CHICAGO — Bill Clinton has experienced and done all of this – at least as far as his speeches at the Democratic National Convention are concerned.
Clinton, who turned 78 on Monday, joked several times on stage at 2024 in Chicago about his age, which he described as “not quite as old as Donald Trump.” His Southern accent sounded husky but firm.
The audience was enthusiastic nonetheless, giving him a standing ovation and chanting “USA” and “Bill!” as he reminisced about his time in office.
He then began his comedy routine, joking that Harris would “break my record as the president who spends the most time at McDonald’s.”
Next came his attacks on Trump, sticking to the message that had dominated the convention: that the Republican candidate was selfish – rather than denouncing all of his untruths, as Democrats used to do.
“What is our opponent doing with his voice?” Clinton asked. “He’s mostly talking about himself. So the next time you hear that, don’t count the lies. Count the facts.”
He was reminiscent of President Barack Obama’s joke the night before about the size of the crowd, which went down well. But Clinton had an even more sophisticated sense of humor at her disposal.
“He’s like one of those tenors,” Clinton said, “trying to open his lungs by saying ‘I, I, I, I.'”
Former US President Bill Clinton greets his fans on stage on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
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According to CNN, Clinton reportedly ripped up the original draft of his speech on Wednesday after watching former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama each deliver their own calls to action on Tuesday night.
The energy in the arena was so contagious that Clinton decided to make her speech “funnier, more youthful and more joyful.”
And it seemed to work – the audience laughed at all his jokes.
When he praised Tim Walz, the Minnesota delegation began to chant. When he mentioned Arkansas, his home state in the back began to cheer.
Clinton then turned away from the teleprompter in a serious gesture, acknowledging his advanced age.
“I have no idea how many more of these events I’ll be able to attend,” Clinton said as the crowd fell silent. “But I want you to know this: If you vote for this team. If you can put them in office and bring a breath of fresh air to this, you’ll be proud of it for the rest of your life. Your children will be proud of it. Your grandchildren will be proud of it.”
The crowd roared.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta (center) applauds former US President Bill Clinton’s speech.
KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images
In recent years, Clinton battled heart disease and underwent a series of heart surgeries, including quadruple bypass surgery in 2004.
In 2010, he was hospitalized with what doctors called a routine artery blockage, but his doctors at the time praised him for taking the matter seriously and taking the necessary steps to manage his condition.
“It wasn’t because of his lifestyle or his diet,” said Dr. Allan Schwartz, a physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital, during a press conference on Clinton’s health. “He really followed the rules.”
