AmericanRhetoric.

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AnnRichards
DemocraticNationalConventionKeynoteAddress

Delivered19July1988

AUTHENTICITYCERTIFIED:Textversionbelowtranscribeddirectlyfromaudio

Thankyou.Thankyou.Thankyou,verymuch. Goodevening,ladiesandgentlemen.Buenasnoches,misamigos. I'mdelightedtobeherewithyouthisevening,becauseafterlisteningtoGeorgeBushall theseyears,IfiguredyouneededtoknowwhatarealTexasaccentsoundslike. TwelveyearsagoBarbaraJordan,anotherTexaswoman,Barbaramadethekeynoteaddress tothisconvention,andtwowomeninahundredandsixtyyearsisaboutparforthecourse. Butifyougiveusachance,wecanperform.Afterall,GingerRogersdideverythingthatFred Astairedid.Shejustdiditbackwardsandinhighheels. IwanttoannouncetothisNationthatinalittlemorethan100days,theReaganMeese DeaverNofzigerPoindexterNorthWeinbergerWattGorsuchLavelleStockmanHaigBork NoriegaGeorgeBush[era]willbeover! Youknow,tonightIfeelalittlelikeIdidwhenIplayedbasketballinthe8thgrade.IthoughtI lookedrealcuteinmyuniform.AndthenIheardaboyyellfromthebleachers,"Makethat basket,Birdlegs."Andmygreatestfearisthatsameguyissomewhereoutthereinthe audiencetonight,andhe'sgoingtocutmedowntosize,becausewhereIgrewuptherereally wasntmuchtoleranceforselfimportance,peoplewhoputonairs.

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IwasbornduringtheDepressioninalittlecommunityjustoutsideWaco,andIgrewup listeningtoFranklinRooseveltontheradio. Well,itwasbackthenthatIcametounderstand thesmalltruthsandthehardshipsthatbindneighborstogether.Thosewererealpeoplewith realproblemsandtheyhadrealdreamsaboutgettingoutoftheDepression. Icanremember summernightswhenwedputdownwhatwecalledtheBaptistpallet,andwelistenedtothe grownupstalk. Icanstillhearthesoundofthedominoesclickingonthemarbleslabmy daddyhadfoundforatabletop. Icanstillhearthelaughterofthementellingjokesyou werentsupposedtoheartalkin'abouthowbigthatoldbuckdeerwas,laughin'about mamaputtin'Cloroxinthewellwhenthefrogfellin. TheytalkedaboutwarandWashingtonandwhatthiscountryneeded.Theytalkedstraight talk.Anditcamefrompeoplewhowerelivingtheirlivesasbesttheycould.Andthatswhat weregonnadotonight.Weregonnatellhowthecowatethecabbage. IgotaletterlastweekfromayoungmotherinLorena,Texas,andIwannareadpartofitto you.Shewrites, Ourworriesgofrompaydaytopayday,justlikemillionsofothers.Andwehavetwo fairlydecentincomes,butIworryhowImgoingtopaytherisingcarinsuranceand food.IpraymykidsdonthaveagrowthspurtfromAugusttoDecember,soIdont havetobuynewjeans.Webuyclothesatthebudgetstoresandwehavethemfray andfadeandstretchinthefirstwash.Weponderandtrytofigureouthowwe're gonnapayforcollegeandbracesandtennisshoes.Wedonttakevacationsandwe dontgoouttoeat.Pleasedontthinkmeungrateful.Wehavejobsandaniceplaceto live,andwerehealthy.We'rethepeopleyouseeeverydayinthegrocerystores,and weobeythelaws.Wepayourtaxes.Weflyourflagsonholidaysandweplodalong tryingtomakeitbetterforourselvesandourchildrenandourparents.Wearentvocal anymore.Ithinkmaybeweretootired.Ibelievethatpeoplelikeusareforgottenin America. Wellofcourseyoubelieveyoureforgotten,becauseyouhavebeen. ThisRepublicanAdministrationtreatsusasifwewerepiecesofapuzzlethatcantfit together.They'vetriedtoputusintocompartmentsandseparateusfromeachother.Their politicaltheoryisdivideandconquer.Theyvesuggestedtimeandtimeagainthatwhatisof interesttoonegroupofAmericansisnotofinteresttoanyoneelse.Wevebeenisolated. Wevebeenlumpedintothatsadphraseologycalledspecialinterests.Theyvetoldfarmers thattheywereselfish,thattheywoulddriveupfoodpricesiftheyaskedthegovernmentto interveneonbehalfofthefamilyfarm,andwewatchedfarmsgoontheauctionblockwhile weboughtfoodfromforeigncountries.Well,thatswrong! Theytoldworkingmothersitsalltheirfaulttheirfamiliesarefallingapartbecausetheyhad togotoworktokeeptheirkidsinjeansandtennisshoesandcollege.Andtheyrewrong!! TheytoldAmericanlabortheyweretryingtoruinfreeenterprisebyaskingfor60daysnotice ofplantclosings,andthatswrong.

