As the 1968 Democratic National Convention took place at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, anti-Vietnam War protesters clashed with police in the city streets. | AP Photos

By Smartencyclopedia & Agencies 

Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris has set the stage for Democratic National Convention delegates to formally select the party’s nominee. This marks the first time in over 50 years that a major party nominee will be chosen outside the primary and caucus process.

Concerns and Historical Context

Many Democrats had already begun discussing how to replace Biden, worried that the convention delegates, most of whom were initially pledged to Biden, selecting the nominee would appear undemocratic and illegitimate.

The Republican Speaker of the House claimed that having the convention replace Biden would be “wrong” and “unlawful.” Critics conjured the image of the “smoke-filled room,” a term from 1920 when Republican leaders secretly nominated Warren G. Harding, who later became a lackluster president.

The practice of selecting a nominee through primaries and caucuses is relatively recent. In 1968, after President Lyndon B. Johnson announced he would not run for reelection, his vice president, Hubert Humphrey, secured the Democratic nomination despite not entering any primaries or caucuses. Humphrey’s victory was due to the support of party leaders who controlled the majority of delegates.

Many Democrats saw this as undemocratic, leading to reforms that required delegates to be selected through primaries or caucuses, allowing ordinary party members to have a say. The Republican Party followed suit, and since 1972 both parties have nominated candidates this way.

Current Concerns and Proposals

Some Democrats worry that a convention-selected nominee will lack legitimacy, as was the case with Humphrey. In response, they propose a “blitz primary” where Democratic voters would decide on a nominee after a series of televised town halls featuring politicians and celebrities like Barack and Michelle Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, and Taylor Swift.

However, scholars argue this proposal is unrealistic given the time constraints. The usual process of primaries and caucuses requires extensive preparation over months or years.

Historical Successes and Failures of the Convention System

While the convention system is often associated with unimpressive nominees like Harding, it has also produced notable presidents. The first convention, held by the National Republicans, nominated Henry Clay, a significant 19th-century politician. Conventions also nominated Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy.

Conversely, the current system has not always produced strong candidates. Despite successful figures like Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama, there have been less successful candidates like George McGovern and weaker presidents like Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush.

Had the old system been in place this year, Democrats might have avoided their current predicament.

A Way to Avert Trouble

Democratic Party leaders, aware of Biden’s decline, might have eased him out in favor of a better candidate if they controlled the nominating process. Historically, party leaders knew more about the candidates than the public and could veto those with serious vulnerabilities.

In 1952, U.S. Sen. Estes Kefauver of Tennessee entered the Democratic National Convention as the favorite in party-member polls, having won the most primaries and delegates. However, party leaders, wary of his maverick nature and personal issues, coalesced around Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson, who wasn’t a candidate before the convention. Stevenson ran a respectable race against the popular Dwight D. Eisenhower, inspiring a generation of Democratic activists despite his loss.

Conclusion

With Biden’s withdrawal, it remains to be seen if the new Democratic nominee will be a strong candidate or, if elected, a good president. This year’s return to a pre-1968 convention nomination process is a significant departure from recent history, and its impact on the Democratic Party and the upcoming election is uncertain.