Elephants, girls in bikinis, and bathtubs full of beer: Stunning Life magazine photos document the drama, politics, and pageantry of the Republican National Convention




The Republican National Convention’s purpose has always been twofold – serving as the GOP’s big rallying point, and of course as a springboard to officially nominate the party’s chosen man as their presidential candidate.

But in the mid-twentieth century, those on the stump relied as much on their political prowess as crowd-pleasing theatrics. At the 1968 RNC in Miami Beach, Florida, for instance, an elephant was brought in, and was ridden by two brave young women.

Throughout the decad es, Life maga zine has captured memorable moments from the right-wing political gathering, from the tense to the absurd, and everything in between.



Grand old party: Two brave women mount an elephant at the 1968 Republican National Convention in Miami Beach, Florida to nominate Richard Nixon

Signs of the times: Left, two young women pose with a placard that reads 'Stick with Ike,' dresses made from Dwight Eisenhower campaign stickers and pink tutus,' at the 1956 RNC; right, a Go-Go girl with political stickers dances on table-top among celebrating delegates the 1968 event



Campaign tchotchke: Two Nixon supporters attend the event, complete with boat hats, ribbons, and political buttons, enjoying the scenery and talking

These black and white pictures show the convention from 1940 to 1968, covering the nominations of Wendell Willkie in Philadelphia to Richard Nixon in Miami Beach.

Included in the photographs are notable GOP figures such as Nixon, Dewey, and Goldwater. A young Ronald Reagan can also be seen at a convention, as can MLK.

But the convention wasn't just a means of officially nominating the presumptive candidate. It was - and remains - an opportunity for those exhausted from the campaign trail to let loose for several days, and enjoy the ride.



Famous faces: Richard Nixon, left, and his wife Pat, centre,, talking with photographers during the 1952 convention, left, and right, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (centre) leading a demonstration for strong Civil Rights plank in the GOP campaign platform in 1960



A sea of signs: During the 1968 convention, the crowd proudly displayed posters supporting Nixon

Dewey or don't we: Delegates at the RNC carrying placards for Thomas E. Dewey, nominee for President; Representative Joe Martin stands at rostrum

Behind the scenes: A room full of CBS media operators can be seen directing the convention, utilising all the technology 1952 had to offer

Characters: Left, Ronald Regan, who was still an actor at the time of the 1964 convention would be himself nominated two decades later; right, delegate Bertha Baur looks in small mirror at her elephant hat which she thinks will bring luck at convention; she had worn a new elephant hat for every convention

