# Clinton's '88 convention speech **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 26, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974 "2004-07-26T20:06:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jplacer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85f322/32.png) [@Jplacer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jplacer)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974/1 "2004-07-26T20:06:13Z")
Anyone know where I can find a copy of Clinton’s 1988 nomination speech at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974/2 "2004-07-26T20:38:55Z")
That is the 32 minute speech (the longest in convention history, in which he nominated Dukakis) that ultimately won Clinton the title of “Comeback Kid” because it was so horrible that some had thought it would ruin his political career. [Says CNN](http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/08/14/potus.speech/): > [@](#): > > The Monday night address marks Clinton’s fourth to a Democratic nominating convention. He made his first during the 1988 gathering in Atlanta, where he delivered a long and rambling keynote address that received its loudest applause from the restless convention crowd when he uttered the phrase: “In conclusion.” And [MSNBC says](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5470323/): > [@](#): > > He droned on and on, and droned on," remembers Tom Brokaw. “When he finally said ‘In conclusion,’ people began to cheer.” > > Clinton quickly realized he didn’t give his best performance. “I saw him the next day and I literally slipped out of the way, I didn’t know what to say to him. He knew how he’d done,” continues Brokaw. > > […snip…] > > “That should have told you something about Bill Clinton at that point. He would make the big mistake, but then he would crawl out of it in his own endearing fashion.” > > Hence the nickname, “Comeback Kid.” I doubt you’ll find a copy online. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974/3 "2004-07-26T21:19:40Z")
I sat in my living room and watched Clinton deliver that speech, and at that moment I gave up my goal of watching every convention gavel-to-gavel. It was excrutiating and when Clinton got to “and in conclusion…” I cheered too. I frankly don’t think the web has enough capacity yet to archive a copy of that speech. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2004, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974/4 "2004-07-26T22:30:25Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > That is the 32 minute speech (the longest in convention history, in which he nominated Dukakis) that ultimately won Clinton the title of “Comeback Kid” because it was so horrible that some had thought it would ruin his political career. No. He was known as the Comeback Kid long before that although this incident added more to the Comeback Kid legend. He was elected Governor of Arkansas in 1978 and then lost re-election in 1982. In 1986 he won again and _that’s_ where he earned that title. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974/5 "2004-07-27T08:19:57Z")
Do you have a cite to counter the MSNBC cite that you’re contradicting, Haj? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974/6 "2004-07-27T15:50:55Z")
[Here](http://www.oldstatehouse.com/exhibits/virtual/governors/the_new_south/clinton2.asp) is his biography from the State of Arkansas Governor’s page. > [@](#): > > Clinton’s comeback began with a televised apology for past mistakes, followed by an early start on a relentless campaign. Arkansans had rarely seen a campaigner of his caliber. Both the primary and the general election proved to be bitter battles, but he was the first Arkansas governor to recover from a defeat at the polls to regain office. The idea of the Comeback Kid was born. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974/7 "2004-07-27T17:10:07Z")
He went on The Tonight Show a few days later and made several jokes at his own expense. He was quite funny and charming there. For a copy of the speech just read the 1977 Mexico City phone book. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clintons-88-convention-speech/256974/8 "2004-07-27T20:15:27Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > [Here](http://www.oldstatehouse.com/exhibits/virtual/governors/the_new_south/clinton2.asp) is his biography from the State of Arkansas Governor’s page. > > Haj Thanks, Haj. He recovered pretty well from his impeachment, too. His ability to bounce back like a weeble after almost any blow reminds me of Reagan and his reputation for being coated with teflon. It’s like two super heroes, Weeble Man and Teflon Man. Who would win in a duel? 😃