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  Humphrey-McGovern-McCarthy Debate
EVENT DETAILS
ParentParent
TypeDebate
TitleHumphrey-McGovern-McCarthy Debate
Start Date/TimeAugust 27, 1968 10:30am
End Date/TimeAugust 27, 1968 12:05pm
ContributorChronicler
Last ModifiedChronicler - September 28, 2008 07:07pm
DescriptionThe second Democratic primary debate was held in Chicago at the beginning of the National Convention. The debate was sponsored by the large and mostly unpledged California delegation.

Background
As the Democratic National Convention approached, VP Humphrey was running in first place, far ahead of his challengers Sens. McGovern and McCarthy. Although Humphrey was winning most caucus states, he did not appear to be headed for a first ballot victory. McCarthy and Humphrey began planning a debate to be held just before the convention, and McGovern objected that he was excluded [New York Times 8/15/1968]. CBS, which was to sponsor the debate, offered McGovern 30 minutes of free air time if he would not undermine the debate planning [NYT 8/16/1968]. When McGovern claimed that it was illegal to bar him from the debate, Lester Maddox said that he also wanted to be included [NYT 8/21/1968]. After McGovern filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission, Humphrey called the debate off [NYT 8/22/1968].

When the planned debate failed to materialize, Jesse Unruh, chairman of the large and partially unpledged California delegation, offered to host the three leading candidates before his delegation. It was a major coup for Unruh, since the networks had worked diligently to accomplish the same objective. To complicate matters, a telephone workers strike was taking place, which complicated the transmission of video and prevented the networks from airing the debate live. Instead, the networks taped the debate in segments, then had motorcycle couriers drive the tape to their press facilities at the convention hall for broadcast. Unruh did not invite Maddox, so the networks were not violating the equal time provision since they did not make the arrangements [NYT 8/28/1968].

Quick Facts
When: 10:30 a.m. to noon (CST), 8/27/1968
Where: LaSalle Hotel (ballroom on 19th floor), Chicago IL. Carried by ABC, CBS, NBC.
Moderator: Jesse Unruh
Number of viewers/listeners: undetermined
Topics: Foreign, domestic policy

Transcript: not available. The New York Times ran excerpts (but almost an entire transcript) of the debate on 8/28/1968 (page 34).

Format: opening statements, questions and answers, closing summaries. Unruh recognized the questioners (all delegates); they asked two questions of each candidate (three minute answers), and after each response, the other two candidates had two minutes to share their opinions.

Setting: the three candidates appeared on a stage before 1,000 delegates and observers; Unruh was also on the stage.

McCarthy spoke first. His opening statement was disappointing. Instead of setting forth his vision and proposals, he defended his record in Congress and tried to show that he was not a one-issue candidate or looking for a passive presidency.

McGovern spoke second. He pointed out that the three candidates grew up within 100 miles of each other and had all been college professors. He had entered politics when Adlai Stevenson said "Let us talk sense to the American people." The Democratic Party "is not afraid of diversity" and "not afraid of complex issues." He emphasized his long opposition to the Vietnam War and the need to reconstruct "our own troubled country."

Humphrey said that the Democratic Party sought to "believe in and articulate the politics of hope," which he said "arouses the best in people." He wanted to "call forth what we call the greatness of the human spirit." He wanted a "lasting and honorable peace" in Vietnam and an end to the arms race.

Humphrey's first question was "Specifically, in what ways, if at all, do you disagree with President Johnson's position with reference to Vietnam?" He began by asking "Would you mind if I just stated my position on Vietnam?" - to which the California delegation almost unanimously replied "No!" HHH outlined how the situation in Vietnam had evolved since 1963 and stated that he wanted North Vietnam to show "some reasonable response" of their peaceful intentions.

The replies of McCarthy and McGovern were significant. McCarthy simply stated "The people know my position," which was true - but with this short statement, he lost an opportunity to woo the delegation. McGovern used his time to outline his policy, which was interrupted twice by enthusiastic applause, followed by a standing ovation. He stated that he wanted "to end the war in Vietnam and to be about the business of reconstructing our own country." This statement, ending his 2-minute reply, was followed by another standing ovation.

A memorable statement by McCarthy came at the end of one of his statements. A delegate asked if he would release his delegates to support a different candidate with similar views. McCarthy did not agree to do so, but he did say that he could not support a candidate who did not agree with his views.

Another issue of the day was how to deal with competing delegations to the convention. HHH supported the "regular" Texas delegation but the seating of both Georgia delegations. McGovern opposed the "regular" delegations from the two states; if Democrats wanted a fair and representative government in Vietnam, they should also support fair and representative delegations. When McGovern defended Julian Bond of the alternate Georgia delegation, the Californians again gave him a standing ovation.

The closing statements were also telling. McCarthy used his time to show that his insurgent candidacy had outperformed what all the pundits had said. He again chose not to set forth his vision for the future. McGovern pointed out again "the twin issues that history has laid before us" - ending the Vietnam War and "reconstruction of our own society here at home." HHH said that the three candidates basically agreed on the issues and that the important question was which candidate would be able to defeat Nixon. [New York Times, 8/28/1968]

Aftermath
It was readily obvious that McGovern had won the debate, with McCarthy second. The unpledged delegates, who had been mostly elected as RFK delegates, split between McCarthy and McGovern. McCarthy, who had won many delegates in the primary, thus placed first in the delegation with 91 votes to 51 for McGovern and only 14 for Humphrey, who placed fourth behind Channing Phillips. As it turned out, however, Humphrey had enough delegates from other states to win the nomination on the first ballot even with his poor showing in California.

1st Democratic primary debate of 1968: [Link]

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