Bill Clinton Seeks to Lift Up Kamala Harris in DNC Speech

Clinton Praises Harris As 'President Of Joy' But Urges Caution

The ex-president warned excited attendees at the Democratic National Convention to not get too comfortable in 2024 because politics can be harsh and unforgiving.

Clinton Criticizes Trump For Self-centered Attitude

Let's get straight to the point. I am not young anymore, and I turned 78 two days ago. I am the oldest man in my family with four generations. The only thing I want to point out is that I am younger than Donald Trump. In 2024, it's pretty obvious who we should choose. Kamala Harris is for the people. The other candidate has shown that he is focused on himself. Instead of counting his lies, count how many times he says "I". He reminds me of a tenor warming up before a performance, singing "me, me, me, me, me." When Kamala Harris becomes president, the focus will be on "you, you, you, you" every day.

Peter Baker, who wrote about Bill Clinton's time as president for The Washington Post, gave a report from within the United Center in Chicago.

Released on August 21, 2024, and last updated on August 22, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Stay updated on the most recent updates about the Democratic National Convention.

During the convention on Wednesday night, Bill Clinton may have felt like he was experiencing a sense of familiarity. The Democrats had chosen their nominee, who would potentially be the first female president. They were up against a Republican candidate who they viewed as foolish, and they were feeling hopeful about winning the election.

However, after his wife, Hillary Clinton, lost to Donald J. Trump in the previous election, Bill Clinton is cautioning Democrats not to repeat the same error as Vice President Kamala Harris faces the same challenger. While enthusiasm is important, it may not secure election wins. Public opinion polls can be unpredictable. Having a lot of energy does not always translate to success. Being complacent could result in disastrous consequences.

“We have experienced multiple instances where elections did not turn out as expected, due to distractions caused by fake issues or excessive confidence,” Mr. Clinton informed the large gathering of delegates at the United Center in Chicago. “Politics can be harsh and challenging. I want you all to stay positive. President-to-Be Harris is performing well because we are all in good spirits."

"But remember, you should never underestimate your opponent," he went on, deviating from the planned speech given beforehand. "These individuals excel at diverting our attention, causing uncertainty, and instigating feelings of regret. As the Obamas conveyed so beautifully last night, they are only human, prone to making occasional errors," he continued, mentioning Ms. Harris and Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota. "We need to stand strong."

Mr. Clinton didn't directly talk about his wife, the 2016 election, or the reasons they lost. But he didn't have to. The delegates understood. Even though Ms. Harris has made a strong impression on the campaign trail and the Democrats in Chicago are feeling hopeful, the 2024 election is still uncertain.

Truly, even though Ms. Harris has risen in polls to a level higher than where President Biden was before he withdrew, she is still not performing as strongly against Mr. Trump as Mrs. Clinton did after securing her own nomination, at least for now.

During a convention filled with exciting new energy, Mr. Clinton was the one to provide wisdom and perspective from previous generations. He has been a frequent speaker at the convention, but his voice was not as strong as it used to be.

On Wednesday, he delivered his 12th speech at a Democratic convention, showcasing the ups and downs of Mr. Clinton's political journey. From being a promising young politician to a tired speaker, and then transforming into a dynamic presidential nominee, popular leader, scandal-hit lame duck, supportive spouse, and respected elder statesman, his political career has been filled with twists and turns. His ability to adapt and evolve has solidified his status as a prominent figure in modern politics.

Therefore, it's understandable that he continues to approach the convention preparation with great importance. As reported by someone knowledgeable about the situation, Mr. Clinton completely revised his speech for this week's convention on Monday night after observing the events of the first day.

An unnamed source revealed that former President Clinton decided he wanted to inject more emotion and creativity into his speech, inspired by Governor Cuomo's keynote address at the 1984 convention. Clinton was impressed by the lively atmosphere of the convention hall and wanted to ensure his speech reflected that energy.

