John Conyers of Michigan seconds the nomination of the Rev. Channing E. Phillips, the first black to be nominated for the presidency. Wallace speaks with Larry O'Brien as well as Mankiewicz, who says the convention should recess while "blood is running in the streets of Chicago." Other highlights include the following: Wisconsin delegate Don Peterson attempts to recess the convention to another city and is interviewed by Hart; presidential balloting begins; Chicago Mayor Daley's Illinois delegation is booed as it ballots; Dan Rather speaks with John Kenneth Galbraith; Pennsylvania's vote gives the nomination to Hubert Humphrey; and the vote is declared official.
Mike Wallace interviews Sen. Eugene McCarthy aide Richard Goodwin, who opposes the motion to make the Hubert Humphrey nomination unanimous; Dan Rather speaks with members of the Humphrey family and with Gov. John Connally; and David Schoumacher interviews injured demonstrators being treated at McCarthy Headquarters. Next is a film clip of a National Guardsman pointing a grenade launcher into a car. Cronkite, John Hart, Joseph Benti, and others then speculate on vice-presidential candidates. Eric Sevareid calls this "the most disgraceful night in the history of American political conventions," and Roger Mudd says the violence will benefit the Richard M. Nixon campaign.
Eric Sevareid and Roger Mudd comment on the irony of what should be Hubert Humphrey's happiest night, coupled with the violence of the anti-war street demonstrations. They also note the manipulation of the convention and the ejection of delegates by its management. Mudd also observes that Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is the "convention's scapegoat." Walter Cronkite comments on the rough treatment of newsmen in the streets, says that those trying to influence the news have not swayed the newsman's devotion to reporting the truth, and notes that CBS President Frank Stanton has invited candidates Humphrey and Richard M. Nixon to debate the issues in prime time. Cronkite recaps the Humphrey nomination vote totals. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: August 28, 1968 Wednesday 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 7:53:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T77:0387
- GENRE: News
- SUBJECT HEADING: U S - Officials - Talk/Interviews; U S - Elections - 1968; Democratic National Convention - 1968; Political satire; Vietnam War - 1968; Liberty of the press; Blacks in politics; African-American Collection - News/Talk
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1968
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Robert Wussler … Executive Producer
- Bill Leonard … Director
- Gordon Manning … Director
- Walter Cronkite … Anchor, Chief Correspondent
- Art Buchwald … Commentator
- Dan Rather … Reporter
- Mike Wallace … Reporter
- John Hart … Reporter
- Roger Mudd … Reporter
- Harry Reasoner … Reporter
- Hughes Rudd … Reporter
- Daniel Schorr … Reporter
- Ike Pappas … Reporter
- Carl Albert
- Joseph Alioto
- Ralph Bellamy
- Joseph Benti
- Julian Bond
- John Connally
- John Conyers
- Richard J. Daley
- John Kenneth Galbraith
- Richard Goodwin
- Harold Hughes
- Hubert H. Humphrey
- Muriel Buck Humphrey
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Edward M. Kennedy
- Robert F. Kennedy
- Allard K. Lowenstein
- Frank Mankiewicz
- Eugene J. McCarthy
- George McGovern
- Dan Moore
- Paul Newman
- Larry O'Brien
- Paul O'Dwyer
- Don Petersen
- Channing E. Phillips
- Bert Quint
- Abraham Ribicoff
- Alex Rosenberg
- Dore Schary
- David Schoumacher
- Eric Sevareid
- Phil Stern
- Adlai Stevenson
- Carl Stokes
- Dick Tuck
- Jesse Unruh
- Hal Walker
- Andy Williams