The US and a dizzying campaign not seen since the ‘horrible year’ of 1968

The resignation of the American president, Joe Bidenhis re-election to the White House is leading the country into a dizzying election year that has not been repeated in the history of the United States since 1968, an ‘annus horribilis’ full of surprises, marked by violent protests, two murders that left their mark on the country and a similar presidential withdrawal that triggered one of the biggest electoral setbacks for the Democrats.

The series of misfortunes that led Biden to step aside yesterday in the fight for power in the United States brings echoes of President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-1969), who surprised the world by announcing that he would not seek re-election months before a convention.

There are many parallels: LBJ, with two heart attacks behind him and in poor health, decided not to seek re-election in March 1968 due to the unpopularity of the Vietnam War and gave way to an open party convention in August which, like this year, was held in Chicago.

“The closest thing to this, when I look back in American history, is the 1968 primaries in which my father participated and was assassinated.“said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., son of Robert F. Kennedy, candidate for the Presidency that fateful year and assassinated in June with three shots.

1968, ‘annus horribilis’ for the world

1968 was a tumultuous year in American history; widespread discontent over the Vietnam War (1955-1975), coupled with concerns from his allies about his poor health, took its toll on Johnson.

On March 31, 1968, he succumbed to the pressure and in a televised speech announced his withdrawal from the electoral race: “I will not seek, nor accept, my party’s nomination for another term as your president.”.

That unexpected speech would lead to a race against the tide to find a candidate among the Democratic ranks capable of facing the Republican Richard Nixon, who held a spectacular lead over his rivals in the polls.

Former President John F. Kennedy’s (JFK) brother, Robert (RFK), came out on top and ran for the Democratic nomination alongside anti-war activist Eugene McCarthy.

Following Kennedy’s assassination two months after announcing his candidacy, McCarthy faced Hubert Humphrey for the Democratic race for the White House at the convention held in Chicago. The latter won the nomination, angering factions opposed to intervention in Vietnam.

That violent year, in which the assassination of Martin Luther King also shocked the country, has certain parallels with this 2024 and the attempted shooting of Republican candidate Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania on the 13th.

Chicago, a cursed bastion for Democrats

Coincidentally or by fate, this year’s Democratic convention will be held in Chicago. The 1968 convention was a turning point for the Democrats and will go down in history as one of the most violent after clashes between anti-war protesters and police resulted in mass arrests amid the chaos.

“There was chaos that erupted and destroyed the Democratic Party for a decade.“, independent candidate Kennedy said yesterday.