Chicago’s history with hosting Democratic and Republican conventions dates back to 1860
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Chicago is no stranger to hosting the Democratic National Convention.
Between 1860 and 1996, the city hosted 25 Republican and Democratic conventions. No other city has hosted nearly as many, with the runner-up, Baltimore, claiming 10, followed by Philadelphia, with 9.
Add to that total the founding of the Prohibition Party at an 1869 convention in Chicago’s Farwell Hall. Plus Theodore Roosevelt’s Progressive Party, founded in 1912 as a breakaway from the Republican Party that also met in Chicago that same year.
And in 2024, the city will once again host the Democratic National Convention.
Here’s a look back at how the Tribune has covered them.
Early days
In the run-up to the 1860 Republican Convention, Abraham Lincoln got cold feet. The Chicago Tribune was tirelessly touting him as the party’s choice for president. But Lincoln was juggling his law practice and candidacy. In March, he fought and won a tough, 11-day courtroom battle in Chicago.
So he confessed his misgivings to the newspaper’s editor. “See, here, you Tribune boys got me up a peg too high,” he told Joseph Medill, the paper’s editor. “How about the vice presidency? Won’t that do?”
Medill wouldn’t have it. He’d worked too hard persuading the Republicans to hold their convention in Chicago and getting the city to build a hall to hold it in.
“We’re not playing second in this dance to any musician. It’s president or nothing. Else you can count the Tribune out. We’re not fooling away our time and science on the vice presidency.”
Medill’s insistence on going full bore for the presidency established Chicago as the go-to town for political conventions.
The 1800s
Democrats met in Chicago for the first time in 1864, when the party nominated Gen. George B. McClellan. Four years later, Republicans returned to nominate Civil War hero Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.
Republicans returned in 1880 to nominate James A. Garfield, and, in 1884, Chicago hosted its first double convention where Republicans nominated James G. Blaine of Maine and Democrats nominated New York Gov. Grover Cleveland, who was later elected president. Four years later, Republicans nominated U.S. Sen. Benjamin Harrison of Indiana, who lost the popular vote but defeated Cleveland in the Electoral College. In 1892, Democrats nominated Cleveland again and he regained the presidency.
In 1896, Chicago hosted the Democratic convention where William Jennings Bryan delivered his historic “Cross of Gold” speech and won the nomination but lost to William McKinley.
1904 to 1960
In 1904, Republicans convened to nominate President Theodore Roosevelt, who had assumed office after McKinley’s assassination. Four years later, the GOP convention in Chicago was the location where the party nominated William Howard Taft, Roosevelt’s hand-picked successor. In 1912, Roosevelt challenged Taft. Roosevelt won almost all the primaries, but Republican leaders refused to nominate him. Roosevelt refused to drop out and two months later the Progressive Party nominated him in Chicago. New Jersey Gov. Woodrow Wilson later won the election. In 1916, the Republicans again rebuffed Roosevelt and instead nominated Charles Evans Hughes.
Four years later, the Republicans were back again and nominated U.S. Sen. Warren G. Harding. Another double convention occurred in 1932 when Republicans renominated President Herbert C. Hoover in Chicago and then weeks later Democrats picked Franklin D. Roosevelt, who ended up winning for the first time. Roosevelt was renominated for his third and fourth terms in Chicago, with the convention being held at the Chicago Stadium. Republicans met in 1944 in Chicago to nominate New York Gov. Thomas E. Dewey.
In 1952, Republicans nominated Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in Chicago while Democrats were here to nominate Illinois Gov. Adlai E. Stevenson II. The Democrats returned four years later to nominate Stevenson again — and he lost to Eisenhower again. The last GOP convention in Chicago was in 1960 when the Republicans nominated Vice President Richard M. Nixon.
1968
In 1968, the Democratic Party was to meet Aug. 26-30 at Chicago’s International Amphitheatre. Tensions were high amid protests about the war in Vietnam, the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April and the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy on June 5. Ron Grossman wrote: “The phrase ‘ ‘68 Convention’ was about to join ‘Al Capone’ as mnemonic shorthand for the more notorious chapters of Chicago’s history.”
Inside the convention hall, demonstrations erupted and angry words were traded among attendees. Outside the convention hall, rioting by “hippie” protesters took over Chicago and images of police beating the demonstrators were broadcast around the world. Of the many protesters arrested, several men were charged with conspiracy and crossing state lines to incite a riot. They became known as the Chicago 7. During the five-month trial in Chicago, protesters never let up demonstrating against the trial and the war.
1996
Chicago wouldn’t host another Democratic convention until 28 years later, when it was held at the United Center Aug. 26-29. President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term, and speakers included first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, keynote speaker Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh, actor Christopher Reeve, gun-control advocate Sarah Brady and Mayor Richard Daley.
“The agenda behind this convention was apparent to anyone who got close to the process: Wipe out the unpleasant memories of 1968 — with its battles between cops and protesters — and replace them with memories of a lovefest,” read a Chicago Tribune article from 1996.