What We Will Remember: Obama's Victory Speech and McCain's Concession

Obama and McCain accomplished two very different objectives last night: Obama unified and inspired; McCain departed with grace. Here's what history will remember of the speeches of November 4, 2008:

There were two themes in Obama's speech: unity and inspiration, and two historical figures: Lincoln and King. These are the lines that will last:

1. "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."

This line uses Obama's favorite oratorical device, the tricolon, the use of three clearly definable clauses to build to a strong finish. Tricolon's are often the lines we remember (think, "veni, vidi, vinci"). Technically, all words must be the same length, but that's hard to accomplish in modern English. Tricolons were Lincoln's rhetorical mainstay ("With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right").

2. "It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day."

If this speech reaches named-status, I'm guessing it will be called the "Arc of History" speech. The rhetorical line here is a paraphrase of Martin Luther King's August 16, 1967 speech, in which he declared "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." This line has matured over time. When Obama started using it, he quoted King verbatim, but has now adapted and made it his own.

3. "A new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope."

This is the most rhetorically elegant part of the speech, and its emotional core. It uses the tricolon format, and hits hard on ideals. It's also a unique part of the speech; it's not paraphrased or quoted. Look for it to last.

4. "Those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can."

These are the closing words of the address, and echo the lead mantra of the campaign. It will be famous for that if nothing else.

As for Senator McCain, to paraphrase Macbeth, nothing became his campaign like the leaving of it. McCain speech featured no great oratory (it would have been out of place in a concession speech), but his face said it all: his was a gracious and emotional concession. This was unsurprising: McCain is strongest in situations where there is a clearly appropriate but difficult path. In this case the game was over, and it was time to shake hands with the other team.

Two moments stood out. I suspect neither will make it into the history books, but they boost the stature of John McCain: First, McCain's silencing of the booing crowd with his hands while saying "please." In that moment, he stopped what could have developed into an ugly scene and transformed it into graceful concession. The second critical moment was McCain's reference to the historical significance of Obama's election for the black community. This was a classy gesture on his part, and much needed after the shadow cast by conduct at campaign rallies. He acquitted himself honorably last night.

A final caveat: Obama's victory speech will, no doubt, be replayed many times in the months ahead. But don't get too comfortable with Grant Park--the big one for the books will the January 20th, 2009 inaugural. Oratorically, we ain't seen nothing yet.

Read more reaction from HuffPost bloggers to Barack Obama's victory in the 2008 presidential election

Comments

[JoshuaZelinsky]

The part about America's beacon also references indirectly the City upon the Hill which Obama has referenced before such as in the Presidential debates.

[avincent52]

"This line uses Obama's favorite oratorical device, the tricolon, the use of three clearly definable clauses to build to a strong finish.'

Does this make your analysis a tricolonoscopy?

But seriously, while last night's speech was fine, It was the Wright speech earlier this year, when Obama was fighting for his political life, that really transcended.

Here's a link to the text. It's long but be sure to read to the Ashley story at the end.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/18/obama.transcript/index.html

The other thing to note is that Obama largely writes his own stuff (with polishing from a guy named Jon Favreau) while McCain (like most presidential candidates) relies on a speechwriter, in this case Mark Salter.

[Aaron Zelinsky - Huffpost Blogger]

The other interesting thing to note Favreau is twenty seven. I think he also does a little more than just "polishing," but I agree- Obama is still writing more of his speeches than the usual politician: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/fashion/20speechwriter.html .

[avincent52]

In a Newsweek profile of Favreau, Obama's communications director said "If there were 48 hours in a day, we wouldn't need a speechwriter."
While you can't know who wrote what unless you're in the room, here's the simple litmus test of Favreau's contributions. He was also John Kerry's speechwriter in 2004.
Did Kerry ever deliver a speech with a fraction of the power and eloquence of that More Perfect Union speech I linked to above?

[Eggsalad]

I haven't seen any commentators note what I thought was a more overt variation on Martin Luther King's "Mountaintop Speech" last night:

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you we as a people will get there." --Obama

"We've got some difficult days ahead... I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land." --King

King's speech is so tragic (and all the more amazing) given the events which followed that I actually found it a little disturbing when Obama started down this rhetorical road. Ultimately though, I thought it was effective and moving.

[Aaron Zelinsky - Huffpost Blogger]

Eggsalad-

An interesting point on the King analogy. I believe that is one of the stronger lines in the speech. That's a good catch on the two major motifs there, Lincoln and King. My own feeling is that, given the other King references, it was fine; had it been there alone it would have been very odd.

