Los Angeles, Aug. 15 -- Last night before a cheering, teary-eyed crowd at the Democratic National Convention held in the Staples Center, President Bill Clinton delivered his farewell address, praising the work of his administration by elaborating on a slogan from his 1996 campaign. "We built our bridge to the twenty-first century and we are not going back," he said, touting his administration's achievements and endorsing the presidential candidacy of Vice President Al Gore.
Rather than follow the lead of many earlier convention speakers, Clinton chose not to harshly criticize the recent Republican National Convention held in Philadelphia. Instead he recounted the progress he feels he has made during his eight years in office.
"America is more hopeful, more secure, more free," Clinton said.
He also stated that his policies and budget proposals helped carry America into its longest period of peacetime economic expansion.
"We found a way to balance the budget and protect our values," Clinton said. "We can make America debt free for the first time since Andy Jackson was president in 1835."
Clinton also challenged critics who have said that the Clinton administration was lucky enough to be in power during an unprecedented economic boom.
"America's success was not a matter of chance. It was a matter of choice," Clinton said.
He also spoke about his progress on issues dealing with welfare reform, gun violence and the environment.
"We can be proud of that Democratic record," he said.
Clinton then took the opportunity to pass the torch of the presidency to Gore.
"The greatest champion of ordinary Americans has always been Al Gore," he said. "The best decision of my entire life was asking Al Gore to be my partner."
He urged Americans to help keep the Democrats in the White House.
"We should stick with what works," he said. "This is a big election with great consequences for every American."
Clinton also endorsed wife Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid for New York's U.S. Senate seat, which is opening up after the retirement of elder statesman Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D).
Mrs. Clinton, who had a speaking role at last night's convention, concentrated on her active role in children's issues in what seemed to be more of a campaign speech than an endorsement for Gore.
"I still believe it takes a village," she said. "The stakes in November are biggest for those that are littlest among us."
While the Clintons concentrated on the positive issues behind their administration and Gore's campaign, many other Democratic leaders and officials harshly criticized the Republican National Convention.
They claimed that the convention was nothing more than a show to fool the American people into thinking that the Republican Party was more diverse and more like the Democrats than it actually is.
"The Republicans of Philadelphia delivered an Oscar-winning performance," said Terry McAuliff, Chairman of the Democratic National Convention Committee. "They pretended that they were Democrats."
California Governor Gary Davis even referred to the Republicans as "pretenders and imitators."
Despite these attacks, Clinton brought more positive issues to the forefront of the campaign, as he tried to inspire voters to cast their votes for another Democratic president.
"Never stop building those bridges and don't stop thinking about tomorrow," he said.
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