“Putting People First”
In 1992, the Dow Jones hovered around 3,200 points, 35 states had ratified the Equal Rights Amendment, Johnny Carson appeared for the last time on “The Tonight Show,” and I went to the Democratic National Convention! Now that the political convention season 2024 is underway, memories of my trip to the Convention in NYC have swirled in my head. One of the highlights of my life; it feels like it was yesterday. We were recovering from the Reagan Era and needed to get back to focusing on people, equality for women, keeping democracy alive, and strengthening the economy.
When I told Shirley I had accepted the alternative slot, she said, “Elizabeth, you are an elected member of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee. Call Dennis and tell him ‘thank you,’ but you will run as a delegate from the state committee.
I said, “I told them I was honored to be part of the Tsongas slate.”
Shirley sighed, tore her list of committee members, handed me half, and said, “You call those members, and I will call the others and ask them to vote for you. You’re going to the convention as a delegate.” It worked! It’s been a while since I’ve asked Shirley for advice, but we stay in contact and share political and family stories.
I worked for the State Comptroller’s Office in Massachusetts and kept my political activities to myself. At the time, the House Committee on Ways and Means approved every employee position on the state’s payroll as part of the state budget. In my job, I ensured that only the approved personnel positions appeared in the payroll system, which I did every year before July 1. The state budget, however, was passed late in 1992. I was on the train to New York City on July 13, comparing the budget to the state payroll system. While everyone else was partying on the train, I sat in the corner of the last seat and reviewed the budget. I could not tell anyone what I was doing for fear that one of the reporters on the train would write the story, Party Train Makes Decisions about Mass State Personnel. I could never begin to explain my way out of that. It’s about perception in government. There’s a saying: “Today a peacock, tomorrow a feather duster!” I faxed the results to the Comptroller’s office before I entered my hotel room.
Staying at the Sheraton Manhattan on 7th Avenue was a big deal for me. The last time I was in NYC, I was with my mother, and we stayed at my aunt’s apartment. A Boston delegate and I reserved a room for two and started our adventure.
It all began at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The 41st Democratic National Convention of the United States commenced at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 1992, with the roll call of the 50 states, Democrats Abroad, Guam, and Virgin Islands, representing 4,288 delegates present. When a state announced its presence, the delegates cheered and waved signs, most reading Clinton, People First. Mine read Tsongas.
The dynamic Governor of Texas, Ann Richards, the convention chair, stepped onto the red, white, and blue dais and opened the first night with her clear, projective voice: “I am pro-choice, and I vote!”
The Garden erupted into cheers and demonstrations. Demonstrating is like walking a picket line on steroids. Everyone was excited! In 1992, women’s rights were on the table!
Richards quickly convinced the delegates that Ronald Reagan and George Bush’s 12 years were finally over. She declared, “And as far as the White House is concerned, honey, you can shut out the lights; the party is over.”
1992 became known as “The Year of the Woman,” partly due to the Democratic Convention. Women in Congress, governors, mayors, and chairs of convention committees topped the speakers’ agendas. For me, this was a welcome departure. My local newspaper quoted me: “It was the first time not only the right words were spoken, but not by just a bunch of ties.”
Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland announced that she was the only democratic woman in the U.S. Senate and wanted more women to caucus with. The senator introduced six women as leaders for the 90s, running as Democrats for the U.S. Senate. The states elected four in November 1992: Carol Mosely Braun from Illinois, Representative Barbara Boxer from California, Dianne Feinstein from California, and Patty Murray from Washington. Today, these leaders are household names.
At the end of the evening, the Mass delegation was bused to a NYC speakeasy in the basement of a nondescript city building. Food, drinks, and music were in abundance! I recognized the voice of my favorite political commentator from Boston. I introduced myself and thanked him for keeping us informed. It was a great night. We returned to the hotel around 3 a.m. and found people sleeping in our room. It was very late, and I thought, what the heck? This is all new to me, and I lay on the bed with my clothes on. My eyes closed, and I was out.
On the second night, the leaders spoke of familiar unfinished business. Voting rights, health care, education, and the frailty of democracy! Support for these issues was crowded under the large Democratic tent, which provided hope and possibilities for the future-putting people first with universal health care, for example.
Vermont Governor Howard Dean informed the delegates that 85% of healthcare dollars were spent in the last two years of life. “What if,” he wondered, “we devoted these resources to AIDS research, Pap smears, mammograms, and prenatal care.” Dean, a physician, asked, “Or if we spent some of these dollars on family planning instead of stacking the Supreme Court to take away women’s rights?” (Reagan nominated Justices William Rehnquist and Antonin Scalia, and G.H.W. Bush nominated Justice Clarence Thomas.) I didn’t see the significance of those appointments at the time because I believed that abortion was protected by the 14th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution after the Roe v. Wade decision.
