[Telenews Highlights from 1956 Republican and Democratic National Conventions]

Transcript (Download)

For some months past, many of the leaders and members of organized labor and double -services have suggested and owed the lobby of candidates for the nomination for Vice -President of the United States on the Republican ticket.

To these fine Americans, I shall be forever grateful.

But I have said for many months also that I have not sought the Vice -Presidential nomination, and I have not authorized anyone to conduct a campaign for that nomination on my behalf.

However, any American in public life in the United States today would be less than honest if they did not say they would be greatly complimented by such a very gracious and generous suggestion.

Keynote speech was filled with half -truths, distortions, and some outright misstatements and falsehoods.

It indicates that we're going to have a rough campaign.

Let me make my answer to that quickly.

What are the untruths that Mr.

Clements voiced? Well, all you have to do is look at what he said about small business.

All you would have to do is read his statement about the prosperity of the country.

If anyone should say that we have prosperity today, I don't know what tint he's wearing in his glasses.

Lewis, could you say a word about your discussion? I called on President Truman, the Vice -Presidental of our organization, very loudly to present my compliments and to commend him for the courageous step that he has just recently taken in coming on behind Mr.

Governor Averill Harriman for the presidency.

I think his action is most timely and in the interest of all Americans.

And I wanted to tell him that I echo the sentiments he expressed and sincerely hope for the nomination and the election of Governor Harriman as President of the United States.

Truman has also said that if Mr.

Stevenson should be nominated, he would support his candidacy and his campaign as well.

Would you subscribe also to that, sir? That would, Mr.

Truman undoubtedly was speaking his own convictions for and I'd have to take that under involvement.

As a matter of fact, I think that if Mr.

Stevenson is nominated by the Democratic Party, that the party might as well send over to the Eisenhower administration a certificate of election and admit that he's in by default.

Under those circumstances, I can't see as of to this date any valid reason why I should waste any time in promoting Mr.

Stevenson's candidacy if in the event he becomes a nominee.

Do you understand, John L., that I'm speaking as a Democrat and an organization Democrat and I stay with the party and you don't have to do that? Well, ha ha ha.

Both rolling? Roll them.

Governor, rumors of your imminent withdrawal from the nomination of Flying Thick and Fast, could we have your comment on that? Well, I think they've been killed.

I've killed them this morning and Benefield, my director, has killed it.

They're malicious, untruth and the man who got them out knew they were untruth because I've stated a number of times the last few weeks that I'm in this to the end.

I believe I can win, but I've in it win, lose or draw because I'm fighting for principles that I believe in and if I can't save the Democratic Party on a national basis, for those principles I'm going to save it in New York State.

We cannot have any part of moderation in any of the programs that we have stood for throughout the years.

We've got to go forward, seize the new opportunities with new vision and new determination.

And if I'm going to stand on that position as the governor of the state of New York, as a Democrat or as a candidate, as long as I am able to express myself.

Under those circumstances.

How are you? Now, what do you...

Well, I've been very much pleased by the support I've had and encouragement of so many old friends, many of whom encouraged me to undertake this greatest of political responsibilities.

And also I've been very much pleased and gratified by the support of many new friends here in Chicago.

Many new friends in spite of severe pressures.

In the last few hours the states of Arkansas, New Jersey, of Pennsylvania, of Michigan have come out on my behalf.

I've said nothing unkind about any competitor.

My fight is against the Republican administration and not against any of my fellow Democrats.

I'm very happy to say that the New Jersey delegation has just concluded its meeting.

We have 36 votes to cast on the first ballot.

The New Jersey delegation will cast the 36 votes for Adlai Stevenson.

And Adlai Stevenson wants to express his delight and gratification and his gratitude to you, Bob Minor, and his admiration for you and all of your delegation.

Gentlemen, just one more question.

Have you either any comment on the president, ex -president Truman's statement this morning? No, sir, I have no comment.

There was a feeling of sadness, I understand, over there when he had his news conference.

Do you share that? No comment.

I'm sad to say that we have fewer friends in the world today than we ever had in the history of the United States of America.

That's a tragic thing to say, but I fear it's true.

Dulles one day gives his interpretation of neutralism.

The next day, Mr.

Eisenhower gives his interpretation of neutralism.

The next day, the vice president of the United States gives his opinion of neutralism.

And others in the Republican Party give their idea of neutralism.

And confusion is confounded.

And then a statement, a solemn statement comes from the White House that they all agree on neutralism.

And let me say one other thing.

They say nobody can beat their candidate.

Well, maybe nobody can beat their candidate, but maybe somebody can beat their true candidate.

The Michigan caucus has taken a preliminary poll.

Which shows the following tally.

And may I point out to you that these are half votes.

63 for Stevenson, 22 for Harriman, and one for Symington.

This is in accord with my own feelings.

And I will urge that the Michigan support Stevenson and that it be made unanimous when the voting occurs in the convention.

I think the press and the columnists have missed the point of what I am trying to do.

My purpose was and still is to urge the Democratic convention to nominate a fighting candidate committed without reservations or evasions to the dynamic principles of the Democratic Party.

Governor Stevenson is not that type of candidate.

He cannot win the election by himself without a lot of help.

Reasoned events prove that he likes the kind of fighting spirit that we need to win and keep the party from falling into the hands of a conservative minority group that would be content to act as caretakers under a Republican administration.

There is nothing personal about my attitude toward Governor Stevenson.

In fact I like him personally.

I have not hesitated in the past to speak out when I considered it my duty to the people in the party to do so.

I am now and have been speaking out before it is too late.

Roosevelt said that by endorsing Governor Harriman your plan was to get a real candidate for the convention.

I am very fond of Mrs.

Roosevelt and I don't want to get into the controversy with her but she is entirely in this.

I have no such option to be around for Harriman and I shall continue that until the last dog dies.

President, what kind of a candidate would you like to see in the convention? I think he would need the help of a known man from Missouri.

Identifier

F.2012-03-0602

Date Of Production

August 1956

Abstract

This film includes excerpts from the 1956 Republican National Convention and Democratic National Convention.

Description

This film consists of a compilation of comments by politicians at the 1956 Republican National Convention at the Cow Palace in San Francisco, and the 1956 Democratic National Convention at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago. Featured political figures include Republican National Committee Chairman Leonard Hall, John L. Lewis, President of the United Mine Workers of America, Former President Harry S. Truman, New York Governor W. Averell Harriman, Former Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson II, New Jersey Governor Robert Meyner, North Carolina Governor Luther Hodges, and Michigan Governor G. Mennen Williams.

Run Time

0:13:08

Format

16mm

Extent

471 feet

Color

B&W

Sound

Optical

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Language Of Materials

English

Element

Print

Genre

Political
Journalism

Form

Newsreels

Subject

Political conventions
Politicians
Politics and government

Related Collections

SUBSERIES I: Politics & Government

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ California ➜ San Francisco

North America ➜ United States ➜ Illinois ➜ Chicago

Distributor

Telenews (Firm)

Main Credits

Koza, Frank (is filmmaker)

Participants And Performers

Hall, Leonard W. (is participant)

Lewis, John L. (is participant)

Truman, Harry S. (is participant)

Harriman, Averell (is participant)

Stevenson, Adlai II (is participant)

Meyner, Robert W. (is participant)

Williams, Gerhard Mennen (is participant)

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