6 Reasons Why You Should Fall In Love with Political Convention Tickets

With the primaries now officially wrapped up and the major conventions just around the corner, we here at PMG thought it would be appropriate to talk about the marvels of political convention tickets.

Below are six reasons why you should fall in love with political convention tickets.

1. The tickets are only offered once every four years.

It’s common knowledge that United States comes together every four years to vote for the next president. Some may not know that there are more then two parties. A bit of trivia: The first third party presidential nominee to win the election? Abraham Lincoln – from the Republican Party. Also, that was only the second presidential election where the Republican Party had a candidate on the national ticket.

2. Tickets can be collected by parties that have won office.

Ohio, Cincinnati, Admit One - Republican National Convention, June 15, 1876 Second Session, front Click image to enlarge.

Ohio, Cincinnati, Admit One - Republican National Convention, June 15, 1876 Second Session, back Click image to enlarge.

The ticket pictured above is from 1876, a presidential election that has been described as the most controversial in American history. Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler barely beat Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks by 1 electoral vote – 185 to 184. However, Tilden/Hendricks did receive more of the popular vote by 3 full percentage points.

3. Or collected by those who have lost.

New York, New York, Admit One - National Democratic Convention, July 4, 1868, front Click image to enlarge.

New York, New York, Admit One - National Democratic Convention, July 4, 1868, back Click image to enlarge.

The 1868 Democratic Convention nominated Horatio Seymour, for President, and Francis P. Blair, for Vice President. This duo went on to lose to Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax by a wide margin. Grant/Colfax obtained 214 of the 294 electoral votes.

4. There are so many different varieties of tickets. Virtually every ticket has multiple days; press passes, different sessions, seating assignment and delegates to collect. Some tickets can still be found in their original booklets.

Tickets in their original booklet Click image to enlarge.

5. So many off-the-wall parties had conventions that are often forgotten about because of the strength and recognition of both the Republican and Democratic parties.

Illinois, Chicago, Admit One - Independence Party National Convention, July 28, 1908 Day Session, front Click image to enlarge.

Illinois, Chicago, Admit One - Independence Party National Convention, July 28, 1908 Day Session, back Click image to enlarge.

The Independence Party was founded in 1905 and dissolved by 1914. They only produced one convention in their tenure – the 1908 election. This party nominated Thomas L. Hisgen, of Massachusetts, and John Temple Graves, of Georgia, for President and Vice-President respectively. The main sponsor of this party was none other then millionaire publisher William Randolph Hearst. Hisgen/Graves won less than one percent of the popular vote that year. Both the Socialist and Prohibition parties received more votes than Hisgen/Graves. On a positive note, they were able to beat out the Populist, Socialist Labor, and the write in votes.

Missouri, St. Louis, Admit One - People's Party National Convention, July 22, 1896 2nd Day Only, front Click image to enlarge.

Missouri, St. Louis, Admit One - People's Party National Convention, July 22, 1896 2nd Day Only, back Click image to enlarge.

An interesting event occurred in 1896. The People’s Party (also known as the Populist Party) nominated William Jennings Bryan from Nebraska as their candidate for president. The interesting part was that Bryan was also the nominee for the Democratic Party and the Silver Party. Bryan had two different running mates: Arthur Sewall and Thomas E. Watson. Sewall was the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, while Watson was the People’s Party Vice Presidential nominee. Bryan/Sewall/Watson went on to lose the 1896 election 176 electoral votes to William McKinley’s 271. Bryan went on to be nominated by the Democratic Party for President in 1900 and 1908 only to come in second both times.

6. Historically political conventions carry a lot of weight and are very important. One of the most historical conventions was the 1960 Democratic convention in Los Angeles. This is where Senator John F. Kennedy gave his acceptance speech.

Democratic National Convention, Acceptance Speech Program, General Admission, July 15, 1960, front Click image to enlarge.

These are the six reasons to fall in love with political convention tickets. They are deep rooted in history and are interesting pieces to acquire. PMG encapsulates these political tickets among various other types of numismatic and historic convention tickets.

PMG is an independent member of the Certified Collectibles Group (CCG).