Conventions are considered to have delivered the best speeches of their political careers. Cuomo, anddan, mario annrichards in 1988 richards in 1988. Barbara jordan became the first black woman to give the keynote address to the dnc. She received a law degree edit with the first black woman to serve in the u. S. Senate. She talked political ethics at the university of texas in austin entered the on immigration reform. She spoke to delegates in new york city. [applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen. [applause] are neither ladies nor are you gentlemen. Gentlemen, in case you do not know it, may i now present our second keynote speaker, the honorable Barbara Jordan, democrat of houston, texas. [applause] Barbara Jordan thank you. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen for a very warm reception. 144 years ago that members of the Democratic Party first led a convention to select a president ial candidate. Since that time, democrats have continued to go to been once every f
Three keynote speakers from past conventions are considered to deliver the best speech of their political careers. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan at the 1976 Democratic Convention, three term new york governor mario cuomos address in 1984 and texas state treasurer and future governor and richards keynote speech in 1988. In 1976, congresswoman Barbara Jordan became the first black woman to give the keynote address to the dnc. She received a law degree from Boston University and was the first black woman elected to the texas senate. House,erving in the u. S. She taught political ethics at the university of texas at austin and later chaired the u. S. Commission on Immigration Reform which recommended immigration in the usb cut by 1 3. She spoke to delegates in new york city. [applause] ladies and gentlemen [applause] ladies and gentlemen [applause] ladies or arer you gentlemen. Gentlemen, in case you dont know it, may i now present our second keynote speaker, the honorable Barbara Jordan, d
Admitted that although some people in this country seemed to be doing well nowadays, others were unhappy, even worried, about themselves, their families, and their futures. The president said that he didnt understand that fear. He said, why, this country is a shining city on a hill. And the president is right. In many ways we are a shining city on a hill. But the hard truth is that not everyone is sharing in this citys splendor and glory. A shining city is perhaps all the president sees from the portico of the white house and the veranda of his ranch, where everyone seems to be doing well. But theres another city, theres another part to the shining the city, the part where some people cant pay their mortgages, and most young people cant afford one, where students cant afford the education they need, and middleclass parents watch the dreams they hold for their children evaporate. In this part of the city there are more poor than ever, more families in trouble, more and more people who n
[applause] maybe maybe, mr. President. But im afraid not. Because the truth is, ladies and gentlemen, that this is how we were warned it would be. President reagan told us from the very beginning that he believed in a kind of social darwinism. Survival of the fittest. Government cant do everything, we were told, so it should settle for taking care of the strong and hope that economic ambition and charity will do the rest. Make the rich richer, and what falls from the table will be enough for the middle class and those who are trying desperately to work their way into the middle class. You know, the republicans called it trickledown when hoover tried it. Now they call it supply side. But its the same shining city for those relative few who are lucky enough to live in its good neighborhoods. But for the people who are excluded, for the people who are locked out, all they can do is stare from a distance at that citys glimmering towers. Its an old story. Its as old as our history. The diff
Thank you very much. On behalf of the great empire state and the whole family of new york, let me thank you for the great privilege of being able to address this convention. Please allow me to skip the stories and the poetry and the temptation to deal in nice but vague rhetoric. Let me instead use this valuable opportunity to deal immediately with the questions that should determine this election and that we all know are vital to the American People. Ten days ago, president reagan admitted that although some people in this country seemed to be doing well nowadays, others were unhappy, even worried, about themselves, their families, and their futures. The president said that he didnt understand that fear. He said, why, this country is a shining city on a hill. And the president is right. In many ways we are a shining city on a hill. But the hard truth is that not everyone is sharing in this citys splendor and glory. A shining city is perhaps all the president sees from the portico of th