Most of the drama is already gone from both parties’ presidential nominating conventions. That could change. But here’s a quick history of some of the most dramatic and important political conventions of the past.
Meeting of the Southern seceders from the Democratic Convention at St. Andrew’s Hall, Charleston, South Carolina, April 30, 1860. Illus. in: Harper’s Weekly, (1860 May 12). (Library of Congress)
National conventions, once riveting political theater that held America in suspense for days, have been reduced to a made-for-television, political promo for the two parties. Since primary elections now routinely determine the candidates, this quadrennial dog-and-pony show offers a ho-hum pageant, in which windy speeches are delivered, party platforms hammered out and often ignored, and delegates don silly hats and hold up handmade signs extolling the virtues of candidates, causes and home states. Once the scene of bare-knuckle politicking and backroom deals, the modern conventions now provide comforting tableaus –full of sound and fury, but mostly signifying nothing.
–The Top 10 Political Conventions That Mattered Most
Excerpted from this 2012 article at Smithsonian.com
