Column: Are political conventions an important part of our democracy? Or cynical infomercials for the powerful?

How did Americans wind up with the twin carnivals called political nominating conventions, and how well do they do the job? Douglas Brinkley, who’s written books about presidents Reagan, Ford, and both Roosevelts, among other volumes, takes a lap around conventions that were and might yet be.

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To read Sunday’s column, click here.

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