Politicians give a lot of speeches, and most of them sink into the fog. Most of them deserve to sink into the fog. But occassionally there is a speech with genuine consequence. Hillary Clinton gave such a speech on June 2, 2016.
When we think of great speeches, we tend to think of phrases that live on long after their context has been lost. We tend to think of speeches that border on poetry, and words that touch the soul. The vaunting optimism of “I have a dream.” The artfully altered sequence of “Ask not what your country can do for you.” The desperate courage of “We shall never surrender.” But not every great speech is made up of great language.
Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy speech on June 2 will not go into the history books. It won’t be taught to school kids in 2030. It won’t be etched into marble.
But it will be studied by political scientists, by campaigns, and by candidates for a long, long time to come. Because without that speech what happened yesterday in California, and New Mexico, and South Dakota wouldn’t have happened. Without that speech, Hillary Clinton would still have secured the nomination, but she would not have sailed into the victory with momentum clearly on her side.
The most important effects of the speech weren’t in Democratic voting booths. In the most simplistic, but also most accurate terms, that speech was precisely this: Standing up to a bully. By standing up to the bully who had so dominated the Republican playground throughout the winter and spring, Hillary—in the space of 35 minutes—made it possible for others to do the same.
You would not be seeing the press hold Trump to account for his statements without Hillary’s speech. You would not be seeing Mark Kirk walk back his announced support of the Republican nominee without that speech. You would not be seeing Donald Trump finally held to account for at least some of the vile statements he made without that speech. That speech didn’t just power Hillary’s campaign—it empowered everyone to remember who we are. What we stand for. What we won’t stand for. If America spent the last year flirting with fascism, that speech began the process of recalling us to our right selves.
Not every speech is a poem. Some speeches are punches. Hillary Clinton landed that speech right on the nose, and it changed the direction, the energy, the feeling of this race. Just. Like. That.
The best thing about that speech? She has another one in her. Maybe a whole lot more. Speeches with that same deliberate, determined, confident force. If she does, Hillary Clinton can move the needle on more than just giving permission to notice that Emperor Trump is parading around in the buff. She can drive this country with confidence. Move us individually and together.
Maybe she can do more than give a great speech. Maybe she can be a great president.
I’m ready to find out.