The Democrats' return to Chicago in 2024 draws political parallels with 1968.

The whole world is watching.

The Democrats are holding their quadrennial political convention in Chicago this week, where they will choose Vice President Harris as their 2024 presidential candidate.

The mantra "the whole world is watching" is from 1968.

In 1968, demonstrators who opposed the Vietnam War descended on the Democratic convention in Chicago. They fought with delegates, reporters, and police, and their protests were broadcast live on television.

The 1968 Democratic convention was the most volatile in American history.

The Democratic Party is facing a challenge in avoiding controversies this year due to the ongoing anti-Israel protests.

As they said in 1968, the world is watching.

Political observers were already comparing 2024 to 1968 before the demonstrations, as Democrats planned to hold their convention in Chicago. The comparisons intensified after the announcement.

In 1968, American society underwent significant changes. The year was marked by political upheaval and social unrest, resulting in a tumultuous atmosphere. 1968 was a pivotal moment in history, with events unfolding in a short period of time, leaving a lasting impact on society.

Although 2024 may not surpass 1968, its turmoil is particularly noteworthy amidst other recent years marked by tumult and upheaval.

In 1968, President Lyndon Baines Johnson was besieged by Vietnam. Despite this, Republicans won three Senate seats and 47 House seats in the 1966 midterms. Johnson may have lost political support, but he never lost his political acumen. Despite barely winning the 1968 Democratic primary in New Hampshire, Johnson knew what to do.

In 2024, Johnson, like President Biden, did not formally contest New Hampshire and ran as a write-in. The only true competition for Mr. Biden in the primary was Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. The party heavily criticized Phillips for challenging the President, attacking suggestions that the President was not fit for another term.

In 1968, Johnson received less than 50% of the vote in New Hampshire against Sen. Eugene McCarthy.

In March 1968, Johnson resigned, although he was anxious about the political implications.

In a legendary Oval Office address, Johnson declared that he would not allow the Presidency to be involved in the partisan divisions that were emerging during that political year.

In late June, President Biden's words mirrored Johnson's when he decided to withdraw from the race following a poor debate with Trump.

The President stated that the best way to unite the nation is by passing the torch to a new generation.

The assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. led to widespread riots and marked 1968 as a year of political violence.

Robert F. Kennedy won the California and South Dakota primaries two months later, and he celebrated his victory at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

Kennedy's statement, "My thanks to all of you. And now it’s on to Chicago and let’s win there," foreshadowed the challenges that awaited Democrats.

Sirhan Sirhan, a pro-Palestinian anti-Zionist, fired multiple shots at Kennedy from behind an ice machine in a hotel kitchen. He opposed Kennedy's support for Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

The ongoing Middle East conflict has replaced the Vietnam conflict as the dominant conflict of the 1960s.

But there are other similarities.

In 1968, George Wallace, a former governor of Alabama, ran as a third-party candidate.

In 2024, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenges Vice President Harris and former President Trump.

In 2024, there will be political violence, as a gunman nearly killed Mr. Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania last month.

Once President Biden abandoned his re-election bid, Democrats quickly pivoted to Harris.

In 1968, Democrats shifted their support to another vice president, Hubert Humphrey, as their presidential candidate.

This week in Chicago, Democrats officially support Harris during their convention, which was the most disgraceful on record.

According to Luke Nichter, a professor at Chapman University who has written about 1968, the Democrats are expected to have an unusually turbulent convention in Chicago unless they were specifically seeking this comparison.

Inside the hall, security guards roughed up CBS correspondent Dan Rather on the floor while protesters scuffled with police outside.

Walter Cronkite, a renowned CBS anchor, was displeased with how authorities treated his colleague.

On the air, Cronkite stated, "I believe we have a group of ruffians present, Dan."

Tension gurgled between Democratic delegates over Vietnam.

"If George McGovern had been President of the United States, we wouldn't need Gestapo tactics in Chicago's streets," said Sen. Abe Ribicoff, D-Conn., referring to the anti-war senator.

McGovern would have to wait until 1972 to secure the Democratic nomination.

The echoes of 1968 worry Democrats ahead of this year’s convention.

"From a legal and political perspective, it is crucial to do the right things to ensure everyone's safety. As Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill, stated, 'We want everyone to be safe. And I'm holding my breath.' It is imperative that law enforcement at every level, including local, state, and federal, provide assurance that they are prepared for this. I pray that they are ready as well."

It is uncertain whether disturbances and civil unrest may replace the convention narrative.

"Nichter stated that, like in 1968, the media's coverage of the protesters will greatly influence the outcome. He added that the media's portrayal of the protesters, whether it glorifies their actions and turns them into celebrities, will play a significant role in determining the outcome of the convention."

However, 1968 wasn’t the last time Democrats convened in Chicago.

In 1996, the Democrats nominated Bill Clinton for a second term in Chicago. However, this is not what most people recall.

In 1996, a pop cultural phenomenon consumed the convention.

The Macarena dance became a popular trend among Democrats during the 2000 presidential election, with Los del Rio and the Bayside Boys' electronic tones filling the Chicago United Center. Thousands of Democrats would dance to the rhythm on the floor, stage, and aisles, with the Democratic National Committee even publishing an animation on their website to teach the moves.

In 1996, the Macarena remained at the top of the Billboard chart for an incredible three-and-a-half months.

In the fall, the Macarena was slipping on the pop charts, but former President Clinton easily defeated late Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., and regained the presidency.

In 1968, President Richard Nixon defeated Humphrey.

The Democrats aim for their 2024 convention to resemble the 1996 convention rather than the 1968 convention.

But win or lose, they probably won’t perform the Macarena.