The Democratic National Convention of 1924 should have been concluded by now. Delegates should have selected a presidential nominee, bid farewell to New York, and headed home to celebrate the nation’s ideals. Instead, the convention dragged on for 16 days and an incredible 103 ballots, marred by the shadow of the Ku Klux Klan, which haunted America at that time. A white-nationalist Independence Day parade in a nearby New Jersey beach town only exacerbated the divide over American identity.
The convention highlighted tensions between rural and urban, isolationist and globalist, and different visions of American identity. The Ku Klux Klan, once a post-Civil War organization, exploited these divisions, promoting a narrative of victimization and appealing to a disgruntled middle class.
Historian Jon Meacham sees parallels between 1924 and the present day, citing demographic changes, technological advancements, and anxieties about immigration and race.
The convention attracted thousands of visitors to Manhattan, eager to witness the nomination process. The city had worked hard to clean up its image, greeting delegates with bouquets and parades. The convention took place in a grand venue near Madison Square, but its allure had faded over time.
The delegates found themselves torn between two candidates representing different factions within the party. William Gibbs McAdoo Jr., a tall, progressive Protestant from the South, clashed with Al Smith, an Irish Catholic governor of New York. The two men held differing views on race, immigration, and the role of the Klan in politics.
Smith championed a plank in the party platform to denounce the Klan, while McAdoo hesitated to alienate Klan supporters. The convention descended into chaos as delegates debated the issue and struggled to reach a consensus.
As the convention dragged on, the influence of the Klan loomed large, infecting the proceedings with its divisive rhetoric and fearmongering. The Klan’s newspaper reflected the ideology that was pervading the nation, with its messages of intolerance and nationalism.
Despite efforts to condemn the Klan, the party tiptoed around the issue, revealing the deep divisions within American society at the time.
The deadlock continued for days, with neither candidate able to secure the nomination. Delegates grew restless, some leaving the city in frustration. Eventually, a compromise candidate emerged, but the damage had been done.
On the 103rd ballot, John W. Davis secured the nomination, but the Democratic Party was fractured. The convention exposed the deep-rooted divisions in American society, with the Klan’s influence lingering in the background.
The aftermath of the convention saw the decline of the Klan and the eventual loss of the presidential election. America was left grappling with its identity, torn between its ideals and its dark past.
The events of 1924 serve as a reminder of the challenges we face as a nation, echoing themes of division, fear, and uncertainty that continue to plague us today. As we reflect on this chapter in our history, we must confront our past in order to build a better future.
