This book is a comprehensive report on the 1968 U.S. presidential campaign, written by three British journalists who covered the event for the London Times. It delves into the primaries, the key candidates, and the significant events of the campaign, including the late entry and assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the anti-war movements led by Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern, and the Republican primary contests involving Ronald Reagan, Nelson Rockefeller, and George Romney. The book also discusses the dramatic events at the 1968 Chicago convention and the broader political landscape of the time.
In *Miami and the Siege of Chicago*, Norman Mailer provides a vivid and personal account of the 1968 Republican and Democratic conventions. The book is characterized by Mailer's unique writing style, blending factual reporting with subjective insights and poetic descriptions. It covers the Republican convention in Miami and the tumultuous Democratic convention in Chicago, where protests against the Vietnam War and police violence were prominent. Mailer's work reflects his shift towards a more subtle and accessible writing style, while still maintaining his keen eye for detail and his ability to capture the essence of mid-century America. The book is notable for its prescience in predicting political trends, including the rise of Ronald Reagan and the volatility of white voter resentment[2][4][5].
The Democratic National Convention is in Chicago, and the incumbent president, Lyndon B. Johnson, has pulled out of the race. Anti-war protestors are flooding the streets of the city, and Johnson continues to press on with the war in Vietnam. Bobby Kennedy’s assassination has turned the Democratic candidacy contest into a two-horse race between Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy. And while they’re battling inside the convention for delegates, the real fight is taking place on the streets. Dope-smoking youth activists known as the “Yippies” have called for a protest against the Vietnam War, and their threats made in the name of the ‘politics of play’ have been taken seriously by Chicago police, who react with brutal force. Flowers and poems meet truncheons and guns. As DNC votes are being counted, images of these confrontations are broadcasted on newsreels across the nation.
Join Tom and Dominic to discuss a Democratic National Convention that saw Chicago descend into violence and chaos. Listen as they explore what led to one of the most anarchic political conventions, and how it impacted a divided America.
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*The Rest Is History LIVE in the U.S.A.*
If you live in the States, we've got some great news: Tom and Dominic will be performing throughout America in November, with shows in San Francisco, L.A., Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Boston and New York.
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Twitter:
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Producer: Theo Young-Smith
Assistant Producer: Anouska Lewis
Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor
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The Rest Is History 
