Draft:Logistics of the 1952 Democratic and Republican National Conventions

In 1952, the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention were both held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois during separate weeks in July. Republicans met July 7–11, while Democrats met July 21–26.

While both conventions selected the location of their convention separately (with Republicans selecting Chicago several weeks before Democrats), they had each indicated an interest in sharing a convention site in order to lower costs (as they had done for the previous two presidential elections). While six cities formally bid, by the time the choice for each convention was made the competition had narrowed to only Chicago and Philadelphia, with Chicago prevailing to secure both conventions.

The conventions were the first ever to be televised live nationwide, with the Democrats adapting their convention last-minute to eliminate several aspects that had come across unflattering for Republicans during their convention. Democrats made use of a speech teleprompter. The International Amphitheatre was used instead of the even-larger Chicago Stadium arena (the site of the several most recent conventions previously held in the city) due to the assessment by party leaders that it was more suited for television broadcasting. A major undertaking in preparation for the convention was the installation of an expensive and powerful air conditioning system at the International Amphitheatre, making the 1952 conventions the first major party presidential nominating conventions to be held inside of an air conditioned venue.

Other important logistics included arranging overnight hotel accommodations, transportation, and entertainment for conventiongoers.

Selection of Chicago as a host city

Chicago cityscape, photographed in 1950

Overview of bids

On April 28, 1951, six cities presented subcommittees of the two parties with formal bids to host one or both conventions. At this point, the parties were merely seeking key details from interested cities, including how much money they could promise would be locally fundraised to stage the conventions and how many hotel rooms would be available for use as overnight accommodation by conventiongoers. Both parties had required that the host city be able to provide a sizable meeting hall and a guarantee of between 8,000 and 10,000 hotel rooms.

The motivation for cities to bid for a nominating convention was the belief that convention visitors would generate additional commerce in its host city. With this view, convention expenses were typically funded through contributions donated by local businessmen. The six cities that formally submitted bids were Chicago, Illinois; Kansas City, Missouri; Miami, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Los Angeles, California; and San Francisco, California. Atlantic City, New Jersey and Detroit, Michigan had previously indicated their interest in hosting, but abandoned their effort without submitting a formal bid. Kansas City and Miami only sought the . On April 28, some of these cities (Los Angeles, Kansas City, San Fransisco) formally submitted their interest by telegram, while others submitted their interest that day by having delegations meet in-person with the party subcommittees (Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami). Kansas City and Miami only sought to host the Democratic convention, while the four other cities indicated their interest in hosting either or both conventions. The in-person presentations were heard by each party's site selection subcommittees at the Mayflower Hotel. Chicago and Philadelphia were seen as the front-runners in the field bidding to host the conventions. Over the previous 20 years, the two cities had been the most frequent cities to host major party presidential conventions. By the following day, it had been determined by each party that they had narrowed their selection down to the bids received from Chicago and Philadelphia.

While neither had formally committed to both selecting the same host city before having party subcommittees review bids, both had indicated an interest in doing so to save money. The parties had held their conventions in the same cities during the previous two elections, meeting in Chicago in 1944 and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1948. The Republican National Committee scheduled its decision on a host city and convention dates to be made by a vote at its mid-May 1951 meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma. By late-April, the Democrats had not specifically determined the time or place of their selection vote, but had slated it to occur sometime in late May or early June 1951.

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Finalist bid cities

City	Previous major party conventions hosted by city
Chicago, Illinois	Democratic: 1864, 1884, 1892, 1896, 1932, 1940, 1944 Republican: 1860, 1868, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, 1920, 1932, 1944
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Democratic: 1936, 1948 Republican: 1856, 1872, 1900, 1940, 1948, 2000 Other: 1848 Whig

Other formal bids

City	Previous major party conventions hosted by city
Kansas City, Kansas –only bid for DNC	Democratic: 1900 Republican: 1928
Los Angeles, California	—
Miami, Floria –only bid for DNC	—
San Francisco, California	Democratic: 1920

Withdrew without formally bidding

City	Previous major party conventions hosted by city
Atlantic City, New Jersey	—
Detroit, Michigan	—

Details of bids

Chicago, Illinois (selected by both parties)

