Democratic National Conventions
1908 Democratic Convention, Denver, Colorado
The First Denver Convention
In 1908, the Chicago Cubs bested the Detroit Tigers in a rematch to take home the World Series championship, the United States flag bearer refused to dip the flag at the Summer Olympics and the Democratic National Convention came to Denver, Colorado. For the West, the event marked the first Convention by a major party in a western state. In addition, it was the first national political Convention to accredit women, with five women credentialed as delegates or alternate delegates. Held at the Denver Arena Auditorium, the delegates met and on the fourth day nominated the “The Great Commoner” William Jennings Bryan. His populist approach matched the town, the city of Denver was transformed and exactly 100 years later, the Convention would return.
The Convention’s Roots
The first Democratic National Convention, in 1832, led to the nomination of Martin Van Buren to be incumbent President Andrew Jackson’s running mate when he received the two-thirds vote that had been required. This “two-thirds rule,” which often required conventions to cast ballots dozens of times, remained in effect for more than 100 years (minus exceptions in 1835 and 1840). This original three-day event in Baltimore, Maryland began the Democratic Party tradition with a win, as President Jackson easily defeated Henry Clay of Kentucky. No party platform was issued, as that tradition did not start until 1840, when the Convention — once again, in Baltimore — nominated Van Buren for the presidency.
Through the Years
Year Convention City
1832 Baltimore, MD
1835 Baltimore, MD
1840 Baltimore, MD
1844 Baltimore, MD
1848 Baltimore, MD
1852 Baltimore, MD
1856 Cincinnati, OH
1860 Charleston, SC and Baltimore, MD
1864 Chicago, IL
1868 New York City, NY
1872 Baltimore, MD
1876 Saint Louis, MO
1880 Cincinnati, OH
1884 Chicago, IL
1888 St. Louis, MO
1892 Chicago, IL
1896 Chicago, IL
1900 Kansas City, MO
1904 Saint Louis, MO
1908 Denver, CO
1912 Baltimore, MD
1916 St. Louis, MO
1920 San Francisco, CA
1924 New York City, NY
1928 Houston, TX
1932 Chicago, IL
1936 Philadelphia, PA
1940 Chicago, IL
1944 Chicago, IL
1948 Philadelphia, PA
1952 Chicago, IL
1956 Chicago, IL
1960 Los Angeles, CA
1964 Atlantic City, NJ
1968 Chicago, IL
1972 Miami Beach, FL
1976 New York City, NY
1980 New York City, NY
1984 San Francisco, CA
1988 Atlanta, GA
1992 New York City, NY
1996 Chicago, IL
2000 Los Angeles, CA
2004 Boston, MA
2008 Denver, CO