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Andtheytoldtheautoindustryandthesteelindustryandthetimberindustryandtheoil industry,companiesbeingthreatenedbyforeignproductsfloodingthiscountry,thatyoure "protectionist"ifyouthinkthegovernmentshouldenforceourtradelaws.Andthatiswrong. Whentheybelittleusfordemandingcleanairandcleanwaterfortryingtosavetheoceans andtheozonelayer,thatswrong. Nowonderwefeelisolatedandconfused.Wewantanswersandtheiransweristhat "somethingiswrongwithyou." Wellnothing'swrongwithyou.Nothingswrongwithyouthat youcantfixinNovember! WevebeentoldthattheinterestsoftheSouthandtheSouthwestarenotthesameinterests astheNorthandtheNortheast.Theypitonegroupagainsttheother.They'vedividedthis countryandinourisolationwethinkgovernmentisntgonnahelpus,andwe'realoneinour feelings.Wefeelforgotten.Well,thefactisthatwearenotanisolatedpieceoftheir puzzle.Weareonenation.WearetheUnitedStatesofAmerica. NowweDemocratsbelievethatAmericaisstillthecountyoffairplay,thatwecancomeout ofasmalltownorapoorneighborhoodandhavethesamechanceasanyoneelseandit doesntmatterwhetherweareblackorHispanicordisabledorawomen[sic].Webelievethat Americaisacountrywheresmallbusinessownersmustsucceed,becausetheyarethe bedrock,backboneofoureconomy. Webelievethatourkidsdeservegooddaycareandpublicschools.Webelieveourkids deservepublicschoolswherestudentscanlearnandteacherscanteach.Andwewanna believethatourparentswillhaveagoodretirementandthatwewilltoo.WeDemocrats believethatsocialsecurityisapactthatcannotbebroken. Wewannabelievethatwecanliveoutourliveswithouttheterriblefearthatanillnessis goingtobankruptusandourchildren. WeDemocratsbelievethatAmericacanovercomeany problem,includingthedreadeddiseasecalledAIDS. WebelievethatAmericaisstillacountry wherethereismoretolifethanjustaconstantstruggleformoney.Andwebelievethat Americamusthaveleaderswhoshowusthatourstrugglesamounttosomethingand contributetosomethinglargerleaderswhowantustobeallthatwecanbe. WewantleaderslikeJesseJackson.JesseJacksonisaleaderandateacherwhocanopenour heartsandopenourmindsandstirourverysouls.Andhehastaughtusthatweareasgood asourcapacityforcaring,caringaboutthedrugproblem,caringaboutcrime,caringabout education,andcaringabouteachother. Now,incontrast,thegreatestnationofthefreeworldhashadaleaderforeightstraight yearsthathaspretendedthathecannothearourquestionsoverthenoiseofthehelicopters. Andweknowhedoesntwannaanswer.Butwehavealotofquestions. Andwhenwegetour questionsasked,orthereisaleak,oraninvestigationtheonlyanswerwegetis,Idont know,orIforgot.

