Dump Johnson movement
Encyclopedia
The Dump Johnson movement was a movement within the United States Democratic Party to oppose the candidacy of President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson
to become the party's nominee in the 1968 presidential election. Their opposition to Johnson stemmed mainly from their opposition to the Vietnam War
, while the movement can be seen as part of an internal battle within the Democratic Party between antiwar liberals, unreconstructed Cold Warriors and moderates.
Within the left wing of the Democratic party there had been rumbles all during 1967 of challenging Lyndon B. Johnson's candidacy. The leading proponents of the Dump Johnson Movement were two opponents of the war, Allard K. Lowenstein
and Curtis Gans
. Their first choice to be a candidate was Robert F. Kennedy
, but the New York Senator declined after a series of meetings in September and October 1967. When he declined, they next turned to California Congressman Don Edwards
, Idaho Senator Frank Church
, Canadian-born economist John Kenneth Galbraith
, General James M. Gavin
, and South Dakota Senator George S. McGovern, all of whom similarly declined. Finally in mid-October 1967 Lowenstien approached Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy
and found to his surprise that the Senator was willing. 'Somebody has to raise the flag,' McCarthy remarked. Six days later, in a meeting with Lowenstein and another liberal leader McCarthy made his decision definite. "You guys have been talking about three or four names. I think you can cut the list down to one now."
Johnson's thoughts of running received a fresh blow on March 12 when McCarthy shocked the country by winning 42 percent of the New Hampshire
primary
, at which point Kennedy belatedly entered the race, splitting the anti-war opposition between two candidates. On Sunday evening, March 31, at the close of his speech on Vietnam, Johnson declared that, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President". Johnson had withdrawn from the 1968 Democratic candidate race.
McCarthy and Kennedy received more than 5.3 million votes in the Democratic primaries
, far more than any other candidates. Kennedy's candidacy ended with his assassination after the California
primary. Lowenstein and many other antiwar activists remained committed to McCarthy, seeing Kennedy's late entry as opportunistic and divisive.
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
to become the party's nominee in the 1968 presidential election. Their opposition to Johnson stemmed mainly from their opposition to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, while the movement can be seen as part of an internal battle within the Democratic Party between antiwar liberals, unreconstructed Cold Warriors and moderates.
Within the left wing of the Democratic party there had been rumbles all during 1967 of challenging Lyndon B. Johnson's candidacy. The leading proponents of the Dump Johnson Movement were two opponents of the war, Allard K. Lowenstein
Allard K. Lowenstein
Allard Kenneth Lowenstein, , was a liberal Democratic politician, a one-term congressman representing the 5th District in Nassau County, New York from 1969 until 1971. His work on civil rights and the antiwar movement has been cited as an inspiration by public figures including Congressmen, John...
and Curtis Gans
Curtis Gans
Curtis Gans is a Jewish-American activist and writer who, with Allard K. Lowenstein started and headed the Dump Johnson movement. He currently is Director of the Center for the Study of the American Electorate at American University...
. Their first choice to be a candidate was Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
, but the New York Senator declined after a series of meetings in September and October 1967. When he declined, they next turned to California Congressman Don Edwards
Don Edwards
William Donlon Edwards is an American politician of the Democratic Party, formerly a member of the United States House of Representatives from California.-Biography:...
, Idaho Senator Frank Church
Frank Church
Frank Forrester Church III was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a United States Senator from Idaho from 1957 to 1981....
, Canadian-born economist John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth "Ken" Galbraith , OC was a Canadian-American economist. He was a Keynesian and an institutionalist, a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism...
, General James M. Gavin
James M. Gavin
James Maurice "Jumpin' Jim" Gavin was a prominent Lieutenant General in the United States Army during World War II...
, and South Dakota Senator George S. McGovern, all of whom similarly declined. Finally in mid-October 1967 Lowenstien approached Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy
Eugene McCarthy
Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy was an American politician, poet, and a long-time member of the United States Congress from Minnesota. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the U.S. Senate from 1959 to 1971.In the 1968 presidential election, McCarthy was the first...
and found to his surprise that the Senator was willing. 'Somebody has to raise the flag,' McCarthy remarked. Six days later, in a meeting with Lowenstein and another liberal leader McCarthy made his decision definite. "You guys have been talking about three or four names. I think you can cut the list down to one now."
Johnson's thoughts of running received a fresh blow on March 12 when McCarthy shocked the country by winning 42 percent of the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, at which point Kennedy belatedly entered the race, splitting the anti-war opposition between two candidates. On Sunday evening, March 31, at the close of his speech on Vietnam, Johnson declared that, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President". Johnson had withdrawn from the 1968 Democratic candidate race.
McCarthy and Kennedy received more than 5.3 million votes in the Democratic primaries
Democratic Party (United States) presidential primaries, 1968
The 1968 Democratic presidential primaries were the selection process by which voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for President of the United States in the 1968 U.S. presidential election...
, far more than any other candidates. Kennedy's candidacy ended with his assassination after the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
primary. Lowenstein and many other antiwar activists remained committed to McCarthy, seeing Kennedy's late entry as opportunistic and divisive.