Since hosting the 1860 Republican National Convention, Chicago had established itself as a frequent site of United States presidential nominating conventions. This was in large part due to its relatively central geographic location and its accessibility by railroad. Chicago would remain a frequent convention host until after the 1968 Democratic National Convention, ultimately hosting 25 major party conventions over the course of the 29 presidential elections that took place in that time. Subsequent to 1968, Chicago has been the host city for two further conventions (the 1996 and 2024 Democratic conventions). https://www.chicagobusiness.com/crains-forum-chicago-dnc-2024-and-beyond/chicago-has-long-been-premier-site-political-conventions

Prior to 1860, Baltimore, Maryland had been the most-preferred location for presidential conventions due to its close proximity to the U.S. national capitol of Washington, D. C., where many convention delegates worked. However, with the advent of railways as a dominant mode of transportation, after 1860 Chicago supplanted it. https://www.newspapers.com/image/560433557 Before 1952, Chicago had previously hosted 19 major party presidential conventions (seven Democratic and twelve Republican). It also hosted the notable 1912 and 1916 conventions of the Progressive/"Bull Moose" Party. It would subsequent to the 1952 conventions go on to be the host of a further five major party conventions (1956 DNC, 1960 RNC, 1968 DNC, 1996 DNC, and 2024 DNC).

Chicago's infrastructure (expensive supply of hotels, dining, and entertainment venues) and its strong transportation was regarded to make it a strong convention host city. It was noted to have a much easier time accommodating party conventions, while cities such as Philadelphia were comparatively were less naturally suited at hosting such sizable events and had to make a greater effort to accommodate the logistics of such conventions. In their late-April presentation, Chicago offered the availability of accommodations superior to any the other bidding cities.. Chicago promised that (at minimum) 8,000 first-class hotel rooms in the city's downtown would be available. They also promised that hotel rooms would be available at their standard rates, noting that there was an overall supply of 135,400 hotel rooms in the city. It also proposed use of the 20,000-seat capacity Chicago Stadium arena (recently used by both parties for their 1944 conventions) as the convention hall. Chicago's bid representatives also highlighted that the city was highly accessible from the rest of the nation by passenger rail and passenger airlines.

In 1944, Chicago had locally raised at total of $350,000 to stage the conventions, with each convention receiving $175,000. When they first presented their bid in late-April, Chicago's bid committee made no financial offer, but promised to give a definite sum of their financial pledge within two weeks time. The committee noted that they had scheduled a May 2 luncheon to secure pledges and contributions. When presenting to the Republicans before their decision, Chicago’s bid delegation promised that the city could raise as much as $250,000 for a Republican convention if necessary, and could raise an additional $250,000 if both parties selected Chicago (a total of $500,000). Chicago had no funds immediately available, but promised to sign "letter of guarantee" (promissory note) to provide funding. https://www.newspapers.com/image/178117722

Chicago's initial bid presentations in late-April were delivered by a delegation featuring Illinois DNC committeeman Jacob Arvey, Illinois RNC committeeman Werner W. Schroeder, U.S. Senator Paul Douglas, and Chicago Convention Bureau director Chester A. Wilkins.

Chicago named the weeks of June 30, July 7, and July 20 as weeks in which the city would be able to accommodate national convention.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (finalist bid city)

Before 1952, Philadelphia had hosted __ previous major party conventions (including one for the since-defunct Whig Party). The city would go on to host two further conventions decades later (2000 RNC and 2016 DNC).

Walter Annenberg chaired Philadelphia’s bid committee. In late-April, he made the city's initial presentations to the party subcommittees alongside bid committee's vice chair Frank B. Murdoch. For the presentation to Republicans, they were accompanied by Pennsylvania's RNC committeeman, Mason Owlett. For the presentation to Democrats, they were accompanied by David L. Lawrence (the states DNC committeeman), as well as former U.S. Senator Francis J. Myers and Philadelphia Democratic City Committee chairman James A. Finnegan.

Other prominent individuals publicly had indicated their support for the city's bid effort in advance of the presentations, including Pennsylvania Republican state chairman M. Harvey Taylor, Pennsylvania Democratic state chairman Maurice Splain, Philadelphia Republican City Committee chairman William J. Morrow, U.S. attorney Gerald A. Gleeson, Republican Philadelphia mayor Bernard Samuel, Republican governor John S. Fine, Republican U.S. senators Edward Martin and James H. Duff, Democratic U.S. congressman William T. Granahan, as well as Republican U.S. congressmen Hardie Scott and Hugh D. Scott. Such supporters advanced several arguments about Philadelphia's suitability as a host. One argument was that Philadelphia's strong associations with the American Revolution would give its selection as a host site strong symbolism. Mayor Samuel argued that Philadelphia had extensive transit connections through trunk line railways, airline service, and arterial highways. He especially stressed its convenient proximity to Washington, D.C.

