Published: August 25, 2008 04:24 pm      

Coordinator recalls tumultuous 1968 convention

OKLAHOMA CITY — Anti-war protesters fill the streets. Police in riot gear stand shoulder-to-shoulder ready to quell any disturbance. And in a crowded convention hall nearby, Democrats from across the nation ignore the commotion outside as they gather to nominate their party's choice for president of the United States.

Those scenes have been commonplace as delegates arrived in Denver for the Democratic National Convention that got under way Monday. But similar scenes from 40 years ago are indelibly etched in the memory of John Meek, an Oklahoma native who was convention coordinator for the tumultuous 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Meek, who was responsible for planning, organizing and running the convention, said the efforts of delegates to vote on a Democratic platform and nominee for president was eventually overshadowed by thousands of protesters opposed to the Vietnam War whose goal was to disrupt the convention.

"It was my dream when I agreed to be convention coordinator to put on the best event in the history of the Democratic Party. It was a dream that turned into a nightmare," said Meek, who grew up in Rocky.

"Had it not been for the anti-war protests, it might well have been remembered as one of the best," he said. "But a handful of anti-war protest leaders had other ideas, and the rest is history."

Meek, 78, made the comments during an appearance at the Oklahoma History Center that coincided with Meek's donation of dozens of personal artifacts from the convention including Meek's convention coordinator name tag, ceremonial license plates, a security plan for the convention hall and a complete transcript of convention proceedings.

Meek recalled the events of 1968 as the 2008 Democratic convention got under way in Denver, where about 1,000 anti-war activists marched on Sunday against the war in Iraq, waving signs and chanting, "Stop the torture, stop the war. That's what we're fighting for."

Sunday's demonstration was the first of at least five planned by the group Recreate 68. While the group is nonviolent, its name hearkens the protests that became riots during the Democratic convention 40 years ago in Chicago.

Meek, who now lives in Green Valley, Ariz., said he plans to watch some of the convention's activities.

"I'll be thinking: 'They think they have problems,'" Meek said. "I can't imagine another situation ever like Chicago.

"It was a terrible time. I don't think you can imagine, if you were not there, how really awful it was," he said.

For eight days before and during the convention, protesters and police battled for control of the streets of Chicago. The city's attempts to maintain law and order became evident on the convention floor itself, where officials set up checkpoints and journalists were roughed up by security officers.

"We all made mistakes in Chicago," Meek said. "We had a lot of ticked off people."

Delegates to the 1968 Democratic convention nominated Hubert H. Humphrey, then President Lyndon Johnson's vice president, as their presidential nominee. But Meek said the violent anti-war protests outside convention hall helped elect the Republican nominee, Richard Nixon.

"Inside the halls, actually the convention worked very well," Meek said. "The convention has to go on. Without nominees, what would we do?"