United States

Democratic National Convention

July 1992 • You'd have to grow up feeling teal blue in a crimson red state to understand the thrill of attending three consecutive nights of the Democratic convention at Madison Square Garden with a press pass around your neck. Looking back a quarter century later, it's clear this was a major turning point for the party: the dawn of Clintonism and a push for more women in elected office. And this beautifully executed circus in Midtown Manhattan was when the Democrats signaled that they were ready for the Big Top again. Thanks to the fiasco of Bush 43 and the breakthrough of Obama, it seemed like the party was well positioned to deliver on the full promise of that convention and elect a woman president. How stunning it was to get rolled by a clown instead.

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