Women’s rights have been debated since the early 1800s. 1920 brought significant progress when women won the right to vote, and in 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that abortion was legal under the U.S. Constitution. Other advances brought women closer to equality in the 70s and 80s: the ability to have personal credit cards and own homes in their own names, and improvements to employment and education laws. My seatmate Deb and I agreed that we were progressing but feared that full equality might not be achieved in our time.
Mayor Jan Laverty Jones of Las Vegas, NV, spoke about choosing leaders who understood what working Americans go through daily, year after year, to make life better for their families and leave a bright legacy for their children. Women traditionally had this role, another great reason to add them to the decision-making table.
Inspired by the women leaders, I decided I would never again attend an event for “Women for a Male Candidate.” This type of gathering, which involved a sea of women rooting and fundraising for a male candidate, was popular at the time. It was demeaning when male candidates reached out to women for support, but it wasn’t reciprocal. Women had to work harder at fundraising and visibility. I have kept that promise to this day. Of course, I vote for male candidates but don’t join such groups. Not always a popular position.
Representative Nancy Pelosi from California was in her third term. She co-chaired the Convention Platform Committee, which documents the party’s values and plans for the next term, which its candidates agree to uphold. Representative Pelosi discussed jobs as a central part of the platform-”good jobs, better jobs,” and insisted that jobs would inform our budget, tax, and trade policies. Again, the delegates cheered! At the night’s end, I was exhausted from the hours of cheering and standing. After a quick late-night supper, I returned to my hotel and laid down next to an unknown delegate again. I was too tired to care.
Since taking my seat at the convention, it had been a little uncomfortable for me to be a Tsongas delegate. The Massachusetts Clinton team aggressively lobbied for me to vote for Bill Clinton. I told them, “When Tsongas releases me, I will support Clinton for president.” That answer wasn’t compelling enough to stop them from hassling me. I understood they were Clinton’s “whips,” and they were supposed to do anything to increase his votes in the state delegation, but my first choice for president was U.S. Senator Paul Tsongas.
Tsongas believed we could create our destiny. The Democratic Party was one of social inclusion, where children of color could develop self-esteem and keep it for life, where women and their doctors made reproductive healthcare decisions, and where lesbian and gay teenagers could enjoy life without discrimination. These were reassuring words. Again, putting people first.
But by Day 2, Tsongas didn’t have enough delegate votes to challenge Clinton for the nomination. He gathered his delegates during a break and released us from voting for him, which increased my admiration for Tsongas. He wanted a unanimous convention vote for Governor Clinton.
Before the convention’s third night, Senator Ted and Vicki Kennedy invited the Mass Delegation to a boat tour around Manhattan. Remember the Dennis who offered me an alternate delegate slot on the Tsongas slate? He was on the boat. We had yet to meet in person, so a friend pointed him out. I bought two beers and introduced myself. We toasted Clinton, and he thanked me for supporting Tsongas until he released us.
That night, I was finally a Clinton delegate. There were many, many nomination speeches for Clinton and Gore! The convention hall was a sea of signs and excitement. The roll call by each state solidified the Clinton/Gore ticket. This expected outcome brought even more joy and demonstration in the aisles for the next president of the United States! I needed an early night to prepare for the convention’s final day, so I left and returned to my hotel. The beds were full this time, so I slept on the floor. I was surprised at my surrender to this downgrade. I was high on hope for the future.
Hillary Clinton joined the Mass Delegation for breakfast the following day. It was my first time meeting her. She was still recovering from the baking cookies comment, “I suppose I could have stayed home, baked cookies, and hosted teas.” She was looking for a friendly group and found one. We enjoyed a few laughs, and Hillary generously greeted every delegate that morning!
On the 4th and last night of the convention, Clinton and Gore gave their acceptance speeches. The “people first” theme continued. Clinton criticized the Reagan/Bush years because the country had lost the battle for economic opportunity and social justice. The “trickle-down” economics did not work. Reducing taxes for the rich and hoping some of their additional funds would be spent on products supporting more jobs did not happen. His vision for the future centered on the notion that free enterprise created jobs. He would put power back in the hands of the people!
After Clinton’s speech, Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” pop-rock song filled the hall. Balloons fell. Red, silver and blue metallic-like confetti fluttered down. In my excitement, I wanted to share it with my daughters and friends at home. Down on my hands and knees, I filled a shopping bag with confetti. I got some curious looks-it was worth it!
The 1992 Convention’s theme and the journey through subsequent democratic administrations to put people first, equalize women’s role in society, support democracy, and keep the economy strong still resonate today. At Vice President Kamala Harris’s inaugural campaign rally for president in Wisconsin, she announced record-breaking grassroots fundraising. She proclaimed, “Because we are a people-powered campaign, that is how you know we will be a people-first presidency!”
I am high on hope for the future again!
Dear Readers, What kind of high are you on??
Dear Readers, What kind of high are you on??
