Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign and democratic party shift

Shirley Chisholm 1972 Presidential Campaign

Clearly it is odd that one of the most foundational black female leaders of the 20th century has almost no notoriety. Shirley Chisholm, born to poor immigrant parents in New York City in 1924, chose to develop a calling for politics during the height of the civil rights movement, and just following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. she was elected to the House of Representatives. Her election marked the first election of a black women to the House and after a significant term in the House she sought the Democratic nomination for president to run against Richard Nixon in 1972. In so doing she became the first black woman to seek such a nomination for the Democratic Party. ("Obituary: Shirley Chisholm" 13)

Chisholm's campaign was said to be notoriously grass roots and was built on popular support rather than the infamous "special interest" endorsements and funding that governed most national politics of the day and to some degree still does. A legacy building quote from a 1972 campaign brochure for Chisholm states; "No special interest groups will contribute to her campaign. So the success of her/candidacy depends upon people like you./The unbossed and the unbought." (4President.org. "Shirley Chisholm for President 1972 Campaign Brochure") Later the slogan, The unbossed and the unbought, became the title of her autobiographical work detailing her political career with special attention to her bid for the Democratic nomination, that was unsuccessful but nonetheless marked an important shift in politics and culture in the U.S. ("Chisholm, Shirley Anita St. Hill")

According to Soule and McGrath the values and standards of the Democratic party began to shift toward the liberal in an away that dominated the nominations, not enough to build universal or dominant support for Chisholm but still significantly. The authors stress that these changes may have been in large part representative of a real shift in representation among delegates between the 1968 and 1972 presidential conventions. Table 1 shows socioeconomic factors associated with the delegates of the 1968 and 1972 conventions respectively;

Socioeconomic Representation of the 1968 & 1972

Presidential) Democratic National Conventions

1970 Census%

1968 Delegates %

1972 Delegates %

Women

Blacks

Income less than $10,000

21-29 Years of Age

Soule & McGrath 503)

Though it is clear from the data that the convention delegates are not representative of the overall population they are however clearly more representative in 1972 than they had been in 1968. The socioeconomic bridge was in large part associated with the civil rights movement and more specifically with candidate options such as the nomination bid of Shirley Chisholm.

Based on a conservative/liberal ideology questionnaire from the convention and reported on by Soule & McGrath delegates to the convention reflect a clear and concise preferences associated with candidates and ideologies. Table 2 details the dominant ideologies of the delegates for the presidential nominees in 1972;

Ideology and Candidate Preference in 1972

Candidate Preference

Conservative

Liberal

McGovern (N=189)

Humphrey

N=46)

Muskie

N=20)

Jackson

N=7)

Chisholm

N=13)

Wallace

N=23)

Conclusion

It is not always clear why individuals seek to run for offices and nominations that they have little if any chance for success in, but it is clear that such situations force change. Though, as has been stressed before enduring change is much more difficult to come by and it is not uncommon for such "statements" to prove only temporary and anomalous as peers and the population chalk the situation up to the context of timely cultural challenges. Chisholm cared deeply about the changes that she wished to see occur in the Democratic party, the election system, the congress, the culture and most importantly the world and sought to challenge the status quo by putting her hat in a ring that was and continues to be dominated by men almost all of whom are white. Chisholm was clearly a pioneer who should be revered not only by other purveyors of change but by the general population of the nation, as we embrace the promised change associated with the long due election of the first black man to the presidency and look hopefully in the future toward the promises of a woman in the same office.