In its initial late-April presentation, Philadelphia's bid committee promised the availability 6,000 hotel rooms in the city. These would include 4,500 first-class downtown hotel rooms (far fewer than the number of first-class rooms Chicago had offered) and a further 1,500 "good" rooms. This included dormitories at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. The committee also promised the availability of a futher 1,200 hotel rooms in the outlying parts of Greater Philadelphia. Unlike Chicago's bid committee, Philadelphia's was unable to assure standard rates for its hotel rooms. Instead, they predicted that hotel rooms would likely be available at 25% to 50% above their standard rates. For a convention hall, they proposed the use of the 13,000-seat capacity Philadelphia Convention Hall and Civic Center, the venue of the 1948 conventions. The presenters also were assisted by Philadelphia convention bureau executive director Ben Shelman.

In 1948, Philadelphia had locally provided a total of $400,000 to fund the conventions, with each party receiving $200,000. In its April 28 presentation to the parties, Philadelphia's bid committee pledged to provide $250,000 per convention (for a total of $500,000 if both parties selected the city). The cost of materials and construction had increased since 1948. In its final presentation to the Republicans in May, Philadelphia increased this pledge to $285,000 in funding, with $250,000 to be immediately given if Philadelphia were awarded hosting rights and an additional $35,000 to be given at a later date. The additional $35,000 would be allocated to fund the staging of entertainment for delegates during the convention. Annenberg argued that Philadelphia was best suited to host the convention in part because it had more coaxial television cables than Chicago. When presenting to Democrats, Philadelphia's committee again promised that it would immediately make $250,000 in funds available to stage the convention, while Chicago was again only promising a "letter of guarantee” to provide funding at a subsequent date. https://www.newspapers.com/image/178117722

Philadelphia declared that it would be able to host conventions any point between mid-June and mid-July.

Philadelphia is located on the East Coast of the United States. In 1948, some West Coast Republicans had complained of the travel expenses required for them to attend a convention held on the East Coast. https://www.newspapers.com/image/564492249

Kansas City (submitted bid for DNC)

Kansas city (the past host of one Democratic and one Republican convention) would later host the 1976 RNC.

Los Angeles, California (submitted bids for both)

Los Angeles' bid committee telegraphed both parties is bid to host one or both convention. Trading on the city's prominent celebrity culture, it promised that conventions in Los Angeles would see "star-studded nights." It also pledged it would raise $200,000 per convention, $400,000 overall if both conventions were held in the city.

Los Angeles is located on the West Coast of the United States. Parties had up through 1952 rarely held their conventions west of the Mississippi River. The Republican Party had only once held a convention west of the Mississippi (their 1928 convention in Kansas City, Missouri), while the Democrats had only done so four times (1900 in Kansas City, Missouri; 1908 in Denver, Colorado; 1920 in San Francisco, California; and 1924 in Houston, Texas). https://www.newspapers.com/image/560433557 Los Angeles had never previously been the host of a major party presidential convention. It would go on to host two (1960 DNC and 2000 DNC).

Miami, Florida (submitted bid for DNC)

Miami bid to host the Democratic convention, submitting no bid for the Republican convention. This weakened its prospects, as both parties were highly interested in reducing expenses by sharing a host city. In the era of Solid South politics, Miami's bid committee had no expectation that Republicans would entertain holding their convention in the Southern United States, and therefore opted not to bid at all for their convention.

Miami's bid was actually a bid for Greater Miami to play host, and would have seen the convention hosted by both Miami and nearby Miami Beach. The delegation that presented Miami's bid to the Democratic National Committee site selection subcommittee included several members of Florida's congressional delegation along with Miami Beach mayor Harold Turk, Miami mayor William M. Wolfarth, Miami city manager Chelsie J. Senerchia, and both cities' directors of publicity.

Miamia's bid committee pledged that it would raise $300,000 to host the Democratic convention. An additional $50,000 would be made available to fund entertainment. It also promised that 15,000 hotel rooms could be made available at standard rates.

Miami had never previously hosted any major party presidential convention. It would go on to host three later conventions (1968 RNC, 1972 DNC, 1972 RNC).

