Showdown at the 1964 Democratic Convention

In the summer of 1964, three forces converged at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey, each with the potential to shake the moorings of traditional democracy: the all-white segregationist delegation from Mississippi, a mostly black delegation determined to unseat the segregationists, and President Lyndon Johnson, who had signed the civil rights bill but wanted to avoid trouble that could jeopardize his chances of carrying the South in the November election. These groups struggled to reach a “compromise” that in the end epitomized sheer political power and its consequences. By examining the motivations of those involved, this work explores how American politics and the civil rights movement clashed at the convention, how the federal government felt compelled to spy on its own people for purely political purposes, and how this interlude changed the political landscape for generations.

John C. Skipper, a political reporter for the Mason City (Iowa) Globe Gazette, has written numerous books on politics and baseball, including a history of the The Iowa Caucuses and acclaimed biographies of Grover Cleveland Alexander, Dazzy Vance and Charlie Gehringer.

John C. Skipper
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 218
Bibliographic Info: 46 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6161-5
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9131-5
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

Introduction      5

1. The Movement      11

2. Robert Moses      24

3. Lyndon Johnson      41

4. A Nation Awakened      55

5. The Republican Revolution      67

6. The Journey      74

7. Political Espionage      83

8. Showdown      96

9. Compromises and Consternation      112

10. Into the Lion’s Den      124

11. A Compromise and a Lynching      134

12. Power, Protest and Politics      151

13. The Forces of Human Decency      159

14. Turning Points      164

15. Political Espionage Documented      175

Epilogue      179

Chapter Notes      193

Bibliography      203

Index      207

Choice Outstanding Academic Title
“a wonderfully constructed story and excellent account for everyone…highly recommended”—Choice; “this interesting volume on American civil rights history examines the competing factions at the 1964 Democratic National Convention and explores the ways in which demands from three power bases collided resulting in a realignment of the political course of race relations”—Reference & Research Book News.