1988 Democratic National Convention

U.S. political event held in Atlanta, Georgia February 2026 1988 DNC logo -1.jpg 180px 1988 Democratic July 18–21, 1988 DPDukakis1988.png 125 DPBentsen1988.png 125 Nominees Dukakis and Bentsen The Omni Atlanta, Georgia Ann Richards Ted KennedyBill ClintonJim HightowerJimmy CarterJesse Jackson Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts Lloyd Bentsen of Texas 1 4,105 2,054 Dukakis (MA): 2,877 (70.09%)Jackson (DC): 1,219 (29.70%)Stallings (ID): 3 (0.07%)Biden (DE): 2 (0.05%)Gephardt (MO): 2 (0.05%)Bentsen (TX): 1 (0.02%)Hart (CO): 1 (0.02%) 1984 1992 The 1988 Democratic National Convention was held at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 18 to 21, 1988, to select candidates for the 1988 presidential election. At the convention Governor Michael Dukakis of Massachusetts was nominated for president and Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas for vice president. The chair of the convention was Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Jim Wright. Speakers thumb|The Omni was the site of the 1988 Democratic National Convention Speakers at the convention included Texas State Treasurer Ann Richards, who gave a keynote speech that put her in the public spotlight and included the line that George H. W. Bush was "born with a silver foot in his mouth". Arkansas governor Bill Clinton also gave a long and widely panned nomination speech on that same opening night that some predicted would ruin his political career,Kornacki Steve https://www.salon.com/2012/07/30/when_bill_clinton_died_on_stage/ When Bill Clinton died onstage July 30, 2012 Salon March 19, 2017 en Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy's remarks contained the iteration "Where was George?", and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Jim Hightower called Bush "a toothache of a man." On the following evening, having already quietly committed to support Gov. Dukakis.Broder David S. DUKAKIS-JACKSON TALK USHERS IN HARMONY AS CONVENTION OPENS https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1988/07/19/dukakis-jackson-talk-ushers-in-harmony-as-convention-opens/3d690303-8aa4-4564-a18d-722736846ec9/ 18 February 2026 The Washington Post July 19, 1988 the Reverend Jesse Jackson, founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, brought then 75 year old Rosa Parks on stage and delivered the historic speech "Keep Hope Alive!" Dionne Jr. E.J. Jackson Rouses Democrats With Plea for Hope, Saying 'Tonight I Salute' Dukakis https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/880620convention-dem-ra.html 18 February 2026 The New York Times July 20, 1988 Production The organizers for the convention chose pastel colors as a background in the belief that they would appear better on television. They were patterned after the colors of the American flag in salmon, azure, and eggshell.R. W. Apple R. W. Apple, Jr. The Republicans in New Orleans; Bush Chooses Senator Quayle of Indiana, A 41-Year-Old Conservative, For No. 2 Spot https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/17/us/republicans-new-orleans-bush-chooses-senator-quayle-indiana-41-year-old.html?pagewanted=all The New York Times 1988-08-17 2008-03-06 Republicans mocked the choice and used it to buttress their case that the Democrats were "soft" on the issues.Democrats sell themselves as party of strength at every opportunity https://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/2004-07-27-strong-slogan_x.htm USA Today 2004-07-27 2008-03-06 New Jersey governor Thomas Kean claimed at the Republican Convention that "The Dukakis Democrats will try to talk tough, but don't be fooled. They may try to talk like Dirty Harry, but they will still act like Pee Wee Herman." Kean continued that Democrats and Republicans alike "have no use for pastel patriotism... The liberal Democrats are trying to hide more than the colors in our flag; they are trying to hide their true colors." The theme song for the convention was composed and performed by longtime supporter and folksinger Carly Simon originally for the '84 DNC with different verses. Entitled "Turn of the Tide", the original version was accompanied by many of the famous folk singers, soft rockers and other light-adult-contemporary stars of the period. Originally available only on a limited run single-sided promotional 45 RPM record along with the matching program and other memorabilia, this version with the new verses for 1988 was released primarily as the B-side of the hit single "Let the River Run" from the 20th Century Fox motion picture Working Girl and was also used a few months later in the U.S./Russian co-production of Marlo Thomas' and Tatiana Vedeneyeva's Emmy Award-winning ABC television special Free to Be... a Family. Finally, the cut closed out the award-winning soundtrack album on A&M Records, Cassettes and CDs. Results A number of candidates withdrew from the race at the start of the convention as the rules stated that delegates won by withdrawn candidates could be replaced. The final contest for the nomination was between Michael Dukakis and Jesse Jackson. Presidential nomination Democratic National Convention presidential vote, 1988http://partners.nytimes.com/library/politics/camp/880621convention-dem-ra.html Democrats Acclaim Dukakis and Assert Unity partners.nytimes.com April 4, 2013CandidateVotesPercentage Michael Dukakis 2,877 70.09% Jesse Jackson 1,219 29.70% Richard Stallings 3 0.07% Joe Biden 2 0.05% Dick Gephardt 2 0.05%Lloyd Bentsen 1 0.25%Gary Hart 1 0.25% Totals 4,162 100.00% Vice presidential nomination With Jackson's supporters demanding that he receive the vice-presidential nomination as his reward for coming in second, the Dukakis campaign decided to nominate Senator Bentsen by voice vote, rather than a roll call.https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/CRAS-023-01-03?journalCode=cras The Failure of Jesse Jackson's Vice-Presidential Quest: Sailing Against Political Tradition George C. Riser 1 September 1992 Canadian Review of American Studies 23 1 39–54 10.3138/cras-023-01-03 subscription This would become the tradition. Platform Reproductive Rights The platform added "the fundamental right of reproductive choice should be guaranteed regardless of ability to pay". See also 1987 Libertarian National Convention 1988 Republican National Convention 1988 United States presidential election History of the United States Democratic Party List of Democratic National Conventions United States presidential nominating convention 1988 Democratic Party presidential primaries Michael Dukakis 1988 presidential campaign References External links Democratic Party Platform of 1988 at The American Presidency Project Dukakis Nomination Acceptance Speech for President at DNC (transcript) at The American Presidency Project Complete text and audio of Ann Richards' Keynote Address Video of Ann Richards' keynote address at Democratic National Convention Complete video, audio and transcript of Rev. Jesse Jackson's speech Video of Dukakis nomination acceptance speech for President at DNC (via YouTube) Audio of Dukakis nomination acceptance speech for President at DNCJuly 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes Video of Bentsen nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNC (via YouTube) Audio of Bentsen nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNCJuly 2021 InternetArchiveBot yes Transcript of Bentsen nomination acceptance speech for Vice President at DNC 1984San Francisco, California Democratic National Conventions 1992New York, New York Category:Democratic National Conventions Democratic Category:Conventions in Atlanta Category:1980s in Atlanta Category:1988 in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Conventions in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Political events in Georgia (U.S. state) Category:Democratic Party of Georgia Category:July 1988 in the United States Category:Jesse Jackson Category:Michael Dukakis Category:Lloyd Bentsen Category:Joe Biden