San Fransisco, California (submitted bids for both)

San Fransisco is located on the West Coast of the United States. Parties had up through 1952 rarely held their conventions west of the Mississippi River. The Republican Party had only once held a convention west of the Mississippi, while the Democrats had only done so four times. https://www.newspapers.com/image/560433557

San Francisco had been the host of one previous major party convention (1920 DNC). It would subsequently go on to host three further conventions (1956 RNC, 1964 RNC, 1984 DNC).

Atlantic City, New Jersey (withdrew)

Atlantic City had never previously been the host of a major party presidential convention. It would go on to host the 1964 DNC.

Detroit, Michigan (withdrew)

Despite Detroit having been expected to send a delegation to Washington, D.C. to bid, it withdrew at the last minute and instead told each party that it was eager to host their subsequent conventions in 1956. Before it withdrew, its effort had been backed both of Michigan's U.S. Senators (Republican Homer S. Ferguson and Democrat Blair Moody) as well as Detroit convention bureau chief Carl Sedan.

Detroit had never previously been the host of a major party presidential convention. It would go on to host the 1980 RNC.

Selection votes

The final presentation of bids for the convention included financial pledges for covering the costs of staging the convention.

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Republicans

As scheduled, Republicans made their selection at their May 1951 meeting, choosing Chicago. https://www.newspapers.com/image/564492249

Ahead of the final selection, the sub-committee for the Republican National Committee made it knwon that they wanted the host city to provide a written guarantee that it would provide $125,000 in convention funding by December 1952; a further $125,000 in funding by March 1, 1952; and a further guarantee to pay for pre-convention meetings of the convention's arrangements committee.

On May 10, 1951 the seven members of the Republican Party subcommittee tasked with reviewing bids unanimously voted to recommend that the party select Chicago as host. However, it was clear that Philadelphia would still stage a strong fight for hosting rights ahead of the meeting’s floor vote to decide the host city.

The full Republican National Committee voted ________ to select Chicago

The selection vote was part of a Republican National Committee's meeting held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Parsons Sun reported that the vote in Tulsa marked the first time that the Republican National Committee had assembled in "a southern state and an almost traditionally Democratic state to select a national convention site," and noted the unusual choice for the party to gather in Tulsa had generated some curiosity and speculation in political circles about whether Republicans saw potential of winning elections in Oklahoma. https://www.newspapers.com/image/69246828

Democrats

On May 25, 1951, the Democratic National Committee met in Denver to select their convention's site. https://www.newspapers.com/image/178117722

Chicago argued that by staging the Democratic convention in the same city that would be staging the Republican convention, the Democrats would save $50,000 in expenses. https://www.newspapers.com/image/178117722

Philadelphia mayor Bernard Samuel led the delegation that presented the city’s pitch to the Democrats before their decision. Other members in the city's delegation included Genevieve Blatt. https://www.newspapers.com/image/178117722

The Democratic National Committee voted 84–16 to select Chicago as the site of its convention. https://www.newspapers.com/image/511038260

Scheduling

On May 10, 1951 , the seven-member subcommittee of the Republican Party unanimously voted not only to recommend Chicago be selected as the site of convention, but to also recommend that the convention be held on July 21. This was later into the year than the party had ever held a presidential convention, and was seen as likely to face opposition from Republican National Committee members. The subcommittee justified its recommendation of a July date by arguing that the convention should be held after Indiana’s state Republican convention, which was scheduled to commence on June 28.

In a compromise two days later, the Republican National Committee voted 88–11 to approve holding the convention on the week of July 7. https://www.newspapers.com/image/41892921

The Democrat convention was thereafter scheduled to be held the week of

two weeks after the Republican convention.

As was typical at the time, these dates meant that the Republican Party convention occurred before the Democratic convention. https://www.newspapers.com/image/560433557 From 1864 through 1952, the Republican Party had held its convention at an earlier date than the Democrats in every election except 1888. The main motivation for the Republicans holding their 1952 convention before the Democrats held theirs is unclear: it is possible it was due to Republicans having almost always held theirs before the Democrats, or it is possible it was more motivated in difference to the Democrats being the party of the incumbent president.

In 1956, the incumbent Republicans held their convention a later date than the Democratic convention. It has since become an informal tradition that the party with White House incumbency hosts their convention at a later date than the other major party, but it is unclear if this had become the tradition by 1952. Democrats had held presidential incumbency since 1933 by that time, so it is unclear if at any point in that time period the parties reached an understanding that the Democrats should get the later convention date due to presidential incumbent, or if their conventions were simply held at the later date due to the it being a long-standing convention that the Democrats would held their convention after the Republicans.

