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1996 presidential election.jpg) | |
  Nominees Clinton and Gore | |
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Date(s) | August 26–29, 1996 |
| City | Chicago, Illinois |
| Venue | United Center |
| Keynote speaker | Evan Bayh |
| Notable speakers | Christopher Dodd Mario Cuomo Hillary Clinton Christopher Reeve Ted Kennedy |
| Candidates | |
| Presidential nominee | Bill Clinton ofArkansas |
| Vice-presidential nominee | Al Gore ofTennessee |
| Voting | |
| Total delegates | 4,289 |
| Votes needed for nomination | 2,147 |
| Results (president) | Clinton (AR): 4,277 (99.72%) Abstention: 12 (0.28%) |
| Results (vice president) | Gore (TN): 4,289 (100%) |
| Ballots | 1 |
| ‹ 1992 · 2000 › | |
The1996 Democratic National Convention was held at theUnited Center inChicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1996.PresidentBill Clinton andVice PresidentAl Gore were nominated for reelection. It was the first national convention of either party to be held in Chicago since theriots of the 1968 Democratic convention, and until2024, was the most recent presidential convention held in the city by either major party.
Chicago,Kansas City,Los Angeles,New Orleans,New York, andSan Antonio were originally considered as possible host cities. Los Angeles withdrew its bid after the1994 Northridge earthquake.[1] Kansas City would also withdraw.[2]
On August 4, 1994, it was announced that Chicago had beaten out the other finalist, San Antonio, for the right to host the convention.[3] This would mark the first time that Chicago hosted a major presidential year political convention since the violent1968 Democratic National Convention, and the first time a political convention was held in theUnited Center, which had been recently completed.[4]
During the bidding for the convention, Chicago was seen as a frontrunner. One dynamic in Chicago's favor was thatchairman of the Democratic National CommitteeDavid Wilhelm had strong connections to the city.[5][6] Also seen as helpful to Chicago's odds was the goodwill that Chicago MayorRichard M. Daley had earned with President Clinton by helping to lobby Chicago-area congressmen to support theNorth American Free Trade Agreement.[5] The fact that First LadyHillary Clinton was raised in the Chicago suburbs was seen as helpful. Bill Clinton's close relationship with Mayor Daley's brotherWilliam M. Daley and Clinton's appreciation of Mayor Daley's endorsement of him during the1992 Democratic Party presidential primaries were also seen as aiding Chicago's chances.[6] Additionally, heading into 1996, Illinois was projected to be a key "battleground state".[7]
Of the bid cities, Chicago's proposed the largest funding package, proposing that its host committee would raise $32 million for the convention.[6]
This was the 25th major party convention to be held in Chicago.[4] Chicago has held more major party conventions than any other city.[4][8][9]
| City | Venue | Previous major party conventions hosted by city |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, Illinois | United Center | Democratic:1864,1884,1892,1896,1932,1940,1944,1952,1956,1968 Republican:1860,1868,1880,1884,1888,1904,1908,1912,1916,1920,1932,1944,1952,1960 |
| New York City, New York[3] | Madison Square Garden | Democratic:1868,1924,1976,1980,1992 |
| New Orleans, Louisiana[3] | Louisiana Superdome | Republican:1988 |
| San Antonio, Texas | Alamodome[10] | — |
| Kansas City, Missouri(withdrew bid) | Democratic:1900 Republican:1928,1976 | |
| Los Angeles, California(withdrew bid) | Los Angeles Convention Center[1] | Democratic:1960 |
Ahead of the convention, in order to project a positive image of the city, Mayor Daley dedicated a large amount funding towards planting new trees and decorative potted flowers throughout theWest Loop area in which the convention would be held as well as in the city's downtown.[11] The convention came at a time where changes and beautification were underway in the West Loop, including the repaving of roads, the addition of decorative planters, and the installation of ornate street lamps. TheMadison Street overpass above theKennedy Expressway was decorated with red white and blue stars.Greektown underwent a streetscape enhancement project. In the weeks ahead of the convention, a demolition project on five buildings of theHenry Horner Homes near the venue was completed. City officials claime that the timing of some of the enhancements to the West Loop was coincidental.[12] Temporary decorations were also added, including stickers advertising the convention on 2,000 street signs.[12]
A temporary convention-oriented bus route was established between the United Center and locations inThe Loop.[12] Events related to the convention were held in venues throughout Chicago in order to showcase the city.[13] Hundreds of events related to the convention were held.[12]
The convention introduced a new style four-screen speech prompting system for speakers consisting of twoglass teleprompters, accompanied by an insetlectern monitor, and for the first time, a large under-cameraconfidence monitor.[14]
The convention's keynote speaker wasGovernorEvan Bayh ofIndiana. The nomination speech was given bySenatorChristopher Dodd ofConnecticut. Other notable speakers included formerNew York governorMario Cuomo,First Lady of the United StatesHillary Rodham Clinton, actorChristopher Reeve,House Minority LeaderDick Gephardt,Senate Minority LeaderTom Daschle, and other SenatorsRuss Feingold ofWisconsin, andJohn Kerry andTed Kennedy ofMassachusetts.[citation needed]
With Clinton's wife, Hillary, speaking at the Democratic convention, and his opponentBob Dole's wifeElizabeth Dole having spoken at the Republican convention, 1996 became the year in which it became established practice that both major party candidates spouses speak at their party's convention.[15]
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Clinton's speech on August 29 included his vision for the next decade, included tax cuts for the middle-class, 20 million more jobs, a strong defense with cuts in the military, but a strong presence of peacemaking troops, new military weapons and tanks, welfare reform goals for states and communities, and a peaceful transition for the Middle East.[citation needed]
Lyndon LaRouche had run for president through multiple parties over multiple election cycles. In 1996, he ran for the nomination of the Democratic party, despite the Chair of the Democratic National Party ruling that Lyndon LaRouche "is not to be considered a qualified candidate for nomination of the Democratic Party for President" before the primaries began. In subsequent primaries LaRouche received enough votes in Louisiana and Virginia to get one delegate from each state. When the state parties refused to award the delegates, LaRouche sued in federal court, claiming a violation of theVoting Rights Act. After losing in the district court, the case was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, which sustained the lower court.[16]
Clinton was nominated unanimously for a second term andVice PresidentAl Gore byvoice vote.
The Balloting:
| Candidates |  |
|---|---|
| Name | William J. Clinton |
| Certified Votes | 4,277 (99.72%) |
| Abstentions | 12 (0.28%) |
| total: | 4,337 |
Clinton and Gore went on to defeat Bob Dole andJack Kemp in theNovember general election in anElectoral College landslide with a substantial popular vote margin.
On August 28, Civil Rights Movement historian Randy Kryn and 10 others were arrested by theFederal Protective Service while doing a demonstration.[17]
In the middle of the convention, many of the delegates danced to the song "Macarena". Al Gore famously danced to the song while standing still.[18][19]
The original Broadway cast ofRent performed "Seasons of Love" at the end of the convention.[20][21]
Taste of Chicago, a group of restaurants who have an annual street festival, catered the press area.[citation needed]
Chicago's performance as a convention host city was regarded to have been successful.[6]
| Preceded by 1992 New York, New York | Democratic National Conventions | Succeeded by 2000 Los Angeles, California |
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