CHICAGO – In a city where he was scheduled to assume leadership of the Democratic Party for the last time, at a convention where he was supposed to seal his political legacy, President Joe Biden instead passed the leadership torch, wiping tears from his eyes as the crowd jumped to its feet for a sustained standing ovation and chanted “Thank you, Joe.”
For Biden, the outpouring of gratitude for his decision to step down and make way for Vice President Kamala Harris must have been bittersweet. But his speeches on the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago were full of optimism and fighting spirit, even if one of the last great moments of his political career was pushed out of prime time on the East Coast after other speakers went on too long.
“I have made many mistakes in my career, but I have given you my best,” Biden said. “For 50 years, like many of you, I have dedicated my heart and soul to our nation and have been blessed millions of times over with the support of the American people.”
Biden’s speech and one earlier in the evening by Hillary Clinton — who was closer to the White House than any other American — symbolized how Democrats are saying goodbye to the old guard that has led their party for decades. The opening speech also served to highlight the historic nature of Harris’s candidacy, portraying her as someone riding on the shoulders of the civil rights icons and women who ran for president before her as she seeks to defeat former President Donald Trump.
Here are more highlights of the evening:
– A surprise appearance: Harris unexpectedly took the stage to thank Biden for his “life’s work in service to our nation.” “Let us fight for the ideals we hold dear, and let us always remember: When we fight, we win,” Harris told delegates, who roared back those final five words that have quickly become a rallying cry for Democrats. Harris’ performance to the pounding rhythm of Beyoncé’s “Freedom” thrilled the crowd on a night it had gathered to hear Biden’s farewell.
– The glass ceiling: Clinton told Democrats the “future is here” shortly after Harris made a surprise appearance. “I wish my mother and Kamala’s mother could see us,” Clinton said in an emotional speech that had almost all of the delegates jumping to their feet. “They would say, ‘Keep going.'” She added: “This is our time, America. Now we have to stand up. Now we can break through!”
– A diverse roster: Opening night speakers emphasized the diversity of the Democrats as they paid tribute to Harris, the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to lead a major party’s presidential nomination. Many of the speakers were women from all generations and all races, an unmistakable reference to the glass ceiling Harris is trying to break. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York gave a spirited speech to a crowd that chanted her initials. Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles spoke about her decades-long relationship with Harris.
– A focus on abortion rights: Three women – Amanda Zurawski, Kaitlyn Joshua and Hadley Duvall – told emotional personal stories about abortion and the post-Roe v. Wade America that Trump’s Supreme Court appointments in 2022 helped shape. “A second Trump term would take away even more of our rights,” said Zurawski, who nearly died in Texas after being denied an abortion following a miscarriage. They were followed by Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, who won his election in a red state in part by defending abortion rights. “All women should have the freedom to make their own choices,” Beshear said, praising the speakers for their courage.
– Labor support: Shawn Fain, president of the powerful United Auto Workers, was one of several speakers representing unions that supported Harris and underscored their commitment to workers. He took the stage in prime time wearing a red T-shirt that bluntly read “Trump is a scab.” In his speeches, Fain spoke for a working class fighting against the “billionaire class” and “corporate greed.”
– Attack Trump early and often: Speaker after speaker condemned Trump for his actions in and out of office. Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York delivered his 34-count conviction in a Manhattan court. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas compared Harris’ career to Trump’s, saying that “she became a career prosecutor while he became a career criminal.” Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland covered the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, calling Trump a “sore loser who cannot take no from American voters, American courts or American women.” And Rep. Robert Garcia of California said that Trump has “spread conspiracy theories across the country” during the coronavirus pandemic while hundreds of thousands of Americans have died.
– From one coach to another: Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr took the stage to praise Harris, who had just led the U.S. basketball team to an Olympic gold medal in Paris. “Leadership, real leadership,” Kerr said, “is not the kind that tries to divide us, but the kind that recognizes and celebrates our common goal.” He also praised Harris’s running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, who was a former high school football coach. “From coach to coach, this guy is great,” Kerr said.
This article originally appeared in the New York Times.
