CHICAGO (AP) — In 1948, the Republican and Democratic parties did something that would be unthinkable in today’s climate of bitter political hostility: They not only held their national conventions in the same city, but also shared some of the props.

Both met in Philadelphia, primarily because the Municipal Auditorium there was already equipped with the necessary cabling for the then groundbreaking live broadcast of the party convention on national television.

To save money, Democrats asked Republicans to leave the American flags and pennants hanging to be reused at their event 17 days later. Republicans complied, although some items had faded and worn in the meantime.

Like the camaraderie within the parties, the informal way in which party conventions were held has also disappeared. They were once tough battles to determine presidential candidates, modern assemblies have developed in carefully staged, produced-for-television events designed to showcase party unity.

The Democrats have experienced a great political drama when their Convention opened in Chicago on Monday after President Joe Biden succumbed growing pressure from many in his own party And gave up his candidacy for re-election last month. There is still the potential for protests at the convention, but Democrats have coalesced around the vice president with surprising speed and renewed energy. Kamala Harris at the top of the party list. The Republicans showed a similarly strong unity in nominating the former President Donald Trump during the Republican Party Convention last month in Milwaukee.

But even though conventions are now choreographed down to the smallest detail, the unexpected can still happen. Here’s a look at some of the thrilling scenes, ground fights, street battles and other memorable moments from the convention that were uplifting, edgy or just plain embarrassing:

Trump’s triumphant return

Trump made a dramatic entrance on the first night of the Republican National Convention last month, walking into the arena to wild cheers with a bandage over his right ear, just two days after he an attempted murder.

The moment gave rise to speculation that the former president might emerge from the attack changed, ready to adopt a more optimistic attitude and perhaps stop engaging in the political divisions that have given him so much joy throughout his political career.

During his speech at the convention three nights later — with his ear still bandaged — the former president initially appeared to do just that. He began by saying he wanted to “usher in a new era of security, prosperity and freedom for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed.” But by the end, Trump had returned to his predictions of doom and division, warning, “Bad things are going to happen.”

Cruz’s non-support

The Texas senator was the last candidate defeated by Donald Trump in the 2016 Republican primary. Ted Cruz Although he was able to gather enough delegates to give a speech at the party’s convention in Cleveland, he was reluctant to support his former rival.

Still angry that Trump had called him “Lyin’ Ted,” mocked his wife’s appearance, and implied that the senator’s Cuban-born father had been involved in the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Cruz implored delegates to “vote according to their conscience.” This drew persistent boos.

Cruz changed his mind and supported Trump in the fall. Today he is one of his staunchest defenders. But at the time, the anger was so great that Cruz’s wife Heidi was escorted out of the convention hall as a precaution.

Clint Eastwood’s empty chair

A confusing moment came in 2012, when Clint Eastwood delivered a speech to the Republican convention in Tampa, Florida, with an empty chair taking the place of then-President Barack Obama.

The actor and the director talked to the piece of furniture for twelve minutes, even dodging a flood of imaginary obscenities emanating from it.

“What do you mean, ‘shut up’?” Eastwood crowed.

He also joked about then-Vice President Biden’s reputation for gaffes – a criticism that may prove prescient given the questions that arose after his disastrous performance at the June debate.

“Of course, we all know that Biden is the intellect of the Democratic Party,” Eastwood told the chairman. “Just a kind of grin, with a body behind it.”

“Boldness of Hope”

The year 2004 was otherwise terrible for the Democrats, President George W. Bush won re-election and the Republicans retained control of Congress. But a ray of hope came from Obama, then a little-known senator from Illinois, electrifying party convention in Boston.

Obama described himself as “a skinny boy with a funny name who believes there is a place for him in America” ​​and summed up his political philosophy as being based on “the audacity of hope.”

Gore’s extra long kiss

When he took the stage to deliver a speech in Los Angeles accepting his party’s presidential nomination in 2000, Al Gore embraced his wife Tipper and gave her a full kiss, lingering much longer than he usually did in a public display of passion.

The crowd cheered, but the kiss ultimately only lasted an awkward three seconds on screen.

Gore had to contend with criticism that he was too stiff in public appearances, which may explain how far he leaned forward. Regardless, the kiss was better remembered than Gore’s speech.

In November of that year, he narrowly lost to Bush. Ten years later, the Gores separated after 40 years of marriage.

Women on the ticket

At the 1984 Democratic Party Convention in San Francisco, presidential candidate Walter Mondale announced Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, making her the first woman on a major presidential ballot. Ferraro declared, “America is the land where dreams can come true for all of us,” although she and Mondale won only 13 electoral votes compared to President Ronald Reagan is 525.

More than 20 years later, Sen. John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his vice presidential candidate, and her speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, was a hit. She mixed the then-Alaska governor’s compelling personal story with humor and political clout. That gave McCain a boost, but he still lost to Obama.

At the 2016 Democratic Party Convention in Philadelphia Hillary Clinton became the first female presidential candidate of a major party, declaring, “In America, when one barrier falls for anyone, it clears the way for everyone.” She ultimately lost to Trump.

Kamala Harris was the first woman on a winning ticket, assuming her role as Biden’s vice presidential running mate during a largely virtual convention last election cycle. Now that she has replaced Biden as the Democratic nominee, she is aiming to become the nation’s first woman to assume the office of president.

Against the incumbent

In 1976, Reagan, then governor of California, called on President Gerald Ford from the right and sparked a bitter fight at the Republican convention in Kansas City. Ford narrowly won by 1,187 to 1,070 votes, but lost to the Democrats in November Jimmy Carter.

Four years later, Carter himself was challenged by a senator from Massachusetts at the Democratic Party convention in New York. Ted Kennedywho was far behind the president in the number of delegates, but tried to relax the rules for voting delegates. Tensions rose, and although the change was rejected, Carter later lost to Reagan.

Eagleton’s 18-day vice presidential candidacy

The pressure on Biden to drop out of the race was unprecedented at the peak of a presidential campaign – but not when it comes to a candidate’s vice presidential running mate.

Shortly after the Democratic Party Convention in Miami in 1972, reports emerged that the Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern Missouri’s vice presidential candidate, Senator. Thomas Eagletonhad previously undergone electroshock therapy to treat depression.

A divided convention had led McGovern to nominate Eagleton on the last day after he was rejected by several alternatives, so Eagleton’s record was not thoroughly reviewed, which may have brought the medical disclosures to light earlier.

Eagleton resigned after 18 days in office and was replaced by Sargent Shriver. Incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon In November of this year, he won 49 out of 50 states.

Chaos in Chicago

According to the President Lyndon B. Johnson decided not to run for re-election and Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. Vice President Hubert Humphrey secured the nomination at the 1968 Democratic Convention. However, this only happened after a fierce election campaign that ended with delegates rejecting a peace program that called for an end to the Vietnam War.

What happened at the convention was overshadowed by thousands of anti-war protesters marching into the streets. Protesters were attacked by police, causing such an uproar that the Tear gas fired reached the 25th floor suite where Humphrey was preparing for his performance at a hotel 5 miles from the convention venue.

The Democratic Party Convention is taking place again in Chicago this week. Large-scale demonstrations against the Biden administration are also planned. Support for Israel In his war with Hamas — and some wonder whether A reissue of 1968 could come.

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