1968 Democratic National Convention 
covered by ABC News, August 28, 1968.
By the morning of August 28, it was obvious that Eugene McCarthy, who had started out challenging President Johnson because of the war in Vietnam, was not likely to gain sufficient delegates to beat the Democratic Party's favored candidate, Vice President Humphrey. (President Johnson had announced his intention not to run for re-election in late March) Bobby Kennedy who had won the California primary on June 5 but was assassinated the same night, had pledged delegates to McCarthy, but McCarthy was still about 300 votes short. Mayor Daley had successfully been the 'kingmaker' who helped John F. Kennedy in 1960 win a tight race for the nomination, and wanted to retain his kingmaker status. He controllled the Illinois delegation, and they had not declared who they would vote for. Thus a last minute attempt to throw McCarthy's (and Bobby Kennedy's) delegates behind Ted Kennedy was made. But Daley's speech here quashed this hope.
In the end, Daley would have no influence on Hubert Humphrey's nomination as it was decided before Illinois would vote. Daley would also (deservedly) receive most of the blame for the repressive atmosphere in Chicago, as the Chicago Police were largely directed by him. He was also the authority who called out the National Guard to back up the police.
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