General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAnybody here old enough to remember H. Humphrey supporting Mayor Daley
and the troops in Chicago 1968?
just sayin....
FarPoint
(12,427 posts)I was in Middle School.... A turbulent time. Change came out of it....
Snobblevitch
(1,958 posts)ellenrr
(3,864 posts)police beating peaceful demonstrators.
(If you want to see it watch this-
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/Chicago1968/
It is as vicious as anything we've seen.
Rightfully referred to as a police riot.
They swung their batons at anything that moved.
Right decision to support Daley?
No again - one of the most corrupt racist mayors - a real king-pin of the political machine.
Just cuz someone is nominally a Democrat, doesn't mean they are necessarily a good person.
Hubert Humphrey was a war-mongerer.
former9thward
(32,064 posts)He was booed at the 1948 Democratic Convention for having the courage to even mention civil rights when no one else would. You can argue that he was a too loyal VP to LBJ but he certainly was no "war-monger".
ellenrr
(3,864 posts)If you don't know he was a war-mongerer you need to read more.
or maybe your definition of a war-mongerer is different than mine:
one who advocates war as the solution.
former9thward
(32,064 posts)He advocated a stop to the bombing and LBJ finally did in October, 1968. I don't need to read more. I was the chairman of my university's SDS chapter in the fall of 1968 and I was leading demonstrations against the war.
H2O Man
(73,581 posts)But he lacked the spine required to take a position different from LBJ, until far too late in the 1968 election. Thus, he lost the support of those who could have made him president, instead of Nixon.
I've always respected your opinion here on DU. But I do not agree with the stance that you are taking here, regarding HHH's position on Vietnam in '68.
former9thward
(32,064 posts)I was originally McCarthy supporter -even though I was only 17 at the time. I hitchhiked to Chicago in 1968 and became and what I considered a revolutionary based on my experiences at the convention. I hated the Democratic party as a result and HHH in particular. But as I matured and looked at history I reevaluated my thoughts. I always read your posts , particularly about the local politics in New York.
ellenrr
(3,864 posts)Phil Ochs:
Love Me, I'm a Liberal Lyrics
I cried when they shot Medgar Evers
Tears ran down my spine
I cried when they shot Mr. Kennedy
As though I'd lost a father of mine
But Malcolm X got what was coming
He got what he asked for this time
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I go to civil rights rallies
And I put down the old D.A.R.
I love Harry and Sidney and Sammy
I hope every colored boy becomes a star
But don't talk about revolution
That's going a little bit too far
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I cheered when Humphrey was chosen
My faith in the system restored
I'm glad the commies were thrown out
of the A.F.L. C.I.O. board
I love Puerto Ricans and Negros
as long as they don't move next door
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
The people of old Mississippi
Should all hang their heads in shame
I can't understand how their minds work
What's the matter don't they watch Les Crain?
But if you ask me to bus my children
I hope the cops take down your name
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I read New republic and Nation
I've learned to take every view
You know, I've memorized Lerner and Golden
I feel like I'm almost a Jew
But when it comes to times like Korea
There's no one more red, white and blue
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
I vote for the democratic party
They want the U.N. to be strong
I go to all the Pete Seeger concerts
He sure gets me singing those songs
I'll send all the money you ask for
But don't ask me to come on along
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
Once I was young and impulsive
I wore every conceivable pin
Even went to the socialist meetings
Learned all the old union hymns
But I've grown older and wiser
And that's why I'm turning you in
So love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal
former9thward
(32,064 posts)But he was a very troubled person, especially towards the end. R.I.P.
Paka
(2,760 posts)Not enthusiastic, but it was a strange year. My first strong positive vote came in '72. Happily voted for Carter, but I spent many years after that out in the wilderness LOTE voting. Finally in 2016 I get to vote for the person I totally believe in and want to be my President. It's been a long time coming.
catnhatnh
(8,976 posts)Carter was 1976.....
Paka
(2,760 posts)I said my first enthusiastic vote was in '72. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. I not only voted for McGovern in '72, but worked hard on the campaign and still have the telegram I got personally from him thanking me for all I did. I may be old, but I'm not senile yet.
catnhatnh
(8,976 posts)Sorry about that. I saw Humphrey in the summer of '68 even though I was to young to vote...
It wasn't totally clear.
Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)without reservation - was on my 18th Birthday - November 7, 1972(the first time 18 year-olds could vote nationally) I made it by one day. I just hope that before I leave this world I can do it again this year.
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)brooklynite
(94,686 posts)If not, I'm not clear what the point of the OP is.
ellenrr
(3,864 posts)terrible year -
I was reminded of HH's own words in condemning the demonstrations.
so I am reminding people, many of whom on this board may be too young to have been alive then.
That is my only purpose.
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)Watched it live on the TV.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)He'd already lost most of his credibility as a liberal by sticking with LBJ but that was a real slap in the face.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)ellenrr
(3,864 posts)sorry I guess my post was somewhat cryptic - it was early morning.
at the link you can hear his own words.
it's pretty awful. imo.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)I don't get any video at the PBS site. Tried three different browsers.
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)Here's a brief but pretty decent summary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Democratic_National_Convention
I didn't know that Humphrey did not participate in the primaries.
Hangingon
(3,071 posts)sitting beside Mayor Daley.
CTyankee
(63,912 posts)Nice place, nice golf courses...
come the Chicago convention on TV and uh oh...my inlaws were in shock and blaming those "rioters." I was in shock that it actually happened...
quite a night...everybody had a lot to drink, that's for sure...
elleng
(131,063 posts)but lived in Chicago so, and imagine this, guess I was 'political' then too, left Bermuda EARLY to be 'home' for the 'party!' So thanks to Daley it was worth it, as I'd worked at the Cook County Jail (as a 'legal secretary, haha!) I knew the Warden, and he let me return to help them sort and classify, and to help the quickly jailed to get help, medical etc, to contact their friends and families, etc.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)elleng
(131,063 posts)elleng
(131,063 posts)helped people get help in Cook County Jail, couldn't make myself vote for HHH (due to war/LBJ,) (so we got skunked with nixon. )