Barbara Charline Jordan - 1976 DNC Keynote Address

Barbara Jordan Democratic National Convention Keynote Address


　　Delivered12July1976 .NewYork NY 


　　Thank you ladies and gentlemenfor a very warm reception .


　　It was one hundred and forty four years ago that members of the Democratic Party first metin conventionto select a Presidential candidate Since that time .Democratshave continued toconvene once every four years and draft a party platform and nominate a Presidential candidate .And our meeting this week is a continuation of that tradition .But there is something different abouttonight .There is something special about tonight .Whatis different .Whatis special .


　　I .Barbara Jordan .am a keynote speaker .


　　When -.A lot of years passed since 1832 .and during that time it would have beenmostunusual for any national political party to ask a Barbara Jordanto deliver a keynote address .Buttonight .here I am .And Ifeel --.Ifeelthatnotwithstanding the pastthatmy presence here is one additional bit of evidence that the American Dream need not forever be deferred 


　　Now --.Now thatIhave this grand distinction .what in the world am Isupposed to say .I could easily spend this time praising the accomplishments of this party and attacking the Republicans --.but I don t choose to do that 


　　I could list the many problems which Americans have I could listthe problems which cause people to feelcynical .angry .frustrated .problems which include lack of integrity ingovernment .the feeling thatthe individualnolonger counts .the reality of material and spiritual poverty .the feeling that the grand American experiment is failing or has failed .Icould recite these problems .and thenIcould sit down and offer no solutions .ButI don tchoose to dothat either .The citizens of America expectmore .They deserve and they wantmore than a recital of problems .


　　We are a people in a quandary aboutthe present .We are a people in search of our future .We are a people in search of a national community .We are a people trying not only to solve the problems of the present .unemployment .inflation .but we are attempting on a larger scale tofulfillthe promise of America We are attempting to fulfill our national purpose .to create and sustain a society in which all of us are equal .


　　Throughout -.Throughout our history .when people have looked for new ways to solve their problems and to uphold the principles of this nation .many times they have turned to politicalparties .They have oftenturned to the Democratic Party .What is it Whatis it aboutthe Democratic Party thatmakes it the instrumentthe people use whenthey search for ways toshape their future .Well I believe the answer tothat questionlies in our concept of governing Our concept of governing is derived from our view of people .Itis a concept deeply rooted in a set of beliefsfirmly etched in the national conscience of all of us .


　　Now what are these beliefs .First .we believe inequality for all and privileges for none .This is a belief --.This is a belief that each American .regardless of background .has equal standing in the public forum --.all of us .Because --.Because we believe this idea sofirmly .we are aninclusive rather than an exclusive party .Let everybody come 


　　I think itno accidentthatmost of those immigrating to America inthe 19th century identified withthe Democratic Party .We are a heterogeneous party made up of Americans of diverse backgrounds We believe thatthe people are the source of all governmental power .that the authority of the people is to be extended .not restricted 


　　This --.This can be accomplished only by providing eachcitizenwith every opportunity toparticipate inthe management of the government .They must have that .we believe We believe that the government which represents the authority of all the people not just one interest group but all the people has an obligationto actively --.underscore actively --.seek to remove those obstacles which would block individual achievement -.obstacles emanating from race .sex .economic condition .The governmentmust remove them .seek to remove them .We 


　　We are a party --.We are a party of innovation .We donot reject our traditions .but we are willing to adapt to changing circumstances .when change we must .We are willing to suffer the discomfort of change in order to achieve a better future .We have a positive vision of the future founded on the belief that the gap betweenthe promise and reality of America can one day be finally closed We believe that 


　　This .my friends is the bedrock of our concept of governing .This is a part of the reason why Americans have turned tothe Democratic Party .These are the foundations upon which a national community can be built .Let allunderstand thatthese guiding principles cannot be discarded for short term political gains .They represent whatthis country is all about .They are indigenous tothe Americanidea .And theseare principles which are notnegotiable 


　　In other times --.In other times .Icould stand here and give this kind of exposition onthe beliefs of the Democratic Party and that would be enough .But today that is not enough .People wantmore .Thatis not sufficientreason for the majority of the people of this country to decide to vote Democratic .We have mademistakes .We realize that .We admit our mistakes .In our haste to do all things for all people .we did notforesee the full consequences of our actions .And when the people raised their voices .we didn t hear .But our deafness was only a temporary condition .and not anirreversible condition .


