When Political Conventions Go Wild: Four Knock-Down, Drag-Out Convention Floor Fights
by Brendan Spiegel
1. The Convention Turned Klanbake
For Americans accustomed to today’s tame, scripted political conventions, the 1924 Democratic Convention went down more like a taping of The Jerry Springer Show. On one side was New York Governor Al Smith, supported by urban, Catholic voters who favored his efforts to repeal prohibition. On the other side [...]