Former President Bill Clinton took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Tuesday night to help pass the party torch and endorse the Harris-Walz ticket on Wednesday night.
The former president took the stage to thunderous applause and acknowledged the clear change in mood in the party following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, saying, “Aren’t you proud to be a Democrat?”
Clinton repeatedly attacked the Republicans’ economic record, saying that since the end of the Cold War, 50 million jobs had been created under the Democratic leadership, while only one million had been created under the Republicans.
Clinton also lashed out at Republican candidate Donald Trump, partly because of his penchant for mentioning fictional characters in his speeches.
“If you’re sending a signal to other countries, you want them to know that you’re honest about what you say and what you believe, whether they agree with you or not,” Clinton said. “What are they supposed to make of the endless tributes to the late, great Hannibal Lecter?”
Clinton’s appearance was a reminder that the convention at the United Center served as a transition for the party away from triangulation and NAFTA and toward a party of infrastructure spending and child tax credits.
“I’m excited to see all these young leaders,” Clinton said. “They look better, they sound better and they’re going to be exciting.”
Watch President Bill Clinton’s full speech at the 2024 DNC
Live updates from the Democratic National Convention: What time does the DNC start? Who are the speakers?
What you should know about Bill Clinton at the DNC convention
- Who are you: 42nd President of the United States
- What role do they play: Party elder, party conference speaker
- Key quote: “Will this president take us backwards or forwards? Will this president offer our children a better future?”
When and where will the DNC take place
The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19 to 22 in Chicago, Illinois.
The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the main venue for the DNC.
Chicago has hosted the Democratic National Convention eleven times, most recently in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term at the United Center.
How to watch and stream the DNC 2024
USA TODAY will provide live stream coverage of the DNC every night Monday through Thursday on YouTube.
The convention will be broadcast live on the organization’s website from the United Center in Chicago on Monday from 6:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time) and on the other days from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time).
What are the themes for each night of the DNC?
The DNC announced the evening’s themes for the convention. The title of the convention is “For the People, For Our Future.”
Here are the topics for each evening:
- Monday: “For the people”
- Tuesday: “A bold vision for America’s future”
- Wednesday: “A fight for our freedoms”
- Thursday: “For our future”