Television broadcasting

Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower watching a television during the convention

Quincy Howe and John Daly conducting ABC's convention coverage in 1952

The conventions were the first political conventions to be televised live, coast-to-coast. Experiments in regionally broadcasting conventions took place during the Republican and Democratic conventions in 1948; however, 1952 was the first year in which networks carried nationwide coverage of political conventions. The conventions were moved from the Chicago Stadium arena (where the most recent previous conventions in the city had been staged) International Amphitheatre on the judgement of party leaders that it was a better suited venue for television broadcasting.

During the Republican convention, fixed cameras were placed at the back and the sides of the International Amphitheatre for the press to use collectively. None of these offered a straight shot of the podium on stage, so many networks supplemented their coverage with shots from their own portable cameras.

Protests by Radio Writers Guild and Authors League of America https://www.newspapers.com/image/433577658

The Republican convention saw criticism of the habit of many politicians of posing for photographers directly in front of the stage while another person was delivering a speech on the stage.

The impact of the Republican Convention broadcast was an immediate one. After carefully watching the Republican Convention, the Democratic Party made last-minute alterations to their convention held in the same venue to make their broadcast more appealing to television audiences. They constructed a tower in the center of the convention hall to allow for a better shot of the podium, and Democrats exercised more control over camera shots and the conduct of delegates in front of the cameras. On the first day of the convention, organizers placed slips of paper on the seats of all delegates cautioning then, "You will be on television. 140,000,000 eyes will watch you. Remember –you may not know it– Television may be showing a close-up picture of you!"

The Republican Party received criticism for its refusal to allow for the hearings before the credentials subcommittee for its convention to be televised. On the eve of the Democratic convention’s own credentials subcommittee hearings (scheduled to be held July 17), Democratic National Committee chairman Frank E. McKinney announced that the Democratic party would allow full press, radio, and television coverage of its convention credentials hearings.

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Democratic teleprompter https://www.newspapers.com/image/1010452021

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Makeup artists https://www.newspapers.com/image/393574888

At the subsequent 1956 conventions, the medium of television would further affect both party's conventions. Conventions would be compacted in length that year, with daytime sessions being largely eliminated and the amount of welcoming speeches and parliamentary organization speeches being decreased (such as seconding speeches for vice-presidential candidates, which were eliminated). Additionally, beginning that year conventions were given overlying campaign themes, and their sessions were scheduled in order to maximize exposure to prime-time audience. To provide a more telegenic broadcast, convention halls were decked out in banners and other decorations, and television cameras were positioned at more flattering angles.

Media facilities

The Conrad Hilton Hotel (today known as the Hilton Chicago) housed operations of major radio and television networks. https://www.newspapers.com/image/428457179 with a press headquarters being housed in its exhibition hall. The setup required an extensive number of cables for telephone lines, as well as an extensive amount of equipment such as teletype printers. The Democratic National lasted longer than the hotel's management had anticipated, and they began to oust the press from this space on the morning of July 26, as it had been reserved for a July 27 jewelry convention. This resulted in the media that had been working out of this pace moving into the press room at the International Amphitheatre for the remainder of the convention. https://www.newspapers.com/image/900297311

Telecommunications

The Illinois Bell Telephone Company set up a telephone message center for use by delegates, which also featured walkie-talkie service for use in emergencies.

Preparation of the International Amphitheatre

Interior of the International Amphitheatre arena, photographed in 1948

Republican presidential nominee Dwight D. Eisenhower and vice presidential nominee Richard Nixon stand alongside others on the convention hall stage during the Republican convention

Delegates on the floor during the Republican convention

The most recent presidential conventions in Chicago had been held at the Chicago Stadium arena. However, with the new advent of television broadcasting, it was decided to hold the 1952 conventions at the International Amphitheatre arena. While the venue was smaller in capacity than the Chicago Stadium, the leaders of the parties believed that it was better suited for television broadcasting. While smaller than the Chicago Stadium, the 12,000 seat capacity International Amphitheatre was still among the world's largest arenas. It sat 4,500 attendees on the arena floor, and 7,500 in its mezzanine and balcony seats. It had dining facilities that could feed 3,000 individuals simultaneously. The arena portion of the building was 238 feet (73 m) by 123 feet (37 m) and had a ceiling that rose 87 feet (27 m) above the arena floor.

size of venue and other aspects https://www.newspapers.com/image/334379534

The International Amphitheatre stood (by different measures) 4.5 miles (7.2 km) or 6 miles (9.7 km) southwest of the Chicago Loop (the central business district of Chicago). It was located at the gateway of the Union Stock Yards, at the time that largest stockyard in the world. The arena was owned by the Union Stockyard and Transit Company, thesame ownership as the stockyards. Some delegates were expected to tour the stockyards while in town for the convention.

