in summer 1968, he was approached by "esquire" magazine to cover the 1968 democratic national convention in chicago. southern attended the event with william s. burroughs, jean genet (a last-minute substitute for samuel beckett) and john sack, and his friend michael cooper took photographs; southern and friends were present when peaceful demonstrations erupted into savage violence after protesters were attacked by police. southern's essay on the event, was his last work published by "esquire".