1980 Democratic National Convention

The 1980 National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party nominated President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale for reelection. The convention was held in Madison Square Garden in New York City from August 11 to August 14, 1980.

1980 Democratic National Convention
1980 presidential election
Nominees
Carter and Mondale
Convention
Date(s)August 11–14, 1980
CityNew York City
VenueMadison Square Garden
Candidates
Presidential nomineeJimmy Carter of Georgia
Vice presidential nomineeWalter Mondale of Minnesota
Voting
Total delegates3,346
Votes needed for nomination1,677
Results (President)Carter (Georgia): 2,129.02 (63.63%)
Kennedy (Massachusetts): 1,150.48 (34.38%)
Carey (New York): 16 (0.48%)
Proxmire (Wisconsin): 10 (0.30%)
Others: 40.5 (1.21%)
Results (Vice President)Mondale (Minnesota): 2,428.7 (72.91%)
Not Voting: 723.3 (21.72%)
Scattering: 179 (5.37%)
Ballots1
Madison Square Garden was the site of the 1980 Democratic National Convention
Carter and Mondale stand together at the end of the convention

The 1980 convention was notable as it was the last time in the 20th century, for either major party, that a candidate tried to get delegates released from their voting commitments. This was done by Senator Ted Kennedy, Carter's chief rival for the nomination in the Democratic primaries, who sought the votes of delegates held by Carter.

Notable speakers

After losing his challenge for the nomination earlier that day, Ted Kennedy spoke on August 12 and delivered a speech in support of President Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Kennedy's famous speech eventually closed with the lines: "For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." His speech was written by Bob Shrum.[1]

Various prominent delegates to this convention included Abe Beame, Geraldine Ferraro, Bruce Sundlun, Ruth Messinger, Thomas Addison, Ed Koch, Robert Abrams, Bella Abzug, Mario Biaggi, Steve Westly, and Howard Dean.

Voting

Candidates

President

Delegate voting results[2]

Democratic National Convention presidential vote, 1980
Candidate Votes Percentage
Jimmy Carter (inc.) 2,123 (64.04%)
Ted Kennedy 1,151 (34.72%)
William Proxmire 10 (0.30%)
Koryne Kaneski Horbal 5 (0.15%)
Scott M. Matheson 5 (0.15%)
Ron Dellums 3 (0.09%)
Robert Byrd 2 (0.06%)
John Culver 2 (0.06%)
Kent Hance 2 (0.06%)
Jennings Randolph 2 (0.06%)
Warren Spannaus 2 (0.06%)
Alice Tripp 2 (0.06%)
Jerry Brown 1 (0.03%)
Dale Bumpers 1 (0.03%)
Hugh L. Carey 1 (0.03%)
Walter Mondale 1 (0.03%)
Edmund Muskie 1 (0.03%)
Thomas J. Steed 1 (0.03%)
Totals 3,315 100.00%

Vice President

With the Kennedy delegates angry at losing the nomination contest, those who bothered to show up for the morning balloting decided to scatter their votes. Over 700 of them did not bother to make it on time, and it took several roll calls to conclude the first ballot. This is the last time during the 20th century that the Democratic Party had a roll call for the Vice Presidential spot.

Vice Presidential tally:[3]

Democratic National Convention Vice presidential vote, 1980
Candidate Votes percentage
Walter Mondale (inc.)2,429(72.99%)
Abstain/failed to show up724(21.76%)
Melvin Boozer49(1.44%)
Ed Rendell28(0.84%)
Roberto A. Mondragon19(0.57%)
Patricia Stone Simon11(0.33%)
Tom Daschle10(0.30%)
Ted Kulongoski8(0.24%)
Shirley Chisholm6(0.18%)
Terry Chisholm6(0.18%)
Barbara Jordan4(0.12%)
Richard M. Nolan4(0.12%)
Patrick Joseph Lucey3(0.09%)
Jerry Brown2(0.06%)
George McGovern2(0.06%)
Eric Tovar2(0.06%)
Mo Udall2(0.06%)
Les Aspin1(0.03%)
Mario Biaggi1(0.03%)
George S. Broody1(0.03%)
Michella Kathleen Gray1(0.03%)
Michael J. Harrington1(0.03%)
Frank Johnson1(0.03%)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver1(0.03%)
Dennis Krumm1(0.03%)
Mary Ann Kuharski1(0.03%)
Jim McDermott1(0.03%)
Barbara Mikulski1(0.03%)
Gaylord Nelson1(0.03%)
George Orwell1(0.03%)
Charles Prine1(0.03%)
William A. Redmond1(0.03%)
Jim Thomas1(0.03%)
Elly Uharis1(0.03%)
Jim Weaver1(0.03%)
William Winpisinger1(0.03%)

The President's acceptance speech

President Carter gave his speech accepting the party's nomination on August 14. This was notable for his gaffe intended to be a tribute to Hubert Humphrey, whom he first called "Hubert Horatio Hornblower."[4]

On November 4, President Carter and Vice President Mondale lost to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in the general election, having lost both the popular election by 8,423,115 votes and the Electoral College by 440 votes.[5]

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See also

References
  1. Auletta, Ken. "Kerry's Brain." The New Yorker. 20 Sept. 2004.
  2. "US President - D Convention Race - Aug 11, 1980". Our Campaigns. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
  3. Our Campaigns - US Vice President - D Convention Race - Aug 11, 1980
  4. "Carter Blows the Horn Of the Wrong Horatio". The New York Times. August 15, 1980.
  5. 1980 Presidential General Election Results
Preceded by
1976
New York, New York		 Democratic National Conventions Succeeded by
1984
San Francisco, California
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