In 1968, the country was convulsed with unrest over the Vietnam War. A lot of Democratic voters wanted the party to nominate a candidate who would end the war in Vietnam. But back then, voters didn't really have much of a say in the process. So all those jokes about smoke-filled back rooms where deals were cut and decisions are made actually happened. And that's how the party ended up with Hubert Humphrey.
For the past 50 years, the race to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee has been shaped by the where the contest begins: Iowa.
But that process could soon be overhauled. In a coming meeting of the Democratic National Committee, South Carolina — a state that is more representative of the party and, possibly, of the country — could take over the key role of going first.
Guest: Adam Nagourney, a West Coast cultural affairs correspondent for The New York Times.
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