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U.S. Representative Harold Ford delivers remarks at Democratic National Convention
AUGUST 15, 2000
SPEAKERS: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD E. FORD, JR. (D-TN)
FORD: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I am -- I am honored to speak tonight before a convention that
will nominate the favorite son of my home state to be the next
president of these United States.
(APPLAUSE)
I recognize that I stand here this evening because of the brave
men and women, many of whom were no older than I am today, who fought
and stood and oftentimes sat down to help create that more perfect
union.
On that note, let me pay a special tribute and thanks to the
Kennedy family and Reverend Jesse Jackson for your enduring commitment
to our party and to our nation. You have made our party better and
our nation stronger. We say thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
But I also stand here this evening representing a new generation,
a generation committed to the ideals of the past but inspired by an
unshakable confidence in our future. In every neighborhood in my home
town of Memphis and all across this nation, I see young people
tutoring and mentoring, building homes and caring for seniors, feeding
the hungry. I also see them using their entrepreneurial spirit to
start companies, to start nonprofits and to drive this new economy
that has produced this record growth.
America, we stand at a magnificent moment, with the ability to
unleash an amazing amount of imagination. I say to all of those in my
generation and I say to all Americans who share our spirit -- if you
want a future that belongs to you, if you want a future that is for
everyone, then join with us to make Al Gore our next president and Joe
Lieberman our next vice president.
(APPLAUSE)
FORD: We know -- we know that there are some who understand the
future. But too often as they gaze into the distance, they fail to
know how to make sure that it serves all of the people. Then there
are others who fight tirelessly for the people, but they don't see
beyond the horizon.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, Al Gore is that rare leader, who both
has the vision for the future and understands that we can only realize
its full promise when all of our people share in it.
I remember meeting Al Gore for the very first time. It was
across my kitchen table at my family's home in Memphis. My mom and
dad, and Jake (ph) and Isaac (ph), whom are here this evening.
As often was the case, my brothers, Jake and Isaac, and I were
right where we wanted to be -- next to my daddy, as he and my mom and
Al Gore discussed the issues of the day.
It was a time when on the heels of Vietnam and Watergate, that
most young leaders and young people turned away from public service,
but Al Gore didn't turn away. He jumped feet first into public life
and was elected one of Tennessee's youngest congressmen ever. That's
when he became my role model, I might add.
(APPLAUSE)
As a young congressman, he wasted very little time. He held some
of the first hearings investigating the effect of global warming on
our health, our environment and our economy.
FORD: At the height of the Cold War, when both sides of the
aisle and both sides of the Atlantic were stuck on how best to bring
peace and security to America and to the world, while keeping us safe
and strong at home, Al Gore, at the tender age of 34, offered a
comprehensive strategy to reduce the threat of nuclear arms while
keeping America safe and strong at home.
Both superpowers took notice, and Al Gore helped change the
debate.
More than 20 years ago, Al Gore called for serious campaign
finance reform. You know, I was only 4 years old when my dad first
ran for Congress and won. He didn't have very much money when he was
running the first time. So I cut his very first radio ad. I said to
the people of the 9th District of Tennessee that if you want a
congressman that believes in better jobs, better housing and lower
cookie prices, go to the polls and vote for my daddy for Congress. He
won that election.
But what I learned then, as I know now, that political
advertising costs then as it does now. While I recognize the
importance of political adverting, I feel passionately that the people
of this great nation and certainly my generation, in order to get us
more engaged, we have to reform our campaign finance laws.
(APPLAUSE)
Some...
(APPLAUSE)
... some may pose for reform in photo ops, but Al Gore will sign
a campaign finance reform bill his first day in office, when this
Democratic Congress sends it to him.
(APPLAUSE)
FORD: America and Democratic delegates, the choice before us --
a choice that in many ways weighs heavier on my generation than any
other -- is not what kind of America will we have in the next four
years, but what kind of America will we have in the next 40? Will the
amazing advances in science and medicine of tomorrow be fenced off for
the few, or will there be tools for all of us to build better lives
with?
