Drafting Lyndon Johnson: The President's Secret Role in the 1968 Democratic Convention

Abstract

This article argues that contrary to perceived wisdom, President Lyndon Johnson wanted to be drafted by the 1968 Democratic convention. Johnson and his aides covertly planned all aspects of the convention, from the amount of space allotted to each candidate to the speech that he would give at the convention on his birthday. Although Johnson withdrew from the race in March, he controlled the convention in order to allow himself the opportunity to run again. Ultimately, although his control of the convention enabled him to pass his platform, he was not drafted because neither the old party bosses nor the new forces emerging within the Democratic Party wanted Johnson as their nominee.