beyond the showmanship to the reality, the hard substance ever things and we'll do it not so much with speeches that sound good as with speeches that are good and sound. >> reporter: it cemented him as his generation great orator the defender of the have notes and little guys. made him the choice of many democratic leaders to run for president. designee said would you think about it. i have. >> will you think about it any more? [ laughter ] >> reporter: he was considered a favorite for the department nomination in both 1988 and 1992. but in both cases, he demured. his seeming inability to decide on higher office frustrated democratic party faithful and became something of a punch line in itself. >> mario cuomo, no one knows what he's going to do. i don't know if you've seen his new public servant commercial. he said a mind is a terrible thing on make up. >> reporter: he said it wasn't