Comments on: Book on the 1968 Democratic Presidential Nomination Process?

Question: Book on the 1968 Democratic Presidential Nomination Process?

katyjack — Sun, 11 May 2008 07:54:16 -0800

Can anyone recommend a book about the 1968 presidential campaign -- particularly one that focuses on how Humphrey became the nominee and what really happened at the Democratic convention?

I've read and heard on TV that this democratic presidential nominee process has the potential to become as contentious as the '68 race, where Humphrey ended up as the nominee even though he didn't run in any of the primaries. I'd like to find a book about this race so I can compare what is happening now with what happened then. Unfortunately, all I've been finding are books on all of 1968 or on the campaign after both candidates have been selected and I'm interested in the race prior to that point. Can anyone recommend a book that will educate me?

By: pluckemin

pluckemin — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:07:03 -0800

I highly recommend The Deadly Bet by Walter LaFeber. It's a really clearly written, interesting book that puts everything into context; it's great for people (such as myself) who don't have much of a background in history.

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:35:47 -0800

The Orator at Dawn, Robert Caro's piece in the New Yorker about the dynamic that existed between Humphrey and Johnson, is a pretty great read (but it doesn't discuss the 1968 Democratic Convention).

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:44:30 -0800

Soon to come out: Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America.

It will certainly have something to say on the subject.

By: cortex

cortex — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:18:20 -0800

[Books about '68, not free-form discussion of the current race, please.]

By: briank

briank — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:55:13 -0800

The canonical book is Theodore White's The Making Of The President 1968.

By: citron

citron — Sun, 11 May 2008 15:26:26 -0800

By the way, you might be interested in this recent Vanity Fair article - The Last Good Campaign.. it's an excerpt from a forthcoming book, The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America, by Thurston Clarke. I don't know if he covers all of the 68 primary or just RFK, but still, should be worthwhile..

By: lukemeister

lukemeister — Sun, 11 May 2008 21:24:21 -0800

Slightly different emphasis, but The Selling of the President by Joe McGinniss is a classic.

By: j1950

j1950 — Mon, 12 May 2008 05:28:23 -0800

I second the Deadly Bet.