The Art of the Concession

As voting continues and it becomes apparent that Joe Biden has won the presidential election, it has me curious how the current president will handle his concession speech. In recent history, you only have Bush and Carter as sitting presidents who lose an election. Were they gracious? Why not listen and find out.

Jimmy Carter also lost as a sitting president. His speech is here: https://www.c-span.org/video/?418299-1/president-jimmy-carter-concession-speech

Classy guys Carter and Bush. What about people who lost without ever being president?

The best version of John McCain’s concession speech is via a link: https://www.azcentral.com/videos/news/politics/arizona/2018/08/28/john-mccains-2008-concession-speech/1120835002/

Things change when you have Boomers (my go-to for pounding on dead horses).

John Edwards starts it with nothing conciliatory. Kerry is statesmanlike but his comments that there must be healing with the election over suggest different feelings from other candidates who have lost.

While offered calmly, Clinton notes divisions are deeper and that “I still believe in America” in insinuation that her opponent does not (whether she was correct or not is a different issue and irrelevant to concession speeches).

To be fair, not all Boomers are ingracious. Romney’s speech and many of his actions after his 2012 loss suggest he would’ve been a good president, one of integrity and morality.

Nixon was screwed out of the election. Listen to his reaction. He’s gracious to his opponent.

Then you have McGovern who lost in 1972 in the middle of social upheaval.

Since George mentions Adlai Stevenson…, here’s his:

Kind, gracious words for the person who beat him (Ike)…and “It’s tradition to close ranks among Americans once an election is decided.”

And in finding these, turns out someone’s aggregated a bunch of presidential concessions speeches. They are on YouTube at https://youtu.be/xsZvY9op9l0

The only speeches with real hints of bitterness are those of 2000, 2004, and 2016…all Boomers. I suspect that 2020 will see a vindictive speech reeking of insincerity. Perhaps in 2024 we’ll make a final transition away from the Me Generation in power and maybe a return to the kinder gentler world of pre-1994 politics where we return to be Reagan’s shining city upon the hill.