Self-portrait, U.S.A.

by David Douglas Duncan

Sub-titled "the National Conventions, Miami Beach and Chicago, this large format book presents 325 photographs in sheet-fed gravure. Before publishing this book, David Douglas Duncan was renowned for his photographs of the Vietnam War. In covering the Republican and Democratic conventions, Duncan used the same sensibilities, capturing the bloody conflict in Chicago and the bizarre carnival-like atmosphere of Miami Beach to great effect. Through his lenses, the tumult and pageantry of the 1968 political conventions are reborn.

Genres: Photography, History

Paperback

First published January 1, 1970

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The huge, high-quality photographs in this book cover the 1968 Republican convention in Miami Beach and the Democratic convention in Chicago. Duncan descended into the fray to capture the spirit of America in what will be remembered as the two last great political conventions. I wish I could reproduce even one of the pictures here, because a thousand words would not begin to describe the vitality and immediacy of these portraits in time. For anyone who has (or wants to) read Norman Mailer's Miami and the Siege of Chicago, this book serves as a photographic sidekick. Duncan does with photography what Mailer does with words.

[Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly intimate portraits from an interesting time.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another hidden gem found while shelf reading. To say these photographs are fantastic would be a bit of an understatement. Duncan's black and white photos, accompanied by sparse, but insightful, commentary make the two 1968 conventions come alive. I particularity liked Duncan's more candid shots, as I feel like that is where he really shines and makes these events more human and less political circus event. Good examples of these are the shots of delegates from both conventions during speeches, numerous rapid fire type shots of Nixon from a press conference, Dick Eisenhower and Jackie Nixon forgetting there are others in the room, wounded war vets from Vietnam in a Chicago area Naval hospital, and the McCarthy supporters after the police riot. Worth seeking out and getting your hands on a copy. You won't be disappointed.