Barack Obama 2008 presidential election victory speech explained

Following his victory in the 2008 United States presidential election, then-President-elect Barack Obama gave his victory speech[1] at Grant Park in his home city of Chicago,[2] on November 4, 2008, before an estimated crowd of 240,000.[3] [4] Viewed on television and the Internet by millions of people around the globe, Obama's speech focused on the major issues facing the United States and the world, all echoed through his campaign slogan of change.[5] He also mentioned his maternal grandmother Madelyn Dunham, who had died just two nights earlier.

References in the speech

The speech heavily referenced the inaugural addresses of former presidents John F. Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln, and also referred to speeches of Martin Luther King Jr.[6]

Echoing Martin Luther King's "I've Been to the Mountaintop" address, he declared, "But tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America" and "The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even in one term—but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there." At another point in the speech he again referenced King when referring to the "arc of history", a phrase King used regularly, most notably after the Selma to Montgomery marches, saying "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice".

Obama directly quoted Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address, by saying "As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection."

Obama also referred to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address by saying "...that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth".

Obama proclaimed, "It's been a long time coming, but ... change has come to America", an allusion to the Sam Cooke song "A Change Is Gonna Come".[7] [8]

Obama also made a reference to a prospective presidential pet for his daughters.[9] [10]

Sasha and Malia ... I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us ... to the White House.

Issues

Obama spoke of the core issues facing the United States at the time, among them the economy, and the Iraq War.[11]

On the economic crisis:

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

A message to America's enemies and friends:

To those — to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

Forward-thinking challenges:

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.[12]

To our future as Americans:

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Significance

In his speech, Obama reflected on the hard times of the campaign and the "challenges that America would face ahead." TV coverage of the speech showed Jesse Jackson and Oprah Winfrey weeping in the crowd.[13] [14] Obama's speech also marked the first time a President-elect referred positively to gay Americans in an acceptance speech. Sam Perry experienced a brief moment of fame when Oprah Winfrey leaned on him while crying on his shoulder.

Grant Park was the location of many protests of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which were significant for ending in violence, riots and police brutality. CNN declared, "History gave Grant Park another chance Tuesday as the scene of a peaceful and jubilant celebration of Barack Obama's presidential victory."[15] Obama's speech has been praised as having "...the rare ability to cultivate the things that are common to all human beings, regardless of artificial and arbitrary distinctions."[16]

Ann Nixon Cooper

One of the primary references within Obama's speech was to Ann Nixon Cooper, a 106-year-old resident of Atlanta, Georgia.

Obama also made reference to his popular campaign chant, "Yes We Can":

Security

Due to the general high security threat involved, Obama delivered the speech protected by two pieces of bulletproof glass (2inches thick, 10feet high, 15feet long) to each side of the lectern to deflect any shots from the skyscrapers overlooking Grant Park.[17] [18] A no-fly zone was also imposed over the area, with only police helicopters allowed in the air.[18] The gathering involved the deployment of thousands of police, Army and Secret Service personnel. The event cost the Obama campaign an estimated $2 million.[19] [20] Even with the large threat at hand, no arrests were made related to the event.

Music

Prior to Obama's emergence onto the stage, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" by Stevie Wonder, "Only in America" by Brooks & Dunn, and "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" by Jackie Wilson were played. When Obama, Joe Biden, and their families appeared on stage following the speech, music from the films Remember the Titans, composed by Trevor Rabin, and The Patriot, composed by John Williams, was played.[21] [22] "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen was also played following the speech (Springsteen had endorsed Obama).

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Sen. Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech in Chicago, Ill.. CQ Transcripts Wire . November 4, 2008 . The Washington Post. November 5, 2008.
  2. News: Obama Acceptance Speech . Bambi . November 5, 2008 . Times of the Internet . November 5, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081108024514/http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/17106.html . November 8, 2008 .
  3. News: Chicago News | abc7chicago.com. November 5, 2008. ABC. December 17, 2016. City officials estimated the crowd at Grant Park to be 240,000 people.. July 31, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130731014732/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/politics&id=6489707. live.
  4. News: Rally crowd heads home for the night . The Chicago Tribune . November 5, 2008 .
  5. News: Residents relate the personal significance of this election. Gilbert. Debbie. November 6, 2008. Gainesville Times. 2008-11-08. https://archive.today/20130110220737/http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/article/10876/. January 10, 2013. dead. mdy-all.
  6. https://web.archive.org/web/20110710191354/http://www.emilephaneuf.com/?p=29 Obama's victory speech: What happened 221 years ago?
  7. News: David Hinckley, Sam Cooke's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' theme song for Barack Obama's presidency . New York Daily News . November 7, 2008 .
  8. Web site: Barack Obama And Sam Cooke on Election Night . Kerry Candaele . Huffington Post . November 7, 2008 . December 17, 2016.
  9. News: Nation debates the Obamas' White House puppy . https://web.archive.org/web/20081113125051/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/3402174/Nation-debates-the-Obamas-White-House-puppy.html. dead. November 13, 2008. Spillius. Alex. November 7, 2008. Telegraph. November 8, 2008 . London.
  10. News: Obama's girls about to go into the fishbowl. November 7, 2008 . CNN. November 8, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081211195327/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/07/first.kids/?iref=hpmostpop. December 11, 2008 . live.
  11. Web site: Economy Dominates Obama's Speech . TAPPER. JAKE. November 7, 2008. ABC News. 2008-11-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20081125200000/http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=6209069&page=1. November 25, 2008 . live.
  12. News: Transcript: 'This is your victory,' says Obama. CNN .
  13. News: Barack Obama's win: News to make Jesse Jackson weep | Top of the Ticket. Los Angeles Times. 2008-11-04. 2008-11-11.
  14. News: No-longer-a-mystery man and Oprah reunite . Chicago Tribune. Colleen Mastony . November 11, 2008 . 2008-11-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081206071601/http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/chi-110708-oprah-man-story%2C0%2C4895792.story . December 6, 2008 . dead .
  15. News: Chicago's Grant Park turns into jubilation park. CNN . 2008-11-05. 2008-11-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20081208233130/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/05/chicago.reax/?iref=mpstoryview. December 8, 2008 . live.
  16. http://www.americansatellite.org/2008/08/as-u-war-obama-helps-us-believe-we-help.html "Obama Helps Us Believe, & We Help Him"
  17. News: Fears grow for Barack Obama's security . https://web.archive.org/web/20081108024847/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/3387103/Fears-grow-for-Barack-Obamas-security.html. dead. 8 November 2008. Winnett . Robert. 5 November 2008. The Telegraph. 2008-11-10 . London.
  18. Web site: Bullet-proof glass at Obama victory rally. ERWIN. MILES. November 6, 2008. Metro UK. November 8, 2008.
  19. News: Clout Street: Daley puts Obama rally tab at $2 million . Chicago Tribune . October 23, 2008. November 11, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081026022647/http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2008/10/daley-puts-obam.html. October 26, 2008 . live.
  20. Web site: Obama's election night party will cost $2 million . The Southern . October 24, 2008 . November 11, 2008.
  21. Web site: Goldstein . Patrick . The Big Picture: Hey, Obama, Name That Tune . Los Angeles Times . November 6, 2008 .
  22. Web site: Seelye . Katharine Q. . The Caucus: Live Blogging election night . The New York Times . November 5, 2008 .