If you didn't tune in to watch Hillary Clinton concede defeat on Saturday to Barack Obama, you missed a pretty good speech, though it was about four days too late.
Most people have probably forgotten how similar political episodes played out, such as Ronald Reagan's lukewarm endorsement of Gerald Ford in 1976 and Teddy Kennedy's begrudging endorsement of Jimmy Carter four years later, which paved the way for Carter's defeat.
While the four days after Obama clinched the Democratic nomination could have (and should have) been handled better by the Clinton Camp, she came through with a speech that left no doubts about whether she would endorse Obama.
There was no need to parse her words, no need to read between the lines, no need to wonder whether she was going to secretly return during the convention for a last desperate attack to become the nominee.
"The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand, is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States," said Clinton.
"I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him. And I ask all of you to join me in working as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me.
"A gracious and what had to be a very difficult speech to give," said one post on dailykos.com, which has been fairly hostile to Hillary.
"She dug herself a pretty deep hole with her actions over the past month capped off by her non-concession earlier in the week," said one post on talkingpointsmemo.com, which has also been tough on Hillary.
"That speech cleared the slate as much as a speech possibly could have. Her support of Obama sounded utterly sincere and whole hearted."
Of course, Clinton's actions will be measured the rest of this year by how much work she does for Obama. Does she get on the campaign trail and work for votes in white working class areas in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Reagan biographer Lou Cannon reminds us that Reagan balked at campaigning for Gerald Ford in 1976.
"During the general election battle, Ford asked Reagan to campaign for him in four Southern states; Reagan pleaded prior commitments. In one of those states, Mississippi, Carter won by fewer than 15,000 votes. It's possible that Reagan, who was popular there, might have made the difference," wrote Cannon.
In 1980, Teddy Kennedy refused to drop out of the race until he was defeated at the Democratic convention by President Carter.
Most people have probably forgotten that after Carter clinched the nomination, Kennedy was defiant and refused to concede.
"The people have decided that this campaign must go on," Kennedy declared then.
I searched the internet for awhile this weekend and couldn't find any indication that Kennedy campaigned for Carter in the Fall, but I can't say that for sure.
Still, you get the point.
Hillary talked a good game over the weekend about party unity. Her actions will speak louder than words the rest of this year.
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