Greatest Democratic Convention Speech?

[Zomby Woof]

So many to choose from. Many I may have overlooked. Tell us your favorite!

I saw the Cuomo speech live, and was so upset that I was a few months too young to vote in '84.

Saw Jordan's 1992 speech as well.

And of course, tonight's excellent speeches by Carter and Clinton.

[jobycom]

1. Jesse Jackson, 1988. Common Ground

segment:

I know people saying you're nothing and nobody, and can never be anything. I understand.

I wasn't born in the hospital. Mama didn't have insurance. I really do understand. Born in a three-room house, bathroom in the backyard, slop jar by the bed, no hot and cold running water. I understand. Wallpaper used for decoration? No. For a windbreaker.

I understand work. I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I had a shovel programmed for my hand. My mother, a working woman. So many days she went to work early with runs in her stockings. She knew better, but she wore runs in her stockings so that my brother and I could have matching socks and not be laughed at at school.

I understand. At 3 o'clock on Thanksgiving Day we couldn't eat turkey because mama was preparing someone else's turkey at 3 o'clock. Around 6 o'clock she would get off the Alta Vista bus; then we would bring up the leftovers and eat our turkey -- leftovers, the carcass, the cranberries around 8 o'clock at night. I really do understand.

Every one of these funny labels they put on you, those of you who are watching this broadcast tonight in the projects, on the corners, I understand. Call you outcast, low down, you can't make it, you're nothing, you're from nobody, subclass, underclass -- when you see Jesse Jackson, when my name goes in nomination, your name goes in nomination.

I was born in the slum, but the slum was not born in me. And it wasn't born in you, and you can make it. Hold your head high, stick your chest out. You can make it. It gets dark sometimes, but the morning comes. Don't you surrender. Suffering breeds character. Character breeds faith. In the end faith will not disappoint.

You must not surrender. You may or may not get there, but just know that you're qualified and you hold on and hold out. We must never surrender. America will get better and better. Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive. On tomorrow night and beyond, keep hope alive.

[theshadow]

2. I was 9 years old....

... in 1964. Forty years later, I still remember John Pastore's keynote speech. It was rousing, fiery. It brought the delegates to their feet. I wish I could find a film of it. He was incredible.

[stevedeshazer]

14. Same age as you

I don't remember it, but I'd love to see it.

[LSdemocrat]

3. In terms of beating expectations: Gore's 2000 speech

Although best standalone speech probably Bill's 2004, followed by Cuomo's 1984 speech.

[Rowdyboy]

4. Oh for Christ's sake people, the Cross of Gold Speech is a classic

This is not your average convention speech, it is a defining historical statement.

[Zomby Woof]

5. he hung his arms out, crucifix-style at the end

It makes one wish Edison had been born 10 years earlier, or we had a time machine.

[ashling]

6. Unfortunately ,

I didn't hear that one :evilgrin:

but I did hear Dr. Ross H. Moore do an excerpt from it in American History.

I grew up listening to great Democratic Convention Speeches. Who says conventions are obsolete?

:dem:

[Rowdyboy]

8. Dr Moore was one of a kind

He taught my senior thesis class at Millsaps

Did you know that Ross spent all but 3 or 4 years of his LONG life living on Millsaps campus? He was born there and died there, being away for only a short time.

[ashling]

10. I knew that he had been there

one heck of a long time. He WAS Millsaps in a very real sense. I loved doing oral book reports for him.

He started teaching history there in 1927. In Hist 201-2 he read sample questions from previous exams he had given like on the rise of facism - they were current events when he originally gave them. Fascinating.

MacLevaine told me that the day he died Dr. Laney went by to pick him up to bring him to the campus and he was sitting slumped over in his chair with his umbrella.

On another note, I hope to be there for homecoming this year.

[Rowdyboy]

11. Its an off year for me, (class of 1976) but if you get here for home-

comng, we'll show you a good time.

[theshadow]

16. Here Are Links To The Speech

Text:
http://douglassarchives.org/brya_a26.htm

Audio excerpt:
http://www.albany.edu/history/LaborAudio/wjbryan1896-288.ram

I got these from this amazing site:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/

[NewJeffCT]

20. agreed

One of the all-time greats that will still be talked about 100 years from now in history textbooks. I think Cuomo's speech will be remembered as well, but not to the degree of Bryan's.

[Va Lefty]

7. Ted Kennedy's 1980 Concession Speech

For me, several hours ago, this campaign ended. For all those whose cares have been our concerns, the work goes on, the cause endures and the dream shall never die.

[newyawker99]

21. Hi Va Lefty!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tokenlib]

9. Jesse Jackson 1984

The line about "I would much rather have Roosevelt in a wheelchair than Reagan on a horse." I thought it was an incredible speech along with the Cuomo speech..
It brings tears to my eyes reading it today--because so much of it is so relevant with the return of "trickle down" tax cuts.

[Jackson4Gore]

12. Al Gore

When he talked about his sister and the use of tobacco.

[MrBenchley]

17. Amen to that...

He and Cuomo were great!

[Jackson4Gore]

37. Here is the Gore speech video from '96

http://www.mediaresearch.org/rm/realitycheck/1999/conventiongore/segment1.ram

[Zomby Woof]

39. I think Cuomo's speech

Was my first conscious realization I identified with the Dems far more than the Repubs.

