NORMAN MAILER AND THE 1960 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

NORMAN MAILER AND THE 1960 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION. One reason that party officials want to have things settled before the convention is that strange things used to happen at conventions. After Norman Mailer died, Carroll Stenson, who leads our short story group, chose his first published story for us to read, but also suggested this article on the 1960 Democratic Convention, Mailer’s first piece of political journalism. 1960 was the first year when there were no surprises at a convention (in 1956 there was an exciting election for Adlai Stevenson’s running mate). Mailer describes the excitement that was created by Eugene McCarthy’s nominating speech for Adlai Stevenson. Mailer says, “One felt the convention coming apart” and speaks of the possibility that Stevenson might stampede the convention. But Kennedy’s delegates were bound to him, as delegates have been bound ever since, and there was no possibility of a spontaneous change.