A major improvement made to the arena in preparation for the conventions was the installation of an air conditioning system. The 1952 presidential conventions were the first in history^{note α} to be held in an air conditioned venue. The air conditioning system, manufactured by Carrier, utilized more than an acre of cooling coils. The system cost $350,000 to install. It proved advantageous during the Republican convention, when Chicago experienced 95 °F (35 °C) weather. The system was described as providing "cooling equivalent of 2,000,000 pounds of ice daily." Its cooling plant was fed water averaging 60 °F (16 °C) through two wells dug 1,600 feet (490 m) into the ground. The two machines of the cooling system each weighed 11.5 tons and could pump approximately 2,000 US gallons (7,600 L) of cooled water per minute into the system's cooling coils. The system refreshed the arenas air with air that had been filtered, dehumidified, and cooled. It was reported to completely refresh the air inside of the arena 72 times per day and be capable of reducing the temperature inside the arena up to fifteen degrees below those found outdoors.

On July 17, the National Production Authority (NPA) ruled that the Union Stockyard and Transit Company) had illegally used materials in the installation of the system. 60 tons of steel and approximately 1,000 pounds (450 kg) had been utilized, despite the NPA having rejected the company's application for this amount of material in December 1951. The purchase of the materials was characterized as being purchased on the grey market. However, the NPA did not plan to have the system removed or seek any immediate injunction to prevent its use. The Daily Telegraph & Monday Post noted that such action by an Executive Branch agency ahead of the Democratic convention might have harmed the prospects of a candidate preferred by the Truman Administration prevailing at that convention. Instead, the NPA declared that it intended to investigate the matter to see what legal options it had against the Union Stockyard and Transit Company.

While the air conditioning made the interior of the venue comfortable, a discomfort for many conventiongoers was the smell outside of it. The pungent smells that emanated from the adjacent Union Stockyards (home to a massive amount of livestock and slaughterhouses), which convention goers had to encounter as their vehicles approached the venue, was considered grotesque by many. This was contrary to assurances from the stockyard ownership, which had released a statement before the Republican convention claiming that, "contrary to popular belief in some quarters, there is no farm oder at the stockyard." The stockyard ownership had assured the public that the convention would not experience an unpleasant odor because their sanitation system was unparalleled, claiming, "the streets of the yard and alleys between pens, as well as the pens, are as clean as those in a fine residential area." Chicago political figures had given pre-convention assurances that any smells related to the stockyards would not be a problem inside the arena, as the air conditioning system would filter them out.

The arena was regarded to be an attractive-looking and well-appointed convention venue. https://www.newspapers.com/image/179584508

In late May 1952, the arena was rebranded by its operator as the "Chicago Convention Building & International Ampitheatre" in hopes of attracting further convention business beyond the presidential conventions. Its manager expressing hope that the air conditioning system installed for the presidential conventions would make the venue attractive for summertime conventions.

The arena was adjacent to the Stock Yards Inn, at the time one of the best-regarded steakhouses in the United States. This was anticipated to be a popular dinning spot for delegates during the convention. Also nearby was the famous Saddle and Sirloin Club steakhouse.

Inside the convention hall, high prices were charged for concessions, including 75 cents for plain beef sandwiches and 15 cents for Coke (at a time when the standard price for a Coke was 5 cents).

It was noted that few tickets were able to be made available to members of the general public. For instance, both conventions each only gave the host state of Illinois less than 200 spectator tickets to distribute.

The arena was adorn with blue drapes ahead of the Republican convention. Ahead of the Democratic convention, some decorations were changed. The Democrats, for instance, added portraits of presidents Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Harry S. Truman.

The arena's organ was utilized at times to provide music.

Hotels

The Conrad Hilton Hotel (today known as the Hilton Chicago) served as the headquarter hotel of both conventions. At the time, it was considered the largest hotel in the world, containing 3,000 rooms.

