Early in the proceedings , Senator Robert J. Walker of Mississippi , in cooperation with Senator James Buchanan of Pennsylvania ( who would later become President himself ) , called for the reinstatement of the traditional 1832 and 1835 convention rule requiring the nominee to win two-thirds of the votes . Following a historical pattern in which a minority faction of Northern Democrats delivered votes to produce southern wing victories for pro-slavery legislation , the Van Burenite delegates split over the pivotal vote . Fully one-third of the pro-Van Buren delegates ( 52 of 154 ) voted to reinstate the two-thirds rule , along with 90 of 104 anti-Van Buren delegates , producing a final vote of 148 to 116 . The rule would remain in place until the 1936 Democratic National Convention , when it was revoked by supporters of Franklin D. Roosevelt
1936 Democratic National Convention
1936 Democratic National Convention
1844 Democratic National Convention