During the 1988 Democratic National Convention, Bill Clinton delivered a speech that he would later describe as a disaster. This particular speech stands out among the dozen or so times Clinton has addressed convention delegates over the years.
Clinton's speech was in support of the Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis. However, from the beginning, things did not go as planned. The convention hall lights remained on throughout his speech, leading to a lack of attention from the audience on the floor.
One of the key issues was the length of Clinton's speech. He spoke for almost double the time he was allotted, causing frustration among organizers and attendees. At one point, a message was even typed into the teleprompter urging Clinton to wrap up his speech: “PLEASE. YOUR TIME IS UP.”
One of the most memorable moments of the speech was when Clinton received his biggest applause after saying, “In conclusion,” indicating that the audience was relieved that the speech was coming to an end.
Reflecting on the experience later in his memoir, Clinton described the speech as a “thirty-two minutes of total disaster.” This candid admission from a seasoned politician like Clinton sheds light on the challenges and mishaps that can occur during high-stakes political events like national conventions.
Despite this setback, Bill Clinton went on to have a successful political career, eventually serving as the 42nd President of the United States. The 1988 convention speech serves as a reminder that even the most experienced public speakers can have moments of misstep and miscalculation.
