CBS NEWS CAMPAIGN '68: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, DAY 3 {1968} (TV)
Summary
Day three of this special live coverage of the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. CBS correspondent Walter Cronkite explains that Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey and running mate Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine must be ratified as the convention's choice, and a film clip shows Humphrey explaining his reasons for choosing Muskie. Roger Mudd, Joe Benti, John Hart, and Dan Rather discuss Muskie, and Eric Sevareid analyzes Humphrey's chances against Richard Nixon. Cronkite interviews Mayor Richard Daley, who defends his actions against protesters in Chicago and criticizes television coverage of him and his police force. Rather interviews Daley supporters, followed by a film of Sen. George McGovern charging Daley and the police with police brutality. Mike Wallace, Hart, and Cronkite report on possible nomination challenges from supporters of Eugene McCarthy, Paul O'Dwyer, and Julian Bond. Martin Agronsky then discusses the probable Humphrey/Muskie ticket, and Wallace interviews California Assembly Speaker Jesse Unruh about the ticket. Next is a video clip of Sen. Eugene McCarthy saying he will support Humphrey despite some differences on issues, and Cronkite introduces a clip of a Muskie press conference. Live coverage resumes as convention chairman Rep. Carl Albert of Oklahoma opens proceedings and introduces Charles Guggenheim's memorial film on Robert F. Kennedy, which is narrated by Peter Lawford.
The program continues with the memorial film on Robert F. Kennedy, narrated by Peter Lawford. After the film, delegates chant, clap, and sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," disregarding Chairman Carl Albert's call for order. Sen. Fred Harris of Oklahoma nominates Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine for vice president, and Cronkite, Dan Rather, John Hart, and Mike Wallace discuss possible nomination challenges. Sen. Gale McGee of Wyoming praises the ticket and Sen. Joseph Montoya of New Mexico calls Muskie an unknown in the Southwest. According to a report, New Hampshire delegation leader David Hoeh has been arrested and a delegate calls the arrest a "Gestapo" maneuver. Next, the Wisconsin delegation nominates State Rep. Julian Bond of Georgia for vice president. Balloting begins, and Bond, who is twenty-eight years old and therefore ineligible, declines the nomination. Cronkite reports that Gov. George Wallace of Alabama said the Chicago police force "showed restraint" with demonstrators. Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine is then declared the vice-presidential candidate of the convention. Next, Robert Schakne interviews New Hampshire delegation leader, David Hoeh, who says he was arrested and handcuffed for demonstrating that entrance to the convention hall was possible by substituting a credit card for the convention identification card. Vice Presidential nominee Muskie then steps to the podium. Muskie accepts the convention's nomination and thanks his supporters. In the meantime, CBS correspondent Walter Cronkite reports on violence in the streets and Bert Quint, on videotape, reports on a clash between black militants and the Chicago police. Convention chairman Rep. Carl Albert of Oklahoma introduces presidential nominee Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, who accepts the nomination. Humphrey begins his acceptance speech, calling for unity and the healing of domestic wounds.
Presidential nominee Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey then delivers his acceptance speech, who appeals to all present, including challengers Senators Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern, for a united party. Humphrey says he hopes Democrats can realize the dreams of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. CBS correspondent Walter Cronkite comments that Humphrey leans to the right, politically, of many Democrats. In the meantime, Bert Quint, on videotape, reports on street violence between demonstrators and police. A film on Humphrey is shown in the convention hall. Following this, Martin Agronsky narrates a CBS news political profile of Humphrey. Walter Cronkite then reports that the convention hall has emptied and notes that President Lyndon B. Johnson never visited the convention. Roger Mudd says that most delegates who disapproved of intentional provocation by street demonstrators want party unity. Mike Wallace comments on the surrealistic quality of the band playing "Happy Days Are Here Again." Eric Sevareid, Theodore White, and Cronkite conclude convention coverage by discussing the hard task ahead of Humphrey. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: August 29, 1968 Thursday 7:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 7:05:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T78:0743
- GENRE: News
- SUBJECT HEADING: Democratic National Convention - 1968; Democratic National Convention - 1968 - Riots; Liberty of the press; Police - Complaints against; U S - Elections - 1968; U S - Officials - Talk/Interviews; 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
- Martin Agronsky … Narrator
- Richard Burton … Narrator
- Peter Lawford … Narrator
- John Hart … Reporter
- Eric Sevareid … Reporter
- Dan Rather … Reporter
- Mike Wallace … Reporter
- John Hart … Reporter
- Joseph Benti … Reporter
- Bert Quint … Reporter
- Roger Mudd … Reporter
- Robert Schakne … Reporter
- Carl Albert
- Julian Bond
- Richard J. Daley
- Charles Guggenheim
- Fred Harris
- David Hoeh
- Hubert H. Humphrey
- Lyndon B. Johnson
- Robert F. Kennedy
- Eugene J. McCarthy
- Gale McGee
- George McGovern
- Joseph Montoya
- Edmund Muskie
- Richard M. Nixon
- Paul O'Dwyer
- Jesse Unruh
- George Wallace
- Theodore H. White