　　Even as I stand here and admitthat we have made mistakes .Istill believe that as the people of America sit in judgment on each party .theywill recognize that our mistakes were mistakes of the heart .They ll recognize that .


　　And now --.now we mustlook tothe future .Letus heed the voice of the people and recognize their commonsense .If we do not .we not only blaspheme our politicalheritage .we ignore the common ties that bind all Americans .Many fearthe future .Many are distrustful of their leaders .and believe thattheir voices are never heard .Many seek only to satisfy their private work --.wants .to satisfytheir private interests .Butthis is the great danger America faces --.that we will cease tobe one nation and becomeinstead a collection of interestgroups .city againstsuburb .region against region .individual against individual .each seeking to satisfy private wants .If thathappens .who then will speak for America .Who then willspeak for the common good .


　　This is the question which must be answered in1976 .Are we to be one people bound together by common spirit .sharing in a common endeavor .or will we become a dividednation .For all of its uncertainty .we cannotflee the future .We mustnot become the "NewPuritans .and reject our society .We must address and master the future together .It can be done if we restore the belief that we share a sense of nationalcommunity .that we share a common national endeavor .It can be done 


　　There is no executive order .there is nolawthat can require the American people to form a national community .This we must do as individuals .and if we do it as individuals .there is noPresident of the United States who canveto that decision .


　　As a first step --.As a first step .we must restore our belief in ourselves .We are a generous people .so why can t we be generous with eachother .We need totake toheartthe words spoken by Thomas Jefferson .


　　Letus restore the social intercourse --."Let us restore to socialintercourse thatharmony and that affection without which liberty and evenlife are but dreary things "


　　A nationis formed by the willingness of each of us to share in the responsibility for upholding the common good A governmentis invigorated when each one of us is willing to participate inshaping the future of this nation .Inthis election year .we must define the "common good and begin againto shape a common future .Leteach person dohis or her part .If one citizenis unwilling to participate .all of us are going tosuffer .For the American idea .thoughit is shared by all of us .is realized ineach one of us .


　　And now .what are those of us who are elected public officials supposed to do .We callourselves "public servants .but I lltell you this .We as public servants must set an example for the rest of the nation .Itis hypocriticalfor the public official to admonish and exhortthe people to uphold the common good if we are derelict in upholding the common good .More is required --.More is required of public officials than slogans and handshakes and press releases .More is required We must hold ourselves strictly accountable We must provide the people with a vision of the future .


　　If we promise as public officials .we must deliver .If --.If we as public officials propose .we must produce .If we say tothe American people ."Itis time for you to be sacrificial .--.sacrifice .If the public official says that .we [public officials .must be the firstto give .We mustbe .And again .if we make mistakes .we must be willing to admitthem .We have to dothat .What we have to dois strike a balance betweenthe idea that governmentshould doeverything and the idea .the belief .that government oughtto donothing Strike a balance .


　　Letthere be noillusions about the difficulty of forming this kind of a national community .It s tough .difficult .not easy .But a spirit of harmony will survive in America only if each of us remembers that we share a common destiny .if each of us remembers .whenself interest and bitterness seem to prevail .that we share a common destiny .


　　I have confidence that we canform this kind of national community .I have confidence that the Democratic Party canleadthe way .Ihave that confidence .


　　We cannot improve onthe system of government handed downto us by the founders of the Republic .There is no way to improve uponthat .But what we can do is to find new ways toimplementthatsystem and realize our destiny .


　　Now I began this speech by commenting to youon the uniqueness of a Barbara Jordanmaking a keynote address .Well I am going toclose my speech by quoting a Republican President and I ask you that as you listen tothese words of Abraham Lincoln .relate them tothe concept of a national community in which every last one of us participates .


　　"As I would not be a slave .soI would not be a master ".This --.This --."This expresses my idea of Democracy .Whatever differsfrom this .to the extent of the difference .is noDemocracy "


　　Thank you