"I was just thinking on the way downstairs. I was thinking on the way down the elevator: Tomorrow will be the first time in my life I don't have anything to do."
--Bob Dole, in his 1996 concession speech
Something, there is, about the concession speech. Maybe it's as simple as watching a political warrior who's given so much over so many months or even years admit it's over. Finally. And it's one thing to give such a speech when you knew it'd be over this particular night, as Bob Dole must've known that November night in 1996. Or Walter Mondale in 1984. But it must be especially hard to give a heartfelt concession when it's a surprise, as it must have been for John Kerry in 2004. And Hillary Clinton on Wednesday morning.
All the polls showed that things were going in her direction. Donald Trump had to win every single toss-up state, and maybe take a blue one here and there . . . and he did. The election slipped through her fingers. After all that effort. After all that time. After campaigning since memory runneth not to the contrary.
And then, come Wednesday morn, she stepped in front of the cameras, clearly exhausted and obviously disappointed, and joined the ranks of all those who elevated the level of public discourse with their concession speeches. Think of the gentleman Adlai Stevenson, who quoted Lincoln: "It hurts too much to laugh, but I'm too old to cry."
For who remembers a victory speech? It's the concessions that tell all:
"I promised you four years ago that I would never lie to you. So I can't stand here tonight and say it doesn't hurt. The people of the United States have made their choice, and, of course I accept that decision but, I have to admit, not with the same enthusiasm that I accepted the decision four years ago."
Even a devastated Jimmy Carter could scrape together a little humor, even on that night in 1980 when the American people not only spoke but fairly shouted.
Yes, concessions tell all. Even when that old populist William Jennings Bryan couldn't believe the American people didn't choose him in 1900: "I am sure that Republican policies will be repudiated by the people when the tendency of these policies is fully understood." Nobody accused him of being a good sport. Of course, the Rev. Bryan wasn't through with politics in 1900, and might have been planning his comeback, and another, and another.
Hillary Clinton might not have a comeback. Which might have made her concession Wednesday morning that much harder to give.
Hillary Clinton might have a bit of clairvoyant in her, too. It was as if she knew that a portion of the country wouldn't accept the winner, and would burn Donald Trump in effigy in more than one American city:
"We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought," she told an obviously stunned crowd of supporters. "But I still believe in America and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.
"Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power. We don't just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of law, the principle that we are all equal in rights and dignity, freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them."
She thanked her supporters, she thanked her running mate, she thanked her family. She even managed half of a joke and smile. Then she wrapped it up. Like all speeches, a short concession is the best kind:
"And to all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.
"Finally, finally, I am so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me. I count my blessings every single day that I am an American. And I still believe as deeply as I ever have that if we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strengthen our convictions and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.
"Because, you know--you know, I believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together. And you should never, ever regret fighting for that. You know, scripture tells us, 'Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.' My friends, let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there are more seasons to come. And there is more work to do."
It must have been a difficult speech to give. Which made it that much more edifying.
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Editorial on 11/12/2016