When I went to college the following year, it was full-blown activism for me. Have never voted Repub once.

[stevedeshazer]

13. That Cuomo speech was the best I've ever seen

Tonight's speeches were great, but Mario Cuomo put forth the greatest testimonial for liberalism I have ever heard.

Here's a link to it: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/cuomo1984dnc.htm

:toast:

[althecat]

15. Shame he is a gangster then...

[DWolper]

38. Excuse me?

Are you suggesting Mario Cuomo has/had ties to organized crime? Shame on you! That's pretty serious and there is not a shred of evidence. To the contrary, as Governor of New York, he was not well liked by La Cosa Nostra. Cuomo is one of two Democrats I think, along with Hubert Humphrey, who never was - but should have been - president. Meaning, of course, without regard to opponent. Two men who were destined to be president, but alas, unfortunately never made it.

[JerseygirlCT]

18. It's close; last night's Clinton speech was pretty good!

But I will always remember Cuomo's speech in '84. Wow. Elegant, so well delivered, and right to the heart of what was wrong then -- and is still so wrong again today.

But I don't think it need take anything away from Clinton's smart, politically brilliant speech last night!

[mastein]

19. I still believe in a place called Hope

vaulted Clinton into a lead he never gave up. Easily the Speech of the Decade. Jordan was beyond moving on Monday night that year as the keynote, and I missed seeing her give a speech this year (She was the voice of God, may she rest in pecace.) but Clinton changed history and the American Psyche with his speech in 92.

[Zomby Woof]

22. Night #2 Kick

[elf]

23. Obama 2004

no question about it, right time, right reason, turning at least some undecided to vote democratic..........

[Zomby Woof]

24. it's a keeper

I am not prepared to say the best ever, but certainly deserves mention in the annals. :thumbsup:

He truly, truly impressed me, and veteran DUers know I do not impress easily.

[Catshrink]

25. Don't forget Ann Richards' "Where was George?"

Poor George, he was born with a silver foot in his mouth.

[Zomby Woof]

26. classic!!!!

Can you imagine a conversation with her and Molly Ivins??? :D

[Catshrink]

27. That would be so awesome to listen to!

Two beautiful strong women from Texas!

[PVnRT]

28. William Jennings Bryan

Yeah, he didn't like evolution being taught, and granted, the "Cross of Gold" speech is about coining of silver (which was a huge issue at the turn of the century), but this speech will give you chills if you read it.

Link to speech

"Mr. Carlisle said in 1878 that this was a struggle between "the idle holders of idle capital" and "the struggling masses, who produce the wealth and pay the taxes of the country"; and, my friends, the question we are to decide is: Upon which side will the Democratic party fight; upon the side of "the idle holders of idle capital" or upon the side of "the struggling masses"? That is the question which the party must answer first, and then it must be answered by each individual hereafter. The sympathies of the Democratic party, as shown by the platform, are on the side of the struggling masses who have ever been the foundation of the Democratic party. There are two ideas of government. There are those who believe that, if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous, their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests upon them."

"Burn down your cities and leave our farms, and your cities will spring up again as if by magic; but destroy our farms and the grass will grow in the streets of every city in the country."

"Having behind us the producing masses of this nation and the world, supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests and the toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold."

[Zomby Woof]

29. that is why I listed it first

And of course, in that era, conventions still decided nominees in the most heated of fashion. It was a barnburner, or "donnybrook" as they used to say.

Fundie nutcase he was, a brilliant orator and I imagine what great theater the Scopes Trial was, although I would have been pulling for Darrow.

[PVnRT]

30. I find the first paragraph I quoted

Very, very topical to our own time. Funny, that.

[Zomby Woof]

31. and has ever been so

You are correct.

Also, stupid me, saying "great drama", and then remembering someone already had that idea and called it "Inherit The Wind". :eyes: D'oh!

[sir_captain]

32. Honestly now

why are so many people voting for Clinton last night? I mean, it was fine, but compared to the great speeches of the last 40-50 years, it was really lightweight. I guess from this list, I'd have to go with Mario Cuomo's speech, which I think is probably the best political speech of my lifetime...

But there are plenty more--LBJ and JFK should be on this list as well.

[Zomby Woof]

33. the polls are finite in options

and there is a reason I asked for other choices... :eyes:

[sir_captain]

35. Yeah I know

I just don't understand how so many people could pick Clinton's speech over brilliance like Cuomo's :-)

[DWolper]

34. Kennedy 1980 / Cuomo 1984

These are the two best in the modern era. Kennedy's (1980) was so incredibly well delivered with determinate passion, and it absolutely electrified the floor. In fact, if it had been an open convention, David Brinkley told a national television audience, "I have no doubt, after that speech, if this convention was thrown open - Senator Kennedy would be the nominee." Nobody else doubted it either. Carter's speech at that convention in 1980 was lackluster at best.

The Cuomo speech (1984) was a well crafted speech that was a throwback to old-style convention eloquence.

The Clinton speech was very good - but it doesn't come close to those two.

[Zomby Woof]

36. 1980 was the first I watched fully

Caught pieces of '72, both parties, too young to recall '68... and was overseas without TV in '76.

Haven't missed a one since '80. I remember Carter's "Hubert Horatio Hornblower....HUMPHREY!" gaffe.

[Jack Rabbit]

40. You shall not press down upon the brow of labor this crown of thorns

You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold!



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