Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn)

Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, delegates, fellow Americans.

Sixteen years ago, a governor from Arkansas traveled north to Connecticut. He spoke on behalf -- on my behalf at a convention nominating me to serve in the United States Senate.

Tonight, I am honored to return the favor.

(APPLAUSE)

Delegates and fellow Americans, I place in nomination for the presidency of the United States a man whom I have called my president for nearly four years -- and my friend for nearly 20 -- William Jefferson Clinton.

(APPLAUSE)

Four more years.

My friends -- my friends, America remembers that cold and brilliant January day 44 months ago when a young governor, raised in the small town of Hope, Arkansas, brought new hope to a nation hungry for renewal and change.

Remember what it was like then. Americans were struggling. Men and women needed jobs.

Student test scores were falling. Crime rates were rising. Parents looked in on their sleeping children and, in the quiet of the night, worried that no matter how hard they worked, those they most loved might inherit a lesser life in a lesser land.

President Clinton identified with the difficulties confronting America's families. Remember, this is a man who never had the joy of knowing his own father. He was raised by a wonderful mother in a home that had more than its share of problems.

So when this president speaks about tough times facing America's families, he knows what he's talking about.

(APPLAUSE)

That is why -- that is why he offered a bold and brave strategy to put America back on track. He invited men and women of both political parties to work together to make America work again.

Because he knew that for Americans to do their best, their leaders must do better and appeal to the best in each of us.

But there were those in Congress who decided to seek advantage instead of common ground. They said interest rates would soar, unemployment would increase, a deeper recession would hit. And so, the president's plan for recovery had to be passed without a single one of their votes.

Tonight, let me say it plainly. Mr. President, you did the right thing. You did the right thing for America.

(APPLAUSE)

Today, our economy is stronger and more prosperous than it has been in more than three decades. But as we all know, the effort is not finished. People today work long, hard hours to pay their bills. But they are working, and they have a chance to move ahead because President Clinton took a stand, while his opponents turned away.

It is for you, the American people, that President Clinton has cut the deficit for four straight years. That hasn't happened in more than a century and a half in America.

(APPLAUSE)

It is for you, the people of this country, that the president has brought down interest rates, so that more Americans can own a home, start a business, and send a child to college.

It is for you, the people of this nation, that President Clinton has cut taxes, so that 15 million American families can keep more in their pockets.

And now, it is for you, the people, that President Clinton has created more than 10 million new jobs -- 10 million. That is his most important contribution to our people, who all deserve an opportunity to succeed.

(APPLAUSE)

And then, my friends, he did something that no other American president has ever dared to do. He took on the gun lobby. He took on the gun lobby, and he won. And he won.

(APPLAUSE)

He signed Jim and Sarah Brady's bill and stopped more than 60,000 outlaws from buying handguns. He banned assault weapons, because the guns that deal death should not be as easy to buy as the bread that sustains life.

Our president -- our president is taking on tobacco. On this he has heard another chorus of caution. "Don't oppose this special interest." "It's a fight you can't win." Some even tried to claim that cigarettes are no more harmful to a child's health than a glass of milk.

(BOOS)

But every day in America, 3,000 children start smoking. One thousand of them will die earlier than they should. That will change now. That will change now because this president had the courage to say no more advertising to the young, no more selling to the young, no more Joe Camel.

(APPLAUSE)

Four days ago, he began a train journey across America -- an America he has helped to change. It is not a perfect America. But it's a nation on the march again, approaching the new century with new confidence.

For the next 70 days, our people will listen to a debate about the direction of our country.

But this autumn of campaign does not have to be a season of conflict.

On this August evening and in this hall, I ask each and every one of you to pledge with me that this campaign will be worthy of the people we seek to lead and of the land we love. Let us do our part to restore civility to America's political discourse. Let us lead by example. Let us not dishonor our democracy.

The American people are fed up with relentless assaults on people's reputations. This has to stop and it must stop now.

(APPLAUSE)

And I say this to our political opponents: Stop attacking the president's family.

(APPLAUSE)

The American people want you to stick to the issues. We may at times oppose one another, but we must always respect each other. And let us begin now.

I begin by thinking of the Republican candidate for president, who two weeks ago spoke so movingly of his own past. So let me say to Senator Robert Dole, on behalf of the thousands here in this United Center -- thank you. Thank you from a generation of Americans living in freedom because of your sacrifices.

(APPLAUSE)

I served with Senator Robert Dole in the legislative branch for 20 years. It is not Bob Dole's reputation that I question. It is his agenda for America.

(APPLAUSE)

Sometimes a fine person has flawed ideas. This is such a time.

(APPLAUSE)

So, for these next few moments, I want to discuss the differences between Senator Dole and the man that we will nominate tonight -- profound differences on matters affecting our lives.

You have the right to know, because these differences will decide your future.

Remember, it was Senator Dole who said no to the Family and Medical Leave Act. Now, I should know.

I wrote the Family and Medical Leave Act.

(APPLAUSE)

I wrote it with two Republican senators. And for seven years, the single biggest obstacle to its passage was Senator Robert Dole.

(BOOS)

But President Clinton said yes, and now 42 million Americans can stay at home with a new child or a sick family member without living in fear that they will lose their jobs.

During a family crisis, no one should be forced to choose between their family and their work.

Mr. President, you did the right thing. You did the right thing for America.

(APPLAUSE)

Remember, Senator Dole said no to raising the minimum wage. President Clinton said, yes, it's time to honor an honest day's work with a living wage.

Mr. President, you did the right thing. You did the right thing for America.

(APPLAUSE)

Remember last year Senator Bob Dole said that he was proud to be one of only 12 members of Congress to vote against creating Medicare in 1965. And remember last year Senator Bob Dole and Speaker Gingrich voted to cut Medicare by $270 billion.

But for the president's veto pen -- but for that veto pen, they would have succeeded.

Now ask yourselves, who do you trust to protect Medicare?

Mr. President, you did the right thing. You did the right thing for America.

Remember that Senator Dole says that we should close the Department of Education and he voted to cut $30 billion for safer schools, higher standards and college loans.

President Clinton is expanding Head Start, getting guns and drugs out of our schools, and offering every student the same opportunity he had to earn a college education.

Mr. President, you did the right thing. You did the right thing for America.

(APPLAUSE)

Remember, Senator Dole has tried to turn a woman's wrenching choice -- personal choice -- into a constitutional crime. President Clinton believes that this most important decision is a decision between that woman, her conscience and her doctor.

(APPLAUSE)

President Clinton, you did the right thing. You did the right thing for America.

(APPLAUSE)

Now, at the 11th hour, Senator Dole proposes a flawed economic plan that will either explode the deficit or lead to withering cuts in Medicare, education and the environment.

President Clinton has put our economic house in order. And he offers a plan to lead us into a new era of growth and jobs, while honoring our abiding commitment to the elderly, the young and the earth we inhabit.

Mr. President, you're doing the right thing. You're doing the right thing for America.

(APPLAUSE)

My friends, a few hours ago, this young American president arrived here in Chicago.

(APPLAUSE)

And in a few hours from now, he will accept the nomination of our party.

And then he will depart and begin a new journey into the heart of America. And for that journey, he has the courage, the vision, the commitment to bring all Americans together on the threshold of a new century.

The choice, my fellow citizens, is yours. We're here tonight proud to offer you our choice.

I proudly place in nomination before this convention and this country the name of America's president -- William Jefferson Clinton.

(APPLAUSE)

END

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