At this critical time, America needs a leader with the intellect
to understand the complexities we face, a leader with experience who
can grasp the challenges of our world. At this critical time,
Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike, America needs Al Gore
and Joe Lieberman.
(APPLAUSE)
Thank you.
I remember the fear many of my college classmates in Pennsylvania
faced, some eight years ago, when we graduated from college and were
searching for jobs. For many of us, finding a good job was a tough
task. Well, eight years later and 22 million jobs later, the future
of America is back where it ought to be -- on the up for young people
in Pennsylvania, in Tennessee and all across this great nation.
(APPLAUSE)
FORD: But you know, some in the other party would have us go
back: back to a past where prosperity only touches the well-off and
well-connected; back to a past where children learn from outdated text
books and parents can't scrape together enough money to send them to
college; back to a past where polluters write our environmental laws;
back to a past where politicians run up enormous deficits, run
factories out of business and run the economy into the ground.
Well, America, our vision is far different than theirs. Al Gore
and Joe Lieberman believe the future is for everyone.
Imagine if you will for a moment, a debt-free economy strong
enough that every American can share in the American dream. Imagine a
health care system where every American receives the medicine he or
she needs, and where no senior is forced to stay up late at night
deciding whether to buy food or fill a subscription.
Imagine a society...
(APPLAUSE)
Imagine a society that treats seniors with the respect and
dignity they deserve, and where Social Security and Medicare are
strengthened not only for our parents and grandparents, but for our
children and grandchildren.
Imagine a nation of clean coastlines and safe drinking water,
pristine parks and air that our kids can breathe as they play in the
back yard and even those parks.
We all recognize, as Democrats and as Americans, that no issue is
more critical to our nation's continued success than how and where we
educate our children.
FORD: If we can find the will and resources to build prison
after prison after prison, then surely we can find the will and
resources to build new schools...
(APPLAUSE)
... to hire new teachers, to connect every classroom to the
Internet. Surely...
(APPLAUSE)
... surely, we can pay teachers what they're worth and hold
schools just as accountable for results. America, surely we can do
better by our children.
(APPLAUSE)
Imagine a world where we give all children a first-class
education. Well, America, it is time to stop imagining. Tonight, I
call on all of my reform-minded Republican and Independent friends to
join us in our crusade, to join us in making this bold imagination a
reality.
You know, when I first decided to run for Congress four years ago
in 1996, I, like most candidates -- and I've met so many since being
here over the past few days -- was hoping and excited about all of the
invitations that I might receive to speak at various events. I was so
excited that I was waiting by the phone for those invitations.
But as you young candidates and new candidates certainly find,
that isn't always the case. But there was one forum and one place
where I was often welcome, where I was welcomed with great smiles,
where I was able to gain my footing as a candidate and develop my
momentum as a candidate, and that was at Kindergarten graduations.
(APPLAUSE)
FORD: I spoke at more kindergarten graduations than anyone in my
district ever knew existed.
(APPLAUSE)
As a matter of fact, the very first school I visited, Ms. Velma
Louis Jones (ph), who's here from our great state, the head of our
teacher's association, she invited me.
But as I spoke at those graduations -- and I continue to do so --
I was struck by the pride in the eyes of those 5-year-olds and the
eyes of their families. In may ways it was magical. I couldn't help
but think about the horrors we hear about kids when they grow up
joining gangs and bringing guns to school. For when they're 5 and 6,
they're still ours.
For those children and their families, America, we must continue
working for a better life and a better world. As we turn our
attention to the choice at hand, let us remember those children in
kindergartens in Memphis and all across this nation, and remember in
the end what this election is really all about: them.
Yes, there will be talk throughout this campaign about budget
surpluses, tax cuts, reform on a whole array of fronts, but in the end
it's really just all about them.
FORD: And so with those 5-year-olds in mind, our first step in
encouraging their dreams and unleashing their imaginations is by
electing Al Gore the next president of these United States.
(APPLAUSE)
For their sake we can't go back. For their sake we must go
forward. For their sake we must build a future for everyone.
Thank you, God bless you, and good night.
(APPLAUSE)
END
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