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July 16, 1988 – Two days before the 1988 Democratic Convention in Atlanta, where Michael Dukakis was expected to get the official nod in the Presidential race. Along with running-mate Lloyd Bentsen, hopes were high the Democrats would take the White House in November. But with every convention, the pre-convention maneuvering and haggling was where the real action was. High on the agenda was mending fences with the Jesse Jackson Rainbow Coalition. Jackson, an active campaigner for President, was dismayed with Dukakis chose Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen as his running mate, excluding Jackson from consideration and causing many within the party to question the decision, along with the fear of losing the African-American vote come November.
So these two days before the Convention, it was angling, arguing, demanding and negotiating a platform which would bring all the disparate elements together – extolling the virtues of party unity in the face of a common opposition and getting things on track before the opening gavel fell in Atlanta on Monday.
There was other news, other events taking place in other parts of the world. In Managua, leaders of the Nicaraguan Contras were slated to meet in the Dominican Republic to try and resolve differences said to triggered by the reduction in U.S. aid as well as factional disagreements. Some observers said the situation was threatening to split the rebels, an assessment Contra leader Adolfo Colero saw as off the mark. In Nicaragua, a radio station and opposition newspaper were closed down with opposition leaders arrested and several U.S. diplomats as well as the American Ambassador to Nicaragua expelled. Calero asserted the government was trying to back away from a peaceful settlement with the Contras.
And Secretary of State George Schulz was in South Korea this day, nearing the end of his latest diplomatic journey. South Korean officials welcomed Schulz amid heavy security with military helicopters hovering over his motorcade as he traveled from a tightly guarded military airport to the tightly guarded site of the upcoming Summer Olympics. South Korean officials were hoping he brought renewed assurances from China that North Korea won’t create any incidents during the games. North Korea had alleged the U.S. and South Korea were using the Olympics as an excuse for an arms buildup.
And that’s a small sample of what was going on, this July 16th, 1988 as reported by The CBS World News Roundup.
