DEMS TO BRAVE CHICAGO IN '96

It's all but a done deal that the Democratic Party will hold its 1996 presidential convention in Chicago, its first there since Yippie riots over Vietnam and delegates' turmoil marred the '68 nomination of Hubert Humphrey. An aide to Mayor Richard Daley, whose father held office the last time around, told TIME Chicago correspondent Julie Grace the decision is a matter of wrapping up a few easy details. Chicago bid $32 million to be the host, beating out rivals New York City, New Orleans and San Antonio, Texas, for a possible $100 million economic return. Grace says David Wilhelm, a former operative of Daley's and now Democratic National Committee chair, was the key to getting his hometown on the list. More important, the Daley clan helped President Clinton win the crucial Illinois primary in 1992, and he'll need them even more next time.