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Butyouwouldntacceptthatanswerfromyourchildren.Iwouldnt.Donttellmeyoudont knoworyouforgot.We'renotgoingtohavetheAmericathatwewantuntilweelect leaderswhoaregonnatellthetruthnotmostdaysbuteverydayleaderswhodontforget whattheydontwanttoremember.AndforeightstraightyearsGeorgeBushhasntdisplayed theslightestinterestinanythingwecareabout.Andnowthathe'safterajobthathecant getappointedto,he'slikeColumbusdiscoveringAmerica.Hesfoundchildcare.Hesfound education.PoorGeorge.Hecanthelpit.Hewasbornwithasilverfootinhismouth. Well,nowonder.Nowonderwecantfigureitout.Becausetheleadershipofthisnationis tellingusonethingonTVanddoingsomethingentirelydifferent.TheytellusTheytellus thatthey'refightingawaragainstterrorists.AndthenwefindoutthattheWhiteHouseis sellingarmstotheAyatollah.TheyTheytellusthattheyrefightingawarondrugsand thenpeoplecomeonTVandtestifythattheCIAandtheDEAandtheFBIknewtheywere flyingdrugsintoAmericaallalong.Andtheyrenegotiatingwithadictatorwhoisshoveling cocaineintothiscountrylikecrazy.IguessthatstheirCentralAmericanstrategy. Nowtheytellusthatemploymentratesaregreat,andthattheyreforequalopportunity.But weknowittakestwopaycheckstomakeendsmeettoday,whenitusedtotakeone.Andthe opportunitytheyresoproudofislowwage,deadendjobs.Andthereisnomajorcityin Americawhereyoucannotseehomelessmensittinginparkinglotsholdingsignsthatsay,I willworkforfood. Nowmyfriends,wereallyareatacrucialpointinAmericanhistory.UnderthisAdministration wehavedevotedourresourcesintomakingthiscountryamilitarycolossus.Butweveletour economiclinesofdefensefallintodisrepair.Thedebtofthisnationisgreaterthanithasever beeninourhistory.WefoughtaworldwaronlessdebtthantheRepublicanshavebuiltupin thelasteightyears.Youknow,itskindoflikethatbrotherinlawwhodrivesaflashynew car,buthesalwaysborrowingmoneyfromyoutomakethepayments. Well,butletstakewhattheyaremostproudestofthatistheirstandofdefense.We DemocratsarecommittedtoastrongAmerica,and,quitefrankly,whenourleaderssaytous, "Weneedanewweaponssystem,"ourinclinationistosay,Well,theymustberight. But whenwepaybillionsforplanesthatwontfly,billionsfortanksthatwontfire,andbillionsfor systemsthatwontwork,"thatolddogwonthunt."AndyoudonthavetobefromWacoto knowthatwhenthePentagonmakescrooksrichanddoesntmakeAmericastrong,thatitsa bumdeal. NowImgoingtotellyou,I'mreallygladthatouryoungpeoplemissedtheDepressionand missedthegreatBigWar.ButIdoregretthattheymissedtheleadersthatIknew,leaders whotolduswhenthingsweretough,andthatwedhavetosacrifice,andthatthese difficultiesmightlastforawhile.Theydidnttellusthingswerehardforusbecausewewere different,orisolated,orspecialinterests.Theybroughtustogetherandtheygaveusasense ofnationalpurpose.TheygaveusSocialSecurityandtheytoldustheyweresettingupa systemwherewecouldpayourownmoneyin,andwhenthetimecameforourretirementwe couldtakethemoneyout.

