Dump Trump? These 8 wild conventions show that anything is possible

Many Americans are expecting ferocity and fireworks in Cleveland. They'd have to be pretty fiery to top these crazy conventions.

Delegates set up on the floor of the 1968 Democratic National Convention
(Image credit: AP Photo)

The Anti-Masonic Party kicked off the American practice of picking a presidential nominee at a convention in December 1831. Since then, political conventions have slowly transformed from contests where party bosses, elders, and power brokers schemed and maneuvered in smoke-filled rooms to anoint their man the party's standard bearer to today's largely scripted unity parties.

But this year, you can throw out the script.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.