--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So the result was that as one approached…" description: "\"So the result was that as one approached a political convention for most of the 19th century and for most of the 20th century until the 1960's, part of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/michael-beschloss-13530_19th-century_so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached_1445993.jpg" --- # So the result was that as one approached a political… ![“So the result was that as one approached a political convention for most of the 19th century and for most of the 20th century until the 1960's, part of the drama was the fact that you didn't know ultimately who was going to be the nominee at the end of that convention week.” quote by Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/michael-beschloss-13530_19th-century_so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached_1445993.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/michael-beschloss-13530_19th-century_so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached_1445993.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/michael-beschloss-13530_19th-century_so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached_1445993.jpg) > “So the result was that as one approached a political convention for most of the 19th century and for most of the 20th century until the 1960's, part of the drama was the fact that you didn't know ultimately who was going to be the nominee at the end of that convention week.” [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historically, political conventions were uncertain events where the nominee was not known until the end of the week. **In simple terms:** Conventions used to be unpredictable about nominees. Key Takeaway Expect uncertainty in political processes. Themes politics history uncertainty Mood analytical historical Type explanatory informative When to use this quote - campaign planning - media coverage - voter expectations Key Concepts democratic processes party dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How has the shift to primary elections altered conventions? - What are the implications of reduced uncertainty? A Different Perspective Modern primaries have reduced this uncertainty, changing the convention’s role. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [19th century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/19th-century/) [20th century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20th-century/) [Approached Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approached-political-5187294/) [Century](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/century/) [Convention 19Th](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convention-19th-5187296/) [Convention Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/convention-week-5187295/) [Drama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drama/) [Nominee End](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nominee-end-5187297/) [Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political/) [Political Convention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-convention-2539438/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [If Donald Trump is our nominee, it could be the end of the Republican Party. It will split us and splinter us in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/if-donald-trump-is-our-nominee-it-could-be-the-end-of-the-republican/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [A political convention is not a place where you can come away with any trace of faith in human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-kempton/a-political-convention-is-not-a-place-where-you-can-come-away-with/) [Murray Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-kempton/) > [The initial attraction of a political convention was that often the outcome was not preordained. There was at least some element of surprise. But,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/the-initial-attraction-of-a-political-convention-was-that-often-the/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [If somebody's dumb enough to ask me to go to a political convention and say something, they're going to have to take what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-somebody-s-dumb-enough-to-ask-me-to-go-to-a-political-convention/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [A political convention is after all not a meeting of a corporation's board of directors; it is a fiesta, a carnival, a pig-rooting, horse-snorting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/a-political-convention-is-after-all-not-a-meeting-of-a-corporation-s/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [Our democracy, our culture, our whole way of life is a spectacular triumph of the blah. Why not have a political convention without politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/our-democracy-our-culture-our-whole-way-of-life-is-a-spectacular/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [When you go to a political convention, the best place to spend time is at the numerous parties put on by lobbyists. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-navarro/when-you-go-to-a-political-convention-the-best-place-to-spend-time-is/) [Peter Navarro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-navarro/) > [A political convention is just not a place where you come away with any trace of faith in human nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-kempton/a-political-convention-is-just-not-a-place-where-you-come-away-with/) [Murray Kempton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-kempton/) > [As parties began to develop around the turn of the 19th century, you had party nominees for President nominated in caucuses made up of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/as-parties-began-to-develop-around-the-turn-of-the-19th-century-you/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [By tracing the careers of the four members of the Philosophical Breakfast Club, Laura Snyder has found a wonderful way not just to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-standage/by-tracing-the-careers-of-the-four-members-of-the-philosophical/) [Tom Standage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-standage/) > [Like the railroads that brought us together in the 19th century, these trails will bring us together in the 20th and 21st centuries. (at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/like-the-railroads-that-brought-us-together-in-the-19th-century-these/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Then years back, when I moved to California, I happened to see a book about fashions of 19th-century Victorian England, only four pages of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-years-back-when-i-moved-to-california-i-happened-to-see-a-book/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Washington was no politician as we understand the word," replied Ratcliffe abruptly. "He stood outside of politics. The thing couldn't be done today. