Republican National Convention

The Republican National Convention, held every four years, is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, and to adopt the party platform and rules for the election cycle.

History

The first convention of the fledgling Republican Party was held on July 6, 1854, in Jackson, Michigan, but the first to nominate a presidential candidate convened from June 17–19, 1856 at the Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Related Topics:
July 6 - 1854 - Jackson, Michigan - June 17 - 19 - 1856 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The 1860 convention nominated the first successful GOP presidential candidate, Abraham Lincoln of Illinois. The 1864 event, with the American Civil War raging, was branded as the "National Union Convention" as it included Democrats who remained loyal to the Union and nominated Democrat Andrew Johnson of Tennessee for Vice President.

Related Topics:
1860 convention - Abraham Lincoln - Illinois - 1864 event - American Civil War - Andrew Johnson - Tennessee

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The 1912 Republican convention saw the business-oriented faction supporting William Howard Taft turn back a challenge from former president Theodore Roosevelt, who boasted broader popular support and even won a primary in Taft's home state of Ohio. Roosevelt would run on the Progressive Party ticket, handing the election to Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

Related Topics:
1912 Republican convention - William Howard Taft - Theodore Roosevelt - Ohio - Progressive Party - Woodrow Wilson

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The convention of 1940 was the first national convention of any party broadcast on television. It was carried by NBC affiliate W2XBS in New York City.

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Convention of 1940 - Television - NBC - New York City

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The growing importance of primaries became evident at the 1964 Republican National Convention in San Francisco, California, where Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater won the nomination, easily turning away Representative William Scranton and others more favorable to the party establishment. It was the convention where an NBC News correspondent refused to cede his spot on the floor for a group of young Goldwater supporters, to sign off when security personnel arrived that "I've been promised bail, ladies and gentlemen, by my office. This is John Chancellor, somewhere in custody."

Related Topics:
1964 Republican National Convention - San Francisco, California - Arizona - Barry Goldwater - William Scranton - Bail - John Chancellor

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Similarly, former California Governor Ronald Reagan nearly toppled incumbent President Gerald Ford at the 1976 convention by securing a large bloc of votes in the North Carolina primary. It is the last convention of either major party where the outcome of the nomination battle was in doubt.

Related Topics:
California - Governor - Ronald Reagan - Gerald Ford - 1976 convention - North Carolina primary

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Pat Buchanan delivered a speech condemning the culture war in American society at the 1992 Republican National Convention in Houston, Texas. It was widely criticized for supposedly alienating liberal and centrist voters who might otherwise have voted for the moderate nominee, George H. W. Bush. Division in the party was evident too at the 1996 convention, at which more liberal party members such as California governor Pete Wilson and Massachusetts Governor William Weld unsuccessfully sought to remove the Human Life Amendment plank from the party platform.

Related Topics:
Pat Buchanan - Culture war - 1992 Republican National Convention - Houston, Texas - George H. W. Bush - 1996 convention - Pete Wilson - Massachusetts - Governor - William Weld - Human Life Amendment

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The 2004 Republican National Convention, the first-ever Republican convention in New York City, posed unprecedented security challenges due to its location at Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan directly over Pennsylvania Station. Protests were held during the course of the convention.

Related Topics:
2004 Republican National Convention - New York City - Madison Square Garden - Manhattan - Pennsylvania Station - Protests

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