Busy street scene along State Street outside of the Palmer House Hotel, photographed at some point in 1952

Chicago had a lasrge number of hotels, containing more than of 135,000 hotel rooms. Among Chicago's hotels was the Conrad Hilton Hotel, at the time considered the largest hotel in the world. https://www.newspapers.com/image/569955355

The Conrad Hilton was a hub of important activity during both conventions.

The Conrad Hilton Hotel served as the RNC convention headquarters hotel. https://www.newspapers.com/image/428457179 as well as the DNC convention headquarters hotel. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1015452838

Eisenhower located his convention headquarters at the Conrad Hilton Hotel https://www.newspapers.com/image/393574888

Kefauver located his headquarters at the Conrad Hilton Hotel https://www.newspapers.com/image/569202527

When he arrived in Chicago on July 16, Kefauver held a crowded press conference at the hotel.

While Stevenson had not made himself a candidate ahead of the convention (add citation) a campaign quarters for those seeking to draft him had been setup on the hotel's 15th floor.

The Conrad Hilton reported that 2,900 of its 3,000 rooms were being were being occupied by politicians or reporters. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1026782145

During the Democratic convention, presidential candidates were provided lodging at the Conrad Hilton. The Conrad Hilton also housed the Democratic convention delegations from North Carolina, https://www.newspapers.com/image/789320604 Virginia, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1022189601 , Utah https://www.newspapers.com/image/15878205 , Oklahoma, Utah, Wyoming, https://www.newspapers.com/image/755355229 ,____.

During the Democratic convention, the La Salle Hotel housed the delegations from South Carolina, https://www.newspapers.com/image/789320604 Maryland, West Virginia https://www.newspapers.com/image/1022189601 , _____

During the Republican convention the Congress Hotel housed the delegations from Pennsylvania, _______, During the Democratic convention, it housed the delegations from the District of Columbia https://www.newspapers.com/image/1022189601 , Idaho, Washington,https://www.newspapers.com/image/15878205 _____

During the Democratic convention, the Morrison Hotel housed the delegations from Oregon https://www.newspapers.com/image/15878205 , Nevada, Alaska https://www.newspapers.com/image/755355229 , __________

During the Democratic National Convention the Palmer House housed the delegations from Arizona, California, https://www.newspapers.com/image/755355229 , Texas, Hawaii https://www.newspapers.com/image/755355229 _____

During the Democratic National Convention, the Sheridan Plaza Hotel housed the delegations from Montana https://www.newspapers.com/image/755355229 , _____

During the Democratic National Convention, the Drake Hotel housed the delegations from Nebraska, New Mexico https://www.newspapers.com/image/755355229 , _____

During the Democratic convention, the Sherman House Hotel housed the headquarters for the New Jersey Citizens' Committee for Kefauver, a group backing the candidacy of Estes Kefauver https://www.newspapers.com/image/315419910

Small fire https://www.newspapers.com/image/393574888

On the opening day of the Republican convention, hotel operators estimated that for every delegate there were 30 non-delegate convention-related visitors, estimating that there were roughly 1,000 delegates and 30,000 other visitors drawn by the convention. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1026782145

Security

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More than 2,000 police were anticipated to be involved in some capacity in policing the conventions. A select elite force was assigned to guard the International Amphitheatre during the convention. The Associated Press described there as being "scores of policemen inside and outside of the convention hall" during the Republican convention.

Transportation

President Harry S. Truman boarding his flight from Washington, D.C. to Chicago for the convention

In the lead-up to the conventions, the roads used for travel between The Loop and the International Amphitheatre were rebuilt.

$2 million was spent by the city of Chicago in preparation for the conventions on improvements to street lights traffic lights along the primary roads that would be taken to access the convention hall.

The Ford Motor Company donated several hundred automobiles for use in transporting delegates to the conventions. The International Amphitheatre had adjacent parking for 4,000 automobiles, and during the convention the parking lot was lit by floodlights and no fee was charged for conventiongoers to utilize it.

Months before the convention, Chicago had began a pilot experiment with converting east-west streets in the Chicago Loop into one-way streets while maintaining two-way traffic on north-south thoroughfares.

Some delegates and prominent individuals traveled to Chicago by airplane (such as Eleanor Roosevelt and incumbent president Harry S. Truman in their travel to the Democratic convention). Many others arrived by railroad. Chicago was highly accessible to other parts of the nation by both modes. Other convention visitors arrived by road transport.

