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Conventions Then and Now

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    Historian John Steele Gordon on what purpose the conventions serve today versus past years.

  • Duration 3:22
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All right New Jersey governor Chris Christie is expected to deliver a fiery keynote speech at the RNC tonight -- my next guest says Obama have the same fireworks as the famous.

Nineteen -- free speech that swept an unlikely candidate.

To the democratic nomination joining me is historian John Steele Gordon all thought of an empire of wealthy epic history.

Of American economic power all right before we get to today's convention John 1896.

And unknown male politician from Nebraska.

Swept to victory when he delivered what is considered one of the great speeches of the convention.

Because both have things events like that these -- -- not too often we don't get across the bill speech every four years -- a about what's a century six.

What's -- about William Jennings Bryan right -- down in history is one of those amazing speeches who have.

Well my question to you is what -- -- the conventions today's was they did back in the early early days of of politicking.

When it was all the decisions were done in those smoke filled back rooms and you never really knew what was going on and sometimes.

The unlikely candidate won the -- -- the one million -- presidential nomination.

Indeed they would sometimes -- -- two major candidates and neither of them could quite get enough and so -- third I would come in as a sort of a compromise candidate that happened 1844 when James K -- who was not considered even in the running -- -- -- as a nominee in became president.

The last time.

The convention needed Mo the mom ballot was one.

1952.

At by Stephenson took three ballots together.

So today's Cisco of this fast forward to today's conventions really this is just an opportunity for the party to.

You know have a -- -- get their message out build up momentum for the election but doesn't sway voters do you think.

Probably not to a great extent unless something unusual happens -- speeches particularly compelling.

A home some people I think 1000001 of them is not people don't really know that much about him even though we've been in the papers but mostly political junkies and paying attention of people haven't.

So there's a wonderful opportunity for him to introduce himself to the country and what does he have to do -- that speech.

Well it has to present himself as a human being and also has a politician.

So that people get a sense of knowing him even though of course they don't but it was I would have Ronald Reagan in 1980 -- -- of race was just as tight as debate.

Until -- a couple of weeks and especially the debate when when people listen to -- that hey this guy can be trusted.

Also I should mention the sometimes get future styles come kind of these conventions company -- future leaders of the pumping.

Indeed in nineteen yard and 2004.

-- the keynote address was given by an obscure state senator from Illinois named Barack Obama.

That it was a terrific speech in four years later he was president.

Very good I just told us your opinion and this is kind of off of the subject little bit but we have the president Obama.

Campaigning now while actively campaigning wildly Republican convention's going on something kind of a gentleman's agreement that that never happens is that interest thing to you and that's when the democratic senate Democrats hold their convention.

That we expect Mitt Romney to be.

Campaigning actively yes this is lower than they sort of unspoken gentleman's agreement -- you don't step bombing of a guy's lives.

-- but now apparently done.

The president is insanity needs to do that so he's going to -- on as they say John thank you so much for joining us John Steele Gordon.

Thank you historical perspective thank you -- sat.

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