Republican National Convention Firsts

The first convention § June 1856: the first Republican national convention was held at Musical Fund Hall in Philadelphia. § The key plank on the party platform: opposition to the extension of slavery in new U.S. territories. § The party’s nominee for president: John C. Fremont, Musical Fund Hall a 43-year-old retired Army officer. § Abraham Lincoln was a contender for vice president, but lost out to William L. Dayton, a former senator from New Jersey. § About 600 delegates attended the convention, along with more than 100 newspaper reporters. To compare: 45,000 delegates, alternate delegates and members of the media are expected at the 2008 convention. William L. Dayton

John C. Fremont FNC Republican National Convention Firsts

Pioneering women

§ May 1960: New Covenant co-editor Mary Livermore became the first woman to cover a national political convention when she reported on the Republican meeting in Chicago.

§ June 15, 1876: Sara Andrews Spencer became the first woman to address a national political convention. She spoke in support of women’s suffrage at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

§ June 1892: Therese Jenkins and Cora Carleton of Wyoming became the first women to attend a national political convention as delegates. They served as alternates at the Republican convention in Minneapolis. Margaret Chase Smith at the 1964 convention § July 1964: At the Republican convention in San Francisco, Sen. Margaret Chase Smith of Maine became the first woman to seek a major party's nomination for president. She received 27 votes; nominee Barry Goldwater got 883.

FNC Republican National Convention Firsts

On the airwaves

§ June 1924: The Republican National Convention in Cleveland became the first convention to be broadcast on radio. About three million American homes had the technology to hear President Calvin Coolidge win the nomination.

§ June 1940: The Republican gathering in Philadelphia became the first convention to be televised, though few homes had TV sets: they would not be mass produced for another 10 years. Wendell L. Willkie of Indiana was the nominee.

§ Aug. 1968: The Republican National Convention in Miami Beach became the first convention televised in color. Richard Nixon was chosen as the party’s nominee, and 6.2 million color TV sets were sold that year.

FNC Republican National Convention Firsts

Other GOP convention firsts

§ May 1860: The Republican National Convention in Chicago was the first to admit the general public. About 10,000 people crowded into the hall, known as the Wigwam. Supporters of nominee Abraham Lincoln packed the balcony seats.

Abraham Lincoln, 1960 § Aug. 1968: The Miami Beach GOP convention was the first to be held in an island city. Because it wasn’t easily accessible by foot, planners thought the location would reduce the chances of mass protests.

FNC