Retired Journalist Looks Back on the 1968 Democratic National Convention

Fifty years ago today the Democratic National Convention in Chicago was wrapping up, after three days of violent protest, and political tensions inside the convention hall. It was all unfolding in the wake of the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr. four months before, and Robert F. Kennedy two months before. In some ways it was a turning point in American politics, and American culture. The Vietnam War was in its 13th year, and there were riots happening in more than 100 cities across the United States. Our next guest was there, reporting for WBBM/CBS radio. He’d returned from Vietnam just a year and a half before. Michael Hirsh describes himself as a "recovering journalist." He’s spent more than five decades working as a radio and television reporter and producer, among other roles. He’s also an author, and a community volunteer, including doing some volunteer reporting for WGCU.