Mrs. B's Family Stories, Then and Now: Political Conventions

Our two dominate political parties, Republican and Democrat will soon be holding the 2008 presidential conventions; Democrats will meet August 25-27 in Denver, Colorado, Republicans, September 1-4 in Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota. Interest in choosing each party’s representative has been intense and bound to increase thru the election in November. It’s possible that a black man, Barack Obama, may be the first black elected President of the United States.

I am an enthusiastic viewer of televised political conventions. Some of the speeches are boring and too long, but generally speaking, I share the excitement of the delegates when momentous votes and roll calls are taken. My ‘interest’ in politics doesn’t denote an ‘expertise’ in all the whys and wherefores of party policies and platforms, but I try to be learned enough to know when laws and practices go astray of our constitution.

My husband and I lived in Stanford Village when we first registered with a political party. We had to go to Menlo Park to register and on the day we went, there was a long line of student friends and we joined them in waiting. When it came our turn, we were amused when a woman handed us a card and asked us to read it aloud. We knew it was a custom in the south that people of color had to prove they could read in order to vote, but we laughed and assured the woman that we knew how to read, and handed the cards back. The woman insisted, saying it was the law, but after hearing a word or two, she said that was enough. After a short discussion when we mentioned that we would probably vote for the ‘best person’ regardless of party, the woman suggested we register as Independents. We had not anticipated that possibility, but it allowed us to hedge any commitment. We registered as Independents, but by the time we actually had a chance to vote for a president, we had been re- registered as Democrats.

We knew that we would be out of the country during the national election in November because we planned a year abroad immediately after graduation. Consequently, our interest in politics dropped off dramatically when our attentions turned to other matters. We had made arrangements to share driving expenses with a student driving his car to the same Philadelphia area my husband’s family lived, and within hours of the graduation ceremonies, we were on the highway, heading east. My husband, our 2 year son and I would live with my husband’s family until our sailing on Queen Elizabeth in August.

The trip across country was a delightful one. It was enhanced by our friend’s congeniality, euphoria of graduation and anticipation of a year in Paris. We spent long hours in conversation and listening to the car radio. The radio stations faded in and out in strange ways. At times the frequencies from some distant station would be loud and clear while those near the car’s location would drift annoyingly. By chance we tuned into the Republican convention taking place in Philadelphia. When we realized what we were listening to, we made every effort to keep the dial tuned to the coverage until they adjourned.

Our trip ended a few days later. Wrapping up last minute details of our trip kept us busy, but when I learned that it was permissible to attend the Democrat convention, not as a delegate but as a visitor, I jumped at the chance. The convention was held at the Philadelphia Civic Center Convention Hall. There was no seating for anyone but the delegates; it was standing room only in the balcony but I was thrilled to be there. Crowds inside and outside the hall milled around while the balcony crowd stood shoulder to shoulder and pushed against each other to better their view of the doings on the floor below us.

The noise was deafening with band music, whooping and hollering. The delegates waved flags and balloons and wore decorated hats with pins and ribbons. When they perceived a favorable vote or introduction to a speaker, they marched en mass round and round the hall while speakers implored them to be seated. Speakers were rarely heard but loudly applauded. We had an opportunity to mingle with delegates out side the hall before they were called to order and after adjournment. We made a concerted effort to say hello to those representing states we had a claim to, namely, California, Pennsylvania Iowa, and Kentucky. As long as the convention was in session, a circus atmosphere permeated the hall but serious business was accomplished when all was said and done.

It was a wonderful experience to have been a visitor to that convention. The election of 1948 is considered the most historic in our history to date, although this year may out do that one if Obama wins. I’ve followed this year’s primaries with great interest and am looking forward to the coming conventions. I may miss some sleep, but I will definitely be watching TV for as long as events unfold.