CHICAGO — The Democratic National Convention set up its first night to feature speeches from the last Democrat to lose to Donald Trump and the last one to beat him. Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden were scheduled to be the main speakers in Chicago on Monday night, even as protesters against the war in Gaza churned a few blocks from the convention hall. Here are some takeaways from the first night of the convention.
A surprise Harris appearance to pay tribute to Biden The vice president made an unscheduled appearance onstage to pay tribute to Biden ahead of his own address to the convention. She told the president, “Thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you’ll continue to do.” On a night meant to honor the president who stepped aside to make way for Harris, the vice president added: “We are forever grateful to you.
” Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were in the stands to cheer her message. Harris, in her brief remarks, said that looking out on the crowd, “I see the beauty of our great nation,” stressing the importance of promoting diversity and embracing optimism.
Hillary Clinton's warning: Progress is “not guaranteed” Another of the night's major speakers, Hillary Clinton, once hoped to do what Harris is trying to achieve — become the first female president by defeating Trump. Clinton, of course, failed. Now, Democrats have another chance.
In excerpts of her spe.