1968 Democratic Convention

"Acts of Submission"

This passage from Theodore White's "Making of a President 1968" describes the precise moment - August 28th, 1968 - writes Jeffrey Lord, when "the Democratic Party, America's oldest, begins to implode." "Never before had a party gathering attempted so violently to intrude itself in state policy while its party leaders were fighting a war....In Paris a negotiating team headed by two Democrats [former New York Governor Averell Harriman and future Carter Secretary of State Cyrus Vance] sought to bargain their way out of the war, yet found their political entrails at home bared by their own Party for the enemy's scrutiny." The soon-to-be nominee, Vice President Hubert Humphrey -- a life-long leader of the liberal-wing of the Party -- was supporting a platform plank that read thusly: "We reject as unacceptable a unilateral withdrawal" from Vietnam. On the other side were Senators Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern and the supporters of the late Robert Kennedy, their minority plank -- a "peace" plank -- demanding what White described as "a forthright denunciation of America's commitment." After a furious fight, Humphrey's forces won, 1, 567 3/4 to 1,041 1/4. While Humphrey won the point, an ominous margin of 526 votes was the thin barrier that separated the robust national security policies bequeathed Democrats by Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy from the start of another Democratic Party legacy altogether: appeasement. Meanwhile, outside Humphrey's hotel window in the streets of Chicago the anti-war demonstrators chanted "Sieg Heil," comparing Humphrey to Adolf Hitler. [Sound familiar?]  Lord opines that  "... a very defined pattern of acts of submission by modern Democrats to foreign threats -- from Communism to Islamic fascism." have made histrionics like we just witnessed over the Paths to 9-11, and Clinton's FOX News rant, simply not believable by a majority of Americans.  Great article.  Especially ironic, too, in light of this currently displayed Drudge blurb that made me choke ... Bob Woodward: .. 'Kissinger's fighting the Vietnam War again'...