U.S. Presidential Party Nominating Convention Recordings 1932-2020

The Two-Party System practiced in modern American Politics has been around in some form ever since George Washington chose not to run for a third term, but the Two-Party System is not covered by the Constitution. However, the Parties must operate under the terms and electoral rules specified by the Constitution. The Parties themselves are built upon often opposing political philosophies which have developed as the Nation has grown.

Third Party Nominees are theoretically able to run for President and have gained office on a few occasions. In the modern political scene Third Party runs, if they have any effect at all, tend to be seen as upsetting the balance of political power. The nominees of the two major parties are selected, in theory, at each party's National Convention.

Like the Constitutionally mandated Electoral College, the National Conventions are the product of a time when it was difficult to accurately gauge public opinion across the country. Each State selects its delegates to the National Convention through the Primary Election Process. The number of delegates apportioned to each State based on similar math to that which assigns votes to the Electoral College, but each State is free to decide how those delegates are ultimately selected and how they will vote at the Convention.

The States traditionally vote on the Convention Floor in alphabetical order, beginning with Alabama and ending with Wyoming. The State's delegation Leader will stand, give a short speech extolling his State's virtues, and then cast the Delegations votes or Pass. After Wyoming is called, States which have Passed are called upon again to vote. In practice, States will pass their vote in the final vote so that the candidate's home state will be allowed to cast the vote which puts him over the top.

Another important part of the National Convention is writing the Party's Platform. The Platform is a statement of principles, goals, and policies for the Party. Each statement or goal added to the Platform is referred to as a "Plank". It is considered "good business" for the Candidate to fulfill the promises of the Party Platform. In actuality, the Platform is non-binding.

The timing of the Conventions depends on several factors. They traditionally take place in late summer, about a month apart. Since Election Years coincide with the Summer Olympics, Conventions are generally timed so as not to share news-cycles with the Games. Since 1864, the Democratic Convention has followed the Republicans until 1956 when Republican President Eisenhower was incumbent. Since that time the incumbent party has held their conventions after the challengers.

Because the results of the Primaries are tabulated and in the public record before the Conventions begin, the results of the Convention are usually known before it starts. As recently as 1976, however, the race between Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan was too close to call before the Republican Convention opened. This collection includes U.S. Presidential Party Nominating Convention Broadcasts from 1932. 

July 2, 1932, Democratic National Convention, Chicago, Franklin D. Roosevelt accepts the Nomination. During the speech, Roosevelt takes a few telling shots at the Republican Leadership and announces, "a new deal for the American People".

June 6, 1936, Republican National Convention, Cleveland, Ohio, Herbert Hoover. Although Roosevelt defeated Hoover in 1932, mostly in reaction to the Republican handling of the Great Depression, many delegates to the 1936 RNC supported several principles of the New Deal. Against a backdrop of increasing tensions in Europe, Hoover takes this opportunity to compare the New Deal to European policies of socialism and fascism.

July 24, 1944, Democratic National Convention, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, NBC Radio Coverage. There is a supposition that Senator Truman will be tapped for Vice President on the ticket because he will cost fewer votes than Vice President Wallace who is seen as "too progressive". The Platform Committee is having trouble with the Racial Equality Plank.

August 23, 1956, Republican National Convention, Cow Palace, San Francisco, California, Vice President Richard Nixon. The Vice President praises Eisenhower for his accomplishments during his first four years and promises that the next four will demonstrate that the century-old Party will remain young.

July 12, 1960, Democratic National Convention, Los Angeles, California, Introduction of Oklahoma Delegation. Before the Convention gets started, the Oklahoma Delegation is solidly in the camp of Lyndon Johnson, at least they will be through the first ballot. There is support for Governor Adlai Stevenson and Senator Kennedy, either of which might be acceptable to the Oklahomans as Vice President.

July 13, 1964, Republican National Convention, Cow Palace, Daly City, California, Michigan Governor George Romney. The nomination will go to ultra-conservative Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater, but in this speech, Governor Romney calls for a more liberal stance from the Platform Committee. Romney was a supporter of the Civil Rights Movement, making him an ideal speaker on behalf of moderate Republicans.

See also:

• Presidential Before They Were Nominees
• President Inaugural Addresses
• Presidential and Political Funerals
• Presidential Campaigns
• Presidential Candidate Announcements
• Presidential Debates
• Presidential Election 2000
• Presidential Farewells and Library
• Presidential Victory and Concession Speeches
• Presidential Christmas Addresses