When the 1968 Democratic National Convention opened in Chicago , thousands of young antiwar activists from around the nation gathered in the city to protest the Vietnam War . In a clash which was covered on live television , Americans were shocked to see Chicago Police officers brutally beating anti-war protesters . While the protesters chanted " the whole world is watching " , the police used clubs and tear gas to beat back the protesters , leaving many of them bloody and dazed . The tear gas even wafted into numerous hotel suites ; in one of them Vice President Humphrey was watching the proceedings on television . Meanwhile , the convention itself was marred by the strong-arm tactics of Chicago 's mayor Richard J. Daley ( who was seen on television angrily cursing Connecticut senator Abraham Ribicoff , who made a speech at the convention denouncing the excesses of the Chicago police in the riots )
1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries