41.   Domestically, NBC devoted less time than its competitors to the national political conventions, the presidential campaign and the Whitewater investigation.

42.   Democrats have said the hearings should end in June so as not to interfere with the political conventions.

43.   Democrats say these and other touches make this the most cyberspace-friendly political convention ever held.

44.   Dick Zander saw it all before, when a national political convention was more an expression of the national mindset than a hollow television show.

45.   Evidently, there are now enough of us to justify the kind of coverage that the networks have trouble extending to political conventions.

46.   For at least two decades, the high points of political conventions have been foregone conclusions, plotted as much for television viewers as for the delegates.

47.   For more than a century, in fact, protesters at political conventions were sometimes tolerated, but more often harassed and arrested.

48.   For Philip Morris, the imminent political conventions are not so much about nominating presidential candidates and building party loyalty as they are about, well, macaroni.

49.   Friends recall watching national political conventions in the Herman living room, her father providing commentary.

50.   For the Bushes, national political conventions have become family reunions.