Good Old Fashioned Conventions
Dateline: 08/04/00
Not finding much suspense in this year's major political party conventions? Well, politics isn't always a party. Thanks largely to the modern state primary election system, major party conventions have become about as exciting as watching the Electoral College vote.
But, it wasn't always like this. Take the 1860 conventions, for example. With the young nation being torn apart by the issue of slavery and a civil war looming large, the Republicans required three ballots to nominate Abraham Lincoln, while the Democrats were having so much fun, they held two conventions.
1860 Republican Convention - Chicago, Illinois
Knowing they had to carry all the non-slave states to win the presidency away from the Democrats (James Buchanan), the Republicans assembled their national convention in Chicago's "Wigwam" on May 16, 1880. A wooden building, constructed in only six weeks, the Wigwam hosted convention delegates in chairs borrowed from area homes.
The delegates considered three top candidates: William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Abraham Lincoln.
Republican Party leadership of 1860 liked Lincoln's politically pristine background and "rail-splitter from a log cabin" image. They also saw Abe as the only candidate who could deliver votes from the "Old Northwest," which then included the state of Illinois.
On the second evening of the convention, delegates were treated to a performance of the play Our American Cousin at Chicago's McVicker's Theater. In 1865, Lincoln would be assassinated while watching the same play in Ford's Theater. (Source: Chicago Public Library)
The delegates adopted a party platform considered more moderate, sort of "kinder and gentler," than their 1856 effort. Slavery and polygamy were no longer referred to as "twin relics of barbarism," the John Brown raid on Harper's Ferry was criticized, and economic issues were emphasized.
Nominations were offered on the third day of the convention, May 18, 1860. After three ballots, none of the candidates had received the 233 votes needed for nomination. Lincoln came close -- 231 1/2 votes, and at that point, the Ohio delegates changed their four votes from Ohio favorite son, Salmon P. Chase to Lincoln, making Honest Abe the Republican presidential nominee.
Next page 1860 Democratic Convention - Number 1 >Page 1, 2
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