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hedda_foil

(16,495 posts)
Mon Aug 19, 2024, 04:01 PM Aug 19

I just realized that I've watched 19 DNCs in my lifetime.

Yeah, I'm old, but I was only seven years old when I became a convention junkie, and compared to the Republicans, the DNC was the only game in town! The color, the excitement, the life of the Democratic Party spilled through our 14" black and white tv and into our living room. We didn't get to see the smoke filled rooms, but the hours long demonstrations for the different presidential contenders (still undecided or just semi-secret? I didn't know. I was just seven, after all) impressed the heck out of me. They played the conventions all day and long into the night. A lot must have been past my bedtime, but I still remember watching both Stevenson and Eisenhower's speeches. I doubt I understood much of what they said, but I was hooked and I've watched long through the night ever since.

I remember most vividly when John F Kennedy was introduced to the nation with his brilliant keynote speech at the DNC in 1956. I was 11 and so excited I jumped up and down on our poor couch for much of it. (I was 5'2" and 110 pounds and the couch was far from new.)
He was instantly a leading candidate for the Vice Presidency because Stevenson had left the nomination open for the convention to fill. Talk about breathless excitement! It felt like I was counting the votes right along with Bobby.

And then it was 1960, which was by far the most exciting of my life. I was 15 and could stuff envelopes in my local party office, which meant I actually got to see my idol in person from the third or fourth balcony of the old Chicago Stadium, just a few days before the election.

I've watched every one of the DNCs since then, cheering on our nominees (though I couldn't get excited about Hubert Humphrey after Bobby's assassination). I'm over the moon about Kamala, and I will always adore Obama, but nothing will ever top the 1960 convention -- not for me, at least.

Here's to the DNC!
hedda

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I just realized that I've watched 19 DNCs in my lifetime. (Original Post) hedda_foil Aug 19 OP
JFK-LBJ was my first, too! Grins Aug 19 #1
The OP said she remembered both marybourg Aug 19 #4
Same here... 2naSalit Aug 19 #2
I remember Lyndon Johnson's concession address oasis Aug 19 #3
I guess that was my first too Jilly_in_VA Aug 19 #5
I just came across my old Denver DNC 2008 cap. I helped to plan public health and emergency response for that. hlthe2b Aug 19 #6

Grins

(7,867 posts)
1. JFK-LBJ was my first, too!
Mon Aug 19, 2024, 04:05 PM
Aug 19

Then again, it may have been the first conventions televised.

Anyone remember a televised IKE-Nixon...?

2naSalit

(92,443 posts)
2. Same here...
Mon Aug 19, 2024, 04:08 PM
Aug 19

I was a little younger but my dad was from Cape Cod and knew the Kennedys so it was on in our living room. We watched the debate too.

oasis

(51,640 posts)
3. I remember Lyndon Johnson's concession address
Mon Aug 19, 2024, 04:12 PM
Aug 19

to the assembled DNC. He ended it with “LBJ stands for ‘Let’s Back Jack’”.
I believe Biden’s speech will be delivered in that same spirit.

Jilly_in_VA

(10,840 posts)
5. I guess that was my first too
Mon Aug 19, 2024, 04:18 PM
Aug 19

but I listened to the ones because my parents did) nominating Adlai Stevenson. Good lord, I'm ancient!

hlthe2b

(106,184 posts)
6. I just came across my old Denver DNC 2008 cap. I helped to plan public health and emergency response for that.
Mon Aug 19, 2024, 05:50 PM
Aug 19

I "met" a lot of people-- including the Obamas and Bidens if you count handshakes and a smile. But I actually engaged a bit with Howard Dean--both in his role as DNC Chair and his previous life as a physician--but mainly just a pleasant guy with a great sense of humor! (So you can add him to the list of those to have a beer with... )

Because of my involvement, it being held in Denver, (and Obama-Biden winning, of course) that one holds a special place in my memories, though I do remember some of the earlier ones. 1968 --more so from tv news of the violence and all the Vietnam related controversy. I think my Mom might have been watching it.

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