TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1968The 35th Democratic National Convention opened in Chicago unsettled by a bru
TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 1968The 35th Democratic National Convention opened in Chicago unsettled by a brush-fire movement to draft Senator Edward M. Kennedy for President, fights impending on rules, credentials, the platform and the Presidential nomination. Just before the delegates arrived at the convention site a spokesman tor Senator Kennedy said in Washington that he has asked that his name not be placed in nomination. The nascent “draft Kennedy” movement is like n pile of tinder in a very dry season but it would take some kind of spark to ignite the delegates. But the Senator, at least for the moment, was not lighting any matches. The Democratic platform committee, reportedly on direct orders from President Johnson, adopted a pro-Administration Vietnam plank calling for a bombing halt but on conditional terms. Compromise with the doves having been dismissed, a bitter floor fight is expected when the platform is presented tonight Associates of Mr. Humphrey said he would choose a running mate if he wins the nomination later this week who will add political strength to the Democratic ticket rather than prevent loss. Senator Edmund S. Muskie of Maine, Mayor Joseph L. Alioto of San Francisco and former Gov. Terry Sanford of North Carolina are those most prominently mentioned. Mr. Humphrey’s supporters demonstrated a precarious grip on the Democratic convention by beating back a formidable challenge to the delegation of President Johnson’s home state of Texas. By a vote of 1368 to 955, the delegation led by Gov. John B. Connally Jr. was approved.The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced that the number of serious crimes rose by 16 per cent in 1967 over the previous year. The crimes rise was spread evenly between violent crimes and property offenses and was consistent in all areas and geographic regions. -- source link
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