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/washington-was-no-politician-as-we-understand-the-word-replied/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Nineteenth-century English literature I know; 19th-century sewage systems, not so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/nineteenth-century-english-literature-i-know-19th-century-sewage/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [Though my grandmother had picked up modern ideas in America, she still had some conflicting 19th-century Irish notions. She believed that daughters, educated though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosemary-mahoney/though-my-grandmother-had-picked-up-modern-ideas-in-america-she-still/) [Rosemary Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosemary-mahoney/) ## More by Michael Beschloss > [Under the system that we now have to nominate presidential candidates, for instance, I would prefer that we have a system that is closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/under-the-system-that-we-now-have-to-nominate-presidential-candidates/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [Mrs. Johnson was one of our most important First Ladies. Quietly but firmly, she advised LBJ on rhetoric, strategy, and personal relations and helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/mrs-johnson-was-one-of-our-most-important-first-ladies-quietly-but/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [ As you look back in history, we \[the United States\] have done wonderful things, the Marshal Plan is the most obvious. After World War… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/as-you-look-back-in-history-we-the-united-states-have-done-wonderful/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [You really do live through someone's life when you hear him six hours a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/you-really-do-live-through-someone-s-life-when-you-hear-him-six-hours/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [Whether history will view Ronald Reagan as a great president depends, more than anything else, on one question: how much credit does he deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/whether-history-will-view-ronald-reagan-as-a-great-president-depends/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [Legacy is what a president does that affects later generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/legacy-is-what-a-president-does-that-affects-later-generations/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [From the beginning of the presidential nominating conventions in the 1830's really through the 1950's, you had conventions that actually did real business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/from-the-beginning-of-the-presidential-nominating-conventions-in-the/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [So if 1960 had occurred under the old convention system, Kennedy would have had a very hard time getting the Democratic nomination because he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/so-if-1960-had-occurred-under-the-old-convention-system-kennedy-would/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [During his last 18 months in office, Eisenhower flew to Asia, Europe, and Latin America and deployed his war hero's popularity to seek new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/during-his-last-18-months-in-office-eisenhower-flew-to-asia-europe/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [The Founding Fathers would be sorry to see that America had become so divided and factionalized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/the-founding-fathers-would-be-sorry-to-see-that-america-had-become-so/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [Anyone who writes anything on any subject is standing on the shoulders of 900 people who've come before you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/anyone-who-writes-anything-on-any-subject-is-standing-on-the/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [To people who remember JFK's assassination, JFK Jr. will probably always be that boy saluting his father's coffin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/to-people-who-remember-jfk-s-assassination-jfk-jr-will-probably/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [The original thing that fascinated me most was why we expect leaders, and especially presidents, at times to destroy themselves - and that's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/the-original-thing-that-fascinated-me-most-was-why-we-expect-leaders/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan each suffered through his second four years. 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The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/washington-was-no-politician-as-we-understand-the-word-replied/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [Then years back, when I moved to California, I happened to see a book about fashions of 19th-century Victorian England, only four pages of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-years-back-when-i-moved-to-california-i-happened-to-see-a-book/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Like the railroads that brought us together in the 19th century, these trails will bring us together in the 20th and 21st centuries. 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Luddites were those frenzied traditionalists of the early 19th century who toured \[England\] wrecking new weaving machines on the theory that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-michener/luddites-were-those-frenzied-traditionalists-of-the-early-19th/) [James A. 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I don't think that today's women see motherhood as a source…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-wright/an-ethic-of-maternalism-was-central-to-the-utopianism-of-19th-century/) [Clare Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-wright/) [Browse all 383 19th century quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/19th-century/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "So the result was that as one approached a political convention for most of the 19th century and for most of the 20th century until the 1960's, part of the drama was the fact that you didn't know ultimately who was going to be the nominee at the end of that convention week.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Beschloss" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached-a-political-convention-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "19th century" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached-a-political-convention-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/michael-beschloss-13530_19th-century_so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached_1445993.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/michael-beschloss-13530_19th-century_so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached_1445993.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/18c/michael-beschloss-13530_19th-century_so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached_1445993.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“So the result was that as one approached a political convention for most of the 19th century and for most of…” — Michael Beschloss", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michael Beschloss", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "So the result was that as...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached-a-political-convention-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/so-the-result-was-that-as-one-approached-a-political-convention-for/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```