The Infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, as Seen by Novelist Norman Mailer
Daniel Hautzinger, for WTTW Chicago, revisits Mailer’s Miami and the Siege of Chicago, a work of New Journalism that captures the upheaval of the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The article highlights Mailer’s incisive portrayal of the convention’s chaos, from the brutal clashes between protesters and police to the fractured Democratic Party grappling with the Vietnam War. Reflecting Mailer’s trademark blend of skepticism and narrative flair, the piece examines his disillusionment following Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination and his ambivalent take on the remaining candidates. Framed within the broader turmoil of 1968, Mailer’s account remains a crucial lens for understanding the era’s political and cultural fractures.
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