Even at that moment, he wasn't content to adhere to the prepared speech given to convention organizers three hours before the show and loaded onto the teleprompter. Originally given 12 minutes, as outlined in a schedule leaked to the press, Mr. Clinton ended up speaking for 27 minutes, adding impromptu comments as he spoke. Unlike Ms. Harris, he criticized Mr. Trump for being self-centered and only focused on himself.

"What does her rival use his voice for?" Mr. Clinton inquired. "Mostly talking about himself, correct? So next time you hear him, don't focus on the lies, focus on the number of times he says 'I'. Hear the 'I's. His grudges, his need for revenge, his grievances, his plots - he's like a tenor warming up before a performance, like I did, trying to open up his lungs by singing, 'me, me, me, me, me, me.' When Kamala Harris becomes president, each day will be centered around you, you, you, you."

Mr. Clinton gathered some of his old friends and acquaintances, introducing himself as "the man from Hope," a nod to his hometown in Arkansas. He also joked about his well-known love for fast food in the past.

Noticing that Ms. Harris had a job at McDonald's when she was young, he commented, "I can't wait for when she becomes president and moves into the White House because she will surpass my record for the most time spent at McDonald's by a president."

On Monday, Mr. Clinton, who celebrated his 78th birthday, mentioned that he is "still more youthful than Donald Trump" (who turned 78 a couple months earlier), but in some ways, he represents a different time period. His style of centrist politics transformed the Democratic Party in the '90s from a party that consistently lost to one that would eventually win the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections.

However, the moderate approach of focusing on welfare reform, free trade, and balancing the budget is not popular in the current Democratic Party. Progressive politics hold more influence. Additionally, Bill Clinton's past behavior of sexual misconduct, and even more serious allegations, which he denies, are viewed differently in the context of the recent #MeToo movement. His presence at a convention dedicated to electing the first female president may seem out of place in that regard.

However, it is also a tradition involving passing down the torch to the next generation, and Democrats were optimistic that Mr. Clinton's speech would support Ms. Harris, 59, especially with blue-collar white swing voters in the Midwest and Southern states who have positive memories of the 42nd president and are uncertain about supporting her as the 47th.

Mr. and Mrs. Clinton spoke at the convention on Monday. They did not join other Democrats in asking Mr. Biden to drop out of the race after his bad debate with Mr. Trump in June. Instead, they encouraged party donors to continue supporting Mr. Biden, which he appreciated. However, they were fast to support Ms. Harris when Mr. Biden withdrew from the race.

Mr. Clinton has been to every Democratic convention since 1972. He spoke briefly in 1976 to praise former President Harry S. Truman. In 1980, just before his 34th birthday, he gave his first real speech as governor of Arkansas. In 1988, his speech went on for so long that convention officials had to tell him his time was up. His best applause line was when he said "in closing."

After winning the party's nomination and becoming president in 1992, Mr. Clinton spoke at conventions in 1996 and 2000. In 1996, he promised to create a path to the future in his second term. In 2000, he tried to rebuild his image after facing impeachment for lying about an affair with a White House intern. By 2012, he had taken on a more important position in the party and delivered a compelling speech that led President Obama to nickname him the "secretary of explaining stuff."

"I don't know how many more of these events I can attend," Mr. Clinton said sadly as he finished on Wednesday night. He mentioned that he has been attending since 1976, then corrected himself to say 1972. "Wow, I'm really getting old," he said, embarrassed.

However, Mr. Clinton successfully conveyed the message he was assigned to deliver: "Listen to me, as someone who was once referred to as the man from Hope at this convention: We must have Kamala Harris, the joyful leader, to guide us."

After that, he walked off the stage while his previous campaign song, Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop (Thinking About Tomorrow)," played. Many in the audience couldn't help but reflect on his past experiences.

Peter Baker is the main journalist who reports on the White House for The Times. He has interviewed and written about the last five presidents, often offering in-depth analysis that compares them to past leaders and events. More information on Peter Baker can be found on his page.

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