DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: A look back at political conventions, when they still could deliver a surprise.</s>ROBERT NOVAK, "CAPITAL GANG": I've really seen the conventions change. But change, and the fact that they're much more geared to television, and much more theatrical than they used to be, and much less business is done. But they're still the only chance that all of America gets to look at the Republican Party and the Democratic Party, what they're really like.</s>BETH FOUHY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, CNN POLITICAL UNIT: In 1988, Jesse Jackson really dominated the Democratic convention, took all the spotlight away from Michael Dukakis, who was the nominee. It was very interesting. It was the convention in Atlanta. But the story was really dominated by Jesse Jackson.</s>REV. JESSE JACKSON, ACTIVIST: Keep hope alive!</s>FOUHY: I remember our -- every time Jackson went somewhere we had to be with him. We were so intent on following his every move.</s>GENE RANDALL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I do remember in 1988, which was my first convention as a floor reporter, when the word swept the convention hall that Dan Quayle was going to be George Bush's running mate.</s>RANDALL: Dan Quayle measure up at his first news conference today? or what?</s>CHARLES BIERBAUER, CNN SR. CORRESPONDENT: Probably the image that lingers in my mind was down on the levee, as George Bush came across the Mississippi on a riverboat, Dan Quayle was down there on the levee to greet him and almost leapt into his arms like a kid running to greet his dad coming home. And this was the first word that we had that Dan Quayle was officially, at that point, going to be nominated as the vice presidential candidate, the running mate.
CNN 20: CNN Remembers the 1988 Political Conventions