2008 Democratic National Convention

By Chris Bragg
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

At the tender political age of 36, Williams Jennings Bryan already had a national reputation as a stellar public speaker. But being dubbed “The Boy Orator of the Prairie” by newspapers did little to improve his chance of political success.

By Stephanie Clary
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The Bonfils Blood Center took donations outside the State Capitol building Monday, July 28, and announced it is increasing its efforts to make sure enough blood is on hand during the Democratic National Convention.

By Stephanie Clary
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Former NBC news anchor Tom Brokaw, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Hollywood hunk Ben Affleck are among those the Denver 2008 Convention Host Committee will bring together for its series of roundtable discussions during the Democratic National Convention.

By Chris Bragg
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

All Thomas Gore had to do was casually mention the name of Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan in a speech, and delegates at the 1908 Democratic Convention in Denver broke into an 87-minute frenzy. The blind U.S. senator from Oklahoma never regained control of the floor as 15,000 men hooted, hollered and danced on press tables, singing “Dixie” until 3:40 a.m.

By Janet Simons
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The name “Recreate 68” has been a problem from the start for the group’s co-founders: Barbara Cohen, her husband, Mark Cohen, and Glenn Spagnuolo, who often serves as the group’s spokesman.

“We all agreed the name would get attention,” said Barbara Cohen, recalling the moment the group decided what to call itself.

By Stephanie Clary
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

The transformation of the Pepsi Center into a convention hall is well on track, according to the Democratic National Convention Committee.

“I have the great pleasure to tell you we’re ahead of schedule,” said DNCC director of technology Brook Colangelo in a July 14 media walk-through of the venue. He noted that 3,300 miles of fiber optics are in place, and more than 20 servers will soon be installed in a former sporting equipment storage area.

By Stephanie Clary
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Marketing specialist Judith Thomas had lots of questions about the logistics surrounding the Democratic National Convention in August, and she had hoped to find some answers at “Convention Conversations,” a June 10 community forum at the LoDo Tattered Cover.