Swampy's Florida

1972 was the last time a presidential convention has happened in Florida. By happenstance, both the Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention met in Miami Beach a few weeks from each other.  It has, so far, been the last time both parties convened in the same city. The Republican party was supposed to meet in San Diego, California. The party had to quickly move the event due to a messy situation involving the selection of San Diego and a company that had helped fund the event there possibly seeking favoritism involving an enormous lawsuit. The Republican Party found itself back in the city they had last held a convention in 1968, Miami Beach.

The 1968 Republican National Convention was the first of it’s kind held in Florida. Miami Beach was the host. The next presidential campaign in 1972 saw both parties in the state. It has taken 40 years before either party has returned.

The Republican’s 1972 convention went mostly smoothly with protesters being the toughest thing to deal with. The Democrats were an entirely different story which can’t be gone through here and I highly suggest further reading to learn more. There were convention battles over various issues and all night sessions that wore even the Presidential candidate out. It is considered the most difficult convention involving internal political struggle of any of the political conventions held so far in this country.

Below is a series of memorabilia from the 1968 and both conventions in 1972.

Here are two interesting tidbits from the 1968 Republican convention: a convention badge, a ticket to get inside and a Nixon/Agnew button. Before “credentials” top officials wore metal medals to identify themselves. The badge on the left is actually rather heavy. A piece of fabric holds the two metal pieces together.

At the Democratic Convention in Miami Beach in 1972 there was quite a battle as to who would be at the top of the ticket and especially for vice-president. Senator Thomas Eagleton of Missouri was nominated at the convention in Miami Beach. After a revelation of his private life, he dropped out and was replaced long after the convention by France Ambassador Sargent Shriver.

This is the official program of the 1972 Republican National Convention.

Actually there is a lot in the Swampy’s Florida collection of these two conventions and the effort was to try and show a balance of both conventions.