OT: THE PROUD AND GLORIOUS HISTORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY!

At the start of the 21st Century, the Democratic Party can look back
on a proud history -- a history not just of a political organization
but of a national vision. It is a vision based on the strength and
power of millions of economically empowered, socially diverse and
politically active Americans.

Over two hundred years ago, our Party's founders decided that wealth
and social status were not an entitlement to rule. They believed that
wisdom and compassion could be found within every individual and a
stable government must be built upon a broad popular base.

The late Ron Brown -- former Chairman of the Democratic Party -- put it
best when he wrote, "The common thread of Democratic history, from
Thomas Jefferson to Bill Clinton, has been an abiding faith in the
judgment of hardworking American families, and a commitment to helping
the excluded, the disenfranchised and the poor strengthen our nation
by earning themselves a piece of the American Dream. We remember that
this great land was sculpted by immigrants and slaves, their children
and grandchildren."

Thomas Jefferson founded the Democratic Party in 1792 as a
congressional caucus to fight for the Bill of Rights and against the
elitist Federalist Party. In 1798, the "party of the common man" was
officially named the Democratic-Republican Party and in 1800 elected
Jefferson as the first Democratic President of the United States.
Jefferson served two distinguished terms and was followed by James
Madison in 1808.

Madison strengthened America's armed forces -- helping reaffirm
American independence by defeating the British in the War of 1812.
James Monroe was elected president in 1816 and led the nation through
a time commonly known as "The Era of Good Feeling" in which Democratic-
Republicans served with little opposition.

The election of John Quincy Adams in 1824 was highly contested and led
to a four-way split among Democratic-Republicans. A result of the
split was the emergence of Andrew Jackson as a national leader. The
war hero, generally considered -- along with Jefferson -- one of the
founding fathers of the Democratic Party, organized his supporters to
a degree unprecedented in American history.

The Jacksonian Democrats created the national convention process, the
party platform, and reunified the Democratic Party with Jackson's
victories in 1828 and 1832. The Party held its first National
Convention in 1832 and nominated President Jackson for his second
term. In 1844, the National Convention simplified the Party's name to
the Democratic Party.

In 1848, the National Convention established the Democratic National
Committee, now the longest running political organization in the
world. The Convention charged the DNC with the responsibility of
promoting "the Democratic cause" between the conventions and preparing
for the next convention.

As the 19th Century came to a close, the American electorate changed
more and more rapidly. The Democratic Party embraced the immigrants
who flooded into cities and industrial centers, built a political base
by bringing them into the American mainstream, and helped create the
most powerful economic engine in history.

Democratic Party leader William Jennings Bryan led a movement of
agrarian reformers and supported the right of women's suffrage, the
progressive graduated income tax and the direct election of Senators.
As America entered the 20th Century, the Democratic Party became
dominant in local urban politics.

In 1912, Woodrow Wilson became the first Democratic president of the
20th Century. Wilson led the country through World War I, fought for
the League of Nations, established the Federal Reserve Board, and
passed the first labor and child welfare laws.

A generation later, Franklin Roosevelt was elected president running
on the promise of a New Deal. Roosevelt pulled America out of the
Depression by looking beyond the Democratic base and energizing
citizens around the belief that their government could actively assist
them in times of need.

Roosevelt's New Deal brought water to California's Central Valley,
electrified Appalachia and saved farms across the Midwest. The
Civilian Conservation Corps, the WPA and Social Security all brought
Americans into the system, freeing us from fear, giving us a stake in
the future, making the nation stronger.

With the election of Harry Truman, Democrats began the fight to bring
down the final barriers of race and gender. Truman integrated the
military and oversaw the reconstruction of Europe by establishing the
Marshall Plan and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Truman's
leadership paved the way for civil rights leaders who followed.

In the 1960s, President John F. Kennedy challenged an optimistic
nation to build on its great history. Kennedy proclaimed a New
Frontier and dared Americans to put a man on the moon, created the
Peace Corps, and negotiated a treaty banning atmospheric testing of
nuclear weapons. Lyndon Johnson followed Kennedy's lead and worked to
pass the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act.

Kennedy and Johnson worked together to end the practice of segregation
in many southern states. Following Kennedy's assassination, Johnson
declared a War on Poverty and formed a series of Great Society
programs, including the creation of Medicare -- ensuring that older
Americans would receive quality health care.

In 1976, Jimmy Carter was elected president, helping to restore the
nation's trust in government following the Watergate scandal. Among
other things, Carter negotiated the historic Camp David peace accords
between Egypt and Israel.

In 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton was elected the 42nd President
of the United States. President Clinton ran on the promise of a New
Covenant for America's forgotten working families. After twelve years
of Republican presidents, America faced record budget deficits, high
unemployment, and increasing crime. President Clinton's policies put
people first and resulted in the longest period of economic expansion
in peacetime history.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 1993 -- passed by both the House and
Senate without a single Republican vote -- put America on the road to
fiscal responsibility and led to the end of perennial budget
deficits.

Having inherited a $290 billion deficit in 1992, President Clinton's
last budget was over $200 billion in surplus. The Clinton/Gore
Administration was responsible for reducing unemployment to its lowest
level in decades and reducing crime to its lowest levels in a
generation. In 1996, President Clinton became the first Democratic
president reelected since Roosevelt in 1936. In 1998, Democrats became
the first party controlling the White House to gain seats in Congress
during the sixth year of a president's term since 1822.

In the 2000 elections, Democrats netted 4 additional Senate seats, one
additional House seat, and one additional gubernatorial seat. Vice
President Al Gore won the popular vote for President by more than
500,000 votes. In 2001, Democrats regained control of the Senate under
Majority Leader Tom Daschle, while Democrats swept to victory in races
all across the country, including races for Virginia Governor and Lt.
Governor, New Jersey Governor, and 39 out of 42 major mayoral races
including Los Angeles and Houston.

While we have accomplished a great deal -- as a nation and a Party, we
must continue to move forward in the 21st Century. We must work to
incorporate all Americans into the fabric of our nation. The history
of our next hundred years can be seen in the gorgeous mosaic of
America, from the wheat fields of Nebraska to the barrios of New York
City, from the mountains of Colorado to the rocky coast of Maine.

The Democratic Party is America's last, best hope to bridge the
divisions of class, race, region, religion, ethnicity and sexual
orientation. We will succeed if we continue to govern by the same
principles that have made America the greatest nation on earth -- the
principles of strength, inclusion and opportunity. The Democratic
Party is ready to take advantage of the opportunities we have and meet
the challenges we face.

And with the election of Hillary Clinton in 2008, the proud and
glorious history of America's only true party that represents ALL the
people will continue and be a blessing and a savior to the United
States, currently under the stifling death grip of the warmongering
Republican machine.

.

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