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Peopleintheruralareasweretoldthatwedeservedtohaveelectriclights,andtheywere gonnaharnesstheenergythatwasnecessarytogiveuselectricitysomygrandmammadidnt havetocarrythatoldcoaloillamparound.Andtheytoldusthattheyweregonnaguarantee whenweputourmoneyinthebank,thatthemoneywasgoingtobethere,anditwasgoing tobeinsured.Theydidnotlietous. AndIthinkoneofthesavinggracesofDemocratsisthatwearecandid.Wetalkstraight talk.Wetellpeoplewhatwethink.AndthattraditionandthosevalueslivetodayinMichael DukakisfromMassachusetts. MichaelDukakisknowsthatthiscountryisontheedgeofagreatnewera,thatwerenot afraidofchange,thatwereforthoughtful,truthful,strongleadership.Behindhiscalmtheres animpatiencetounifythiscountryandtogetonwiththefuture.Hisinstinctsaredeeply American.Theyretoughandtheyregenerous.Andpersonally,IhavetotellyouthatIhave nevermetamanwhohadamoreremarkablesenseaboutwhatisreallyimportantinlife. Andthentheresmyfriendandmyteacherformanyyears,SenatorLloydBentsen.AndI couldntbeprouder,bothasaTexanandasaDemocrat,becauseLloydBentsenunderstands America.Fromthebarriototheboardroom,heknowshowtobringustogether,byregions, byeconomics,andbyexample.AndhesalreadybeatenGeorgeBushonce. So,whenitcomesrightdowntoit,thiselectionisacontestbetweenthosewhoaresatisfied withwhattheyhaveandthosewhoknowwecandobetter.Thatswhatthiselectionisreally allabout.ItsabouttheAmericandreamthosewhowanttokeepitforthefewandthose whoknowitmustbenurturedandpassedalong. Imagrandmothernow.AndIhaveonenearlyperfectgranddaughternamedLily.AndwhenI holdthatgrandbaby,Ifeelthecontinuityoflifethatunitesus,thatbindsgenerationto generation,thattiesuswitheachother.AndsometimesIspreadthatBaptistpalletoutonthe floor,andLilyandIrollaballbackandforth.AndIthinkofallthefamilieslikemine,likethe oneinLorena,Texas,liketheonesthatnurturechildrenallacrossAmerica.AndasIlookat Lily,Iknowthatitiswithinfamiliesthatwelearnboththeneedtorespectindividualhuman dignityandtoworktogetherforourcommongood. Withinourfamilies,withinournation,it isthesame. AndasIsitthere,IwonderifshellevergraspthechangesIveseeninmylifeifshellever believethattherewasatimewhenblackscouldnotdrinkfrompublicwaterfountains,when HispanicchildrenwerepunishedforspeakingSpanishinthepublicschools,andwomen couldntvote. IthinkofallthepoliticalfightsIvefought,andallthecompromisesIvehadtoacceptaspart payment.AndIthinkofallthesmallvictoriesthathaveaddeduptonationaltriumphsandall thethingsthatwouldneverhavehappenedandallthepeoplewhowouldvebeenleftbehind ifwehadnotreasonedandfoughtandwonthosebattlestogether.AndIwilltellLilythat thosetriumphswereDemocraticPartytriumphs.

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IwantsomuchtotellLilyhowfarwevecome,youandI.Andastheballrollsbackandforth, Iwanttotellherhowveryluckysheisthatforallourdifference,wearestillthegreatest nationonthisgoodearth.Andourstrengthliesinthemenandwomenwhogotoworkevery day,whostruggletobalancetheirfamilyandtheirjobs,andwhoshouldnever,everbe forgotten. IjusthopethatlikehergrandparentsandhergreatgrandparentsbeforethatLilygoesonto raiseherkidswiththepromisethatechoesinhomesallacrossAmerica:thatwecando better,andthatswhatthiselectionisallabout. Thankyouverymuch.

TranscriptionbyMichaelE.Eidenmuller. PropertyofAmericanR hetoric.com. Copyright2008.Allrightsreserved.

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