On August 28, 1968, at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, thousands of Vietnam War protesters battle police in the streets, while the Democratic Party erputed over an internal disagreement concerning its stance on Vietnam.
Over the course of 24 hours, the predominant American line of thought on the Cold War with the Soviet Union was shattered.
Democratic delegates from across the country were split on the question of Vietnam.
A faction led by Eugene McCarthy, a committed anti-war candidate, began to challenge the long-held assumption that the United States should remain in the war.
As the debate intensified, fights broke out on the convention floor, and delegates and reporters were beaten and knocked to the ground.
Eventually, the delegates on the side of the status quo, championed by then-Vice President Hubert Humphrey, won out, but the events of the convention had seriously weakened the party, which went on to lose the following election.
Jim on History heads to the convention floor where NBC News correspondent John Chancellor finds himself in the middle of a delegate fight.
WATCH: Jim on History, ’68 Democratic Convention Chaos: