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Authors, sign in!The Kennedy presentation will be about 7:00 MT. I imagine Sen. Kennedy will make an appearance at about that time. His appearance would be the emotional highlight of the evening.
The Kennedys have been a major presence at every Democratic Convention since 1956. In that year, Adlai Stevenson--in a typically Stevensonian move--left the vice presidential choice up the convention. It was thought that John Kennedy might win, and, for awhile, he was in the lead, but was eventually eclipsed by Estes Kefauver. JFK's father, Joe, thought it was for the best because then Jack wouldn't get saddled with any of the blame for Stevenson's upcoming defeat.
JFK was nominated in 1960, of course, and also hovered over the convention in 1964. Johnson's theme was: "Let us continue..." Continue what? The JFK legacy. The most emotional moment of that convention was the brief address by Robert Kennedy who quoted Shakespeare: "When he shall die, take him and cut him out into little stars, and that shall make the face of heaven so fine, that all the world will fall in love with night, and pay no worship to the garish sun." Some thought the reference to "garish sun" meant LBJ.
In 1968, Robert Kennedy was the one who hovered over the convention, though the combined delegations of Kennedy, now deceased, and Eugene McCarthy were easily defeated by the party regulars aligned with Hubert Humphrey. People remember the chaos in the streets. Inside the hall, the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" became the rallying cry for the delegates of RFK.
Since those early years, Tuesday became known as "Kennedy night." A moving documentary might be shown, accompanied by a speech by Sen. Kennedy or, on one occasion, JFK Jr. After over 50 years, it is quite possible that that particular Kennedy tradition will come to an end this year in Denver. If Sen. Kennedy recovers to his hale and hearty self, as we all hope, no doubt it will go on. If not, it certainly was a long run.
Published August 25, 2008 by John Petty |
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Democratic National Convention
Democratic Party
Politics
Senate
