The Strategy of Confrontation - Chicago and the Democratic National Convention - 1968

With Chicago set to host the Democratic National Convention this summer I thought I'd post a document that was published following the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

"The Strategy of Confrontation - Chicago and the Democratic National Convention - 1968" chronicles events, injuries, arrests, and problems occasioned by the so-called strategy of confrontation that produced the clashes between police and 'radicals' at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

In a statement Mayor Richard J. Daley said, "I would like to say here and now that this administration
and the people of Chicago have never condoned brutality at any time but they will never permit a lawless violent group of terrorists to menace the lives of millions of people, destroy the purpose of this national political convention, and take over the streets of Chicago."

And so we have The Strategy of Confrontation.

The Strategy of Confrontation

 

Daley had a way of communicating that ... well, you might read or listen to what he said and wonder about the message. The statement above is an example of that. Daley phrases it as, " ... this administration and the people of Chicago have never condoned brutality at any time but ... "  When he ends that thought with a "but," is he telling us there are exceptions to the "never condoned brutality" rule? 

Calling this out might seem like nitpicking except Daley and his administration were attempting to defend the actions of the Chicago Police Department during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. He's kind of tipping his hand with this statement. Or is he? Reporters jokingly referred to Mayor Richard J. Daley as "journalism's greatest challenge."