1,100 traffic police were expected to handle traffic during the convention. Those that were considered best officers were to be assigned to primary routes between the downtown hotels and the International Amphitheatre.

On the eve of the Republican convention, prestigious downtown portions of Michigan Avenue were reported to be teeming with so activity from convention visitors that International Press Service reported, "you might have mistaken it for a carnival midway.".

The Washington Star correspondents reported the anecdote that on the first day of convention that their taxi driver to the convention hall had been unaware of where in the city the convention was being held.

Municipal beautification

Some street routes between the downtown and the arena took visitors through some African-American neighborhood and other minority neighborhoods that had experienced the impacts of disinvestment, with a contemporary wire from the United Press reporting,

Delegates and visitors to the conventions will see the city's seamy side. One route from the swank lakefront hotels will take them through the teeming Negro tenements of the South Side. Another will take them through them through the Halsted Street "melting pot" with shabby buildings, hot pavements, and polyglot population.

In order to improve the appearance of the city's traffic police force, the city's traffic police were ordered by traffic police chief Michael Ahern to adhere to a list of rules that were described as "stressing neatness and courtesy". These rules were read daily to the city's traffic police force during their morning roll calls beginning the month prior to the conventions. The rules forbade baggy uniforms, unpolished buttons, unpolished shoes, and unpressed shirts from being worn. It also forbade the police from lounging while on duty. Police were also instructed to address delegates and important convention visitors (such as elected officials) as "sir", and not to adress them with informalities such as "bud" and "chum".

Entertainment offerings

Theater productions Night Spots

concert stints/residencies Night Spots https://www.newspapers.com/image/569955355

https://www.newspapers.com/image/795471918

While Chicago had adult entertainment venues on North Clark Street and North Rush, the city's was expected to be tough on obscenity during the convention, thereby curbing how revealing stiptease performances would be. https://www.newspapers.com/image/569955355

The Democratic convention had 525 female delegates and alternate delegates, as well as 54 national committeewomen. Tasked as the official hostess for female delegates and charged with providing for the arrangement of the female officials attending the convention was Elizabeth A. Conkey, a leading Democratic National Committee figure from Illinois. She had performed the same role at two previous Democratic National Conventions. She organized a July 19 party at the Arlington Park racetrack sponsored by the Illinois Federation of Democratic Women, as well as a post-party cocktail event and dinner at the track's post and Paddock Club facilities. She also organized a July 20 formal dinner party at the Palmer House for more than 2,000 democratic women, with Eleanor Roosevelt]], Eugenie Anderson, Perle Mesta, and Georgia Neese Clark as speakers. Other events for women included fashion tea events held at the city's major department stores during the convention, as well as a July 22 and July 23 breakfasts hosted by the women's division of the Democratic National Committee.

Chicago was known for its plentiful fine dining. The Stock Yards Inn, one of the nation's best steakhouses, was adjacent to the convention hall. Among Chicago's fine seafood restaurants were Ireland's (located north of The Loop) and the Boston Oyster House (located in the Morrison Hotel). Prestigious Italian dining establishments included the Rush Street restaurants Riccardo's, El Bianco, and Milano's.

Economic impact

Ahead of the conventions, the Chicago Convention Bureau estimated that at each convention, the average attendee would spend in excess of $150 over five-days. Based upon this, they projected $5 million in convention-related spending. Hotels reservations were anticipated to total $1.2 million; retail spending was anticipated to total $850,000; dining spending was anticipated to total $1.1 million; entertainment spending (at theaters, sports events, and nightclubs) was anticipated to generate $650,000; and alcohol sales were anticipated to general $350,000. https://www.newspapers.com/image/569955355 https://www.newspapers.com/image/795471918

While cities like Chicago had sought to host such conventions due to the boost they were regarded to bring in commerce, a downtown liquor retailer was quoted after the Republican National Convention as complaining that his business had actually decreased during the convention. The retailer remarked, "the Republicans took all the hotel space and the usual visitors to the city couldn't get rooms. The Republicans weren't as good customers as the regular visitors to the city."

Notes

^note α While Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre (site of the 1888 Republican National Convention) was built with an early air conditioning system, the 1888 Republican Convention was held prior to the completion of the venue's roof structure (which contained the ducts for the air conditioning system), and that convention was therefore not air conditioned.