[normathumb]

Early on, during the evening coverage on Faux, Ray Suarez was interviewing Tucker Bounds. Someone, morbidly, was playing the Beatles, "Nowhere Man" in the background. I laughed at the irony and took it as an omen. It had to have been a McCain person who picked it out. What might they have been thinking?
After the nastiness that spewed forth throughout the fall, I thought McCain's concession really was the least he could do. At the end I thought he might start calling for people to fight for him again. He picked his team and ran with them. It was one of the worst run and nastiest campaigns in a long time, including Clinton's.
The Republican ideas have now been decidedly rejected by the public in the last two major elections. I have been greatly amused by guys like Boehner, Kristol and Dalay talking about what the democrats ought and ought not do now. They have just had it handed back to them and figure Obama need pay them heed. What hubris. They have been dead wrong about everything and are still giving advice. Anybody listening?

[Aaron Zelinsky - Huffpost Blogger]

I'm not sure that I agree that it was the nastiest campaigns in a long time. 2004 saw some throw down fights (I don't think we'll get a term similar to being 'swift-boated' out of this election), and the 2000 primary (particularly the 'anonymous' robos on McCain in South Carolina) got pretty hard-hitting as well. It will be interesting to see how the Republican party retools.

[wydgage]

i politely disagree with the sufficiency of the hand-gesture and "please" to silence the boos. this was a moment where John McCain could have silenced those who were egged on if not outrightly encouraged, by himself, Sarah Palin and any number of surrogates in the campaign and DID NOT. one of the most dramatic differences between Barack Obama and John McCain is the ability to REACT properly to a teaching moment. Barack did it many times when supporters booo'ed McCain by saying, 'we don't need that. we just need you to VOTE." McCain, perhaps because his mental acuity is slowed by his age, was not nimble last night enough to recognize that here was a teaching moment to admonish those who would continue the fight when all hope was lost. the hand wave was just that. a wave-off.

Character counts. doing the right thing means doing it always...

[Aaron Zelinsky - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for your polite disagreement. I think the wave represented more, particularly when coupled with his facial expression and words about coming together. Most telling to me is that he turned the crowd- to applause by the end at certain points. I think he did use this as a teaching moment.

[defjus]

It was an undoubtedly inspiring and potentially healing evening, and both candidates played their parts magnificently.

Last night I was in shock. So many people, including myself, have invested so much of their lives in this election and i get choked up thinking about it.

AND I FORGOT ABOUT INAUGURATION DAY!!! can't wait to hear what Obama has to say.

[Aaron Zelinsky - Huffpost Blogger]

Agreed. Inauguration day should be very interesting. My bet is we get more of both Lincoln and King.

[Kit Gallant - Huffpost Blogger]

I thought McCain's discussion of race was remarkable

"This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight...But we both recognize that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound...America today is world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States... Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth."

This section stood out, and particularly when compared to Obama's much lighter and more indirect treatment of the historic quality of his election. I can't help but wonder if the rhetorical treatment of the night's historicity wasn't coordinated by the two campaigns (I have no idea but there did seem to be an almost complementary treatment of the race issue)

The "Let there be no reason now" comment was, like much of McCain's concession, harking back to the "straight talk express". By directly engaging anti-Obama racism, and its implied capacity to morph anti-American feelings, McCain went a long way towards immunizing Obama against racism. It was seriously straight talk.

What do you think?

~kit

[Aaron Zelinsky - Huffpost Blogger]

Kit-

A good point. I alluded to this section in the end of my post- it was, perhaps a bit too oblique. I'm doubtful the campaigns coordinated, but it would be interesting if that were the case. I agree that McCain harked back to the Straight Talk Express more- this was the candidate from earlier in the year, before the summer race.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

My attempt at a tricolon:

Obama inspired, McCain perspired, history transpired.

(And still, Bush hasn't been fired.)

[Aaron Zelinsky - Huffpost Blogger]

Well done. I'm sure future tricolons are already in the making, although I'm guessing this one might not make it off the comments thread. You never know though...

[BobbyV123]

Last night was an emotional night for many reasons, and I congratulate both candidates for concluding the night with eloquent and heart-felt speeches. I had been an admirer of McCain's before this campaign, but he lost me with the way he ran his dirty campaign, notably the way he handled the crowds at his and Palin's rallies (or lack thereof). Had he acted the way he did last night, with grace, calm, and class, things may have ended up differently for him. But he did an admirable job last night and we should all applaud him. And I am relieved Sarah Palin was kept silenced. Hearing her shreiking voice would've ruined a classy event.

I must admit that I got a lil' choked up during Obama's speech. Never in my life have I seen such a compelling public speaker and I look forward to hearing him on Inauguration Day.

America, hold your head up high...you done good!

YES WE DID!

[Aaron Zelinsky - Huffpost Blogger]

Agreed- McCain, regardless of qualms people might have about the earlier performance, acquitted himself honorably at the close.

[drkazmd65]

I agree,... John McCain's choice, to politely, but emphatically silence the boos at the start of his speach was a classy, appropriate, and almost Presidential thing to do,... It was the first time during this entire campaign that I actually thought (had circumstances been different) he might have made a good President.

It was like a window back to the old John McCain that I almost would have voted for back in 2000,... the one that was a great counterpoint to G.W. Bush's tripe.

At least at the end,... McCain acted like a good sport, and a gentelman.