Later in August 26-29, 1968, the Democrats held their convention at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois. Earlier that year incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson had announced he would not seek reelection, thus making the purpose of the convention to select a new presidential nominee for the Democratic Party. The most contentious issues of the convention were the continuing American military involvement in the Vietnam War and voting reform, particularly expanding the right to vote for draft-age soldiers who were unable to vote, as the voting age was still 21. This convention also marked a turning point where groups such as youth and minorities became more involved in politics and voting. This Democratic convention was held during a year of riots, political turbulence, and mass civil unrest. The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in April had inflamed racial tensions to an unprecedented level. Many felt that King's assassination marked the end of the civil rights movement. This convention also followed the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy on June 5. Kennedy's assassination derailed many plans for the convention. Both Kennedy and Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota had been running for the Democratic nomination at the time. The Democratic Party, which controlled the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House in 1968, was very clearly divided. Peace talks had begun in Paris in May, 1968, but almost immediately became deadlocked. After Kennedy's assassination the Democratic Party's divisions grew even worse. Support within the Democratic Party was divided between McCarthy, who ran a decidedly anti-war campaign, so that he was seen as the peace candidate, and Humphrey, who was seen as the candidate representing the Johnson point of view. Before the start of the convention on August 26, several states had competing slates of delegates attempting to be seated at the convention. Some of these delegate credential fights went to the floor of the convention on August 26, where votes were held to determine which slates of delegates representing Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and North Carolina would be seated at the convention. This convention was among the most tense and confrontational political conventions ever in American history. The delegates had defeated the peace plank by 1,567 to 1,041. The loss was perceived to be the result of President Johnson's and Mayor Daley's influence behind the scenes. Humphrey, who had not entered any of the thirteen state primary elections, won the Democratic nomination shortly after midnight. Humphrey got 1759 votes, while McCarthy got only 601 votes. Many delegates shouted, "No! No!" when Humphrey's victory was announced. Senator Edmund Muskie of Maine was selected as Humphrey's Vice President as over 600 delegates refused to vote for any of the vice-presidential candidates. This convention was watched by 89 million Americans. As a sign of racial reconciliation, Humphrey had intended for his nomination to be seconded by Carl Stokes, the Black mayor of Cleveland, Ohio. Stokes's speech was not shown on live national television as planned. Instead, the networks broadcast the "Battle of Michigan Avenue" that was taking place in front of the Conrad Hilton hotel. What do you know about the 1968 Democratic Convention?
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