Which was the greatest political convention?

[Rooney]

By the term "greatest" I mean the most memorable and the one which created the greatest noise. As for convention I mean a Republican or Democratic (or minor party) political convention held every four years in order to nominate a candidate for the presidency and vice-presidency as well as construct a platform.

I feel there is no way one cannot say the Republican and Progressive Party Conventions of 1912. I will include these two beasts as one due to the fact they are joined at the hip. Without the 1912 RNC and the catcalls against Taft and his "steamroller" of Southern delegates, the forced of Teddy Roosevelt would not have booed former Ohio Lt. Governor Warren Harding while he was nominating Taft, started fistfights on the floor and then marched out of the convention to the jubilant tune of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

The second part of the 1912 RNC, held a week later in the same city of Chicago, was a mix of political convention and old time Christian tent revival. A motley, multi-ethic convention featured the first ever female speakers at a political convention. As the run-up to the greatest presidential election ever waged the 1912 Republican and Progressive Conventions must rate as the greatest ever held in American political history. 

[Del Tachi]

In the modern era, the 1968 DNC was pretty eventful; the 1976 RNC should also be noteworthy for the nominee not having been widely known when the balloting started.

[Sumner 1868]

The 1860 Democratic convention was great in it's tremendous lack of success, and killed the party for two decades.

[Blair]

Does anybody know anything abut the RNC 1940 conference? Did some reading, and it's been citied as the most remarkable in the sense that Wendell Wilkie,a complete outsider managed to win it!

Other than that 1968 has to be the classic. Sums up 1968 perfectly. Ashame that Bobby wasn't there to pick up the nomination, and keep Camelot alive

[🐒Gods of Prosperity🔱🐲💸]

Democratic 1924 and Republican 1964 are the ones that come to mind.

In the modern era, the 1968 DNC was pretty eventful; the 1976 RNC should also be noteworthy for the nominee not having been widely known when the balloting started.

yes, though he was POTUS at the time so that helped.

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

2008 convention. Obama's oratory skills was on display outside that stadium that made him ready to be presidential. That most observers thought before hand, that he wasn't ready for.

[Sumner 1868]

2008 convention. Obama's oratory skills was on display outside that stadium that made him ready to be presidential. That most observers thought before hand, that he wasn't ready for.

His alleged oratory skills were better on display in 2004.

[Sumner 1868]

1. 1912 Republican/Progressive

2. 1860 Democrat/Southern Democrat

3. 1968 Democrat

4. 1976 Republican

5. 1940 Republican

Welcome back. How about the 1896 Democratic convention?

[Blair]

2008 convention. Obama's oratory skills was on display outside that stadium that made him ready to be presidential. That most observers thought before hand, that he wasn't ready for.

His alleged oratory skills were better on display in 2004.

Alleged?

[Vosem]

Democratic 1924 has to be the most chaotic, disorganized political convention of the twentieth century, possibly of American history -- but, considering Coolidge was always going to win the general election, it may not have mattered all that much.

Democratic 1860, which split the party, arguably threw the election to Lincoln leading to the Civil War, is also up there.

In terms of oratory and the Convention shifting the identity of a party, Democratic 1896 has to be up there.

Since the events that took place there basically managed to kill off the Convention and replace it with a primary, Democratic 1968 also matters a great deal.

I think one of these four has to be the 'right' answer.

[Podgy the Bear]

Democratic 1924 has to be the most chaotic, disorganized political convention of the twentieth century, possibly of American history -- but, considering Coolidge was always going to win the general election, it may not have mattered all that much.

The 103rd Ballot written about 40 years ago by Robert Murray is a great read about how the Democrats tore each apart that year.    They spent 17 days in the hot summer of 1924 in New York (no air conditioning then of course).