Mario Cuomo's 1984 Keynote Address to the Democratic National Convention

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Tuesday June 17, 2008 · 9:21 PM PDT

2008/06/17 · 21:21

The following is an amazing speech, Tale of Two Cities, given by New York Governor Mario Cuomo at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. I read it the other day, and its words ring so true 24 years later, with a different (but similar) President. Taken graciously from the American Rhetoric website, the video can be found here

Thank you very much.

On behalf of the great Empire State and the whole family of New York, let me thank you for the great privilege of being able to address this convention. Please allow me to skip the stories and the poetry and the temptation to deal in nice but vague rhetoric. Let me instead use this valuable opportunity to deal immediately with the questions that should determine this election and that we all know are vital to the American people.

Ten days ago, President Reagan admitted that although some people in this country seemed to be doing well nowadays, others were unhappy, even worried, about themselves, their families, and their futures. The President said that he didn't understand that fear. He said, "Why, this country is a shining city on a hill." And the President is right. In many ways we are a shining city on a hill.

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