The 2004 Democratic National Convention featured a variety of speakers, ranging from former presidents to rising newcomers.
Monday, July 26th Principal speakers NamePosition/NotabilityBill Clinton42nd President of the United States (1993–2001)Jimmy Carter39th President of the United States (1977–1981)Al Gore45th Vice President of the United States (1993–2001)
2000 Democratic presidential nomineeHillary ClintonClinton would go on to run two future campaigns for president, first being in 2008 where she would lose to then-Senator Barack Obama from Illinois. Second and final time was in 2016, when she won the nomination and selected Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia as her running mate. Clinton would go on to lose the 2016 election against then-businessman Donald Trump of New York, losing by an electoral vote margin of 306-227. Trump would go on to lose in 2020 against then-former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware by a margin of 306-227, but gain the presidency for a second nonconsecutive term after winning the 2024 election against Vice President Kamala Harris of California by a margin of 312-226U.S. Senator from New York (2001–2009) Former First Lady of the United States (1993–2001) Wife of Bill Clinton
Featured speakers NamePosition/NotabilityRoberta AchtenbergAssistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1993–1995)Was the first Lesbian to hold the position Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1995–1997)Tammy BaldwinU.S. Congresswoman from WI-02 (1999–2013)Rosa DeLauroU.S. Congresswoman from CT-03 (1991–present)Shirley Franklin58th Mayor of Atlanta (2002–2010)Terry McAuliffeChairman of the Democratic National Committee (2001–2005)Greg MeeksU.S. Congressman from New York (1998–present)Bob MenendezU.S. Congressman from NJ-13 (1993–2006)Lottie ShackelfordVice Chair of the 2004 Democratic National Convention 68th Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas (1987–1988)Stephanie T. JonesU.S. Congresswoman from OH-11 (1999–2008)Tom Vilsack40th Governor of Iowa (1999–2007)
Quotes "Democrats and Republicans have very different and honestly held ideas on that choices we should make, rooted in fundamentally different views of how we should meet our common challenges at home and how we should play our role in the world. Democrats want to build an America of shared responsibilities and shared opportunities and more global cooperation, acting alone only when we must. We think the role of government is to give people the tools and conditions to make the most of their lives. Republicans believe in an America run by the right people, their people, in a world in which we act unilaterally when we can, and cooperate when we have to. They think the role of government is to concentrate wealth and power in the hands of those who embrace their political, economic, and social views, leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves on matters like health care and retirement security. Since most Americans are not that far to the right, they have to portray us Democrats as unacceptable, lacking in strength and values. In other words, they need a divided America—but we don't." —Bill Clinton "Strength and wisdom are not opposing values."—Bill Clinton "And so I say to you and to others around the world, whether they wish us well or ill — do not underestimate us Americans. We lack neither strength nor wisdom." —Jimmy Carter "I'll be candid with you. I had hoped to be back here this week under different circumstances, running for reelection. But you know the old saying — you win some, you lose some. And then there's that little-known third category." —Al Gore "Take it from me — every vote counts. In our Democracy, every vote has power. And never forget — that power is yours. Don't let anyone take it away or talk you into throwing it away. And let's make sure that this time every vote is counted." —Al Gore
Tuesday, July 27th Principal speakers NamePosition/NotabilityTeresa Heinz KerryWife of John KerryChristopher HeinzStepson of John KerryBarack ObamaWould go on to win the Presidency in 2008 against Arizona U.S. Senator John McCain and in 2012 against (then) former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, serving as President from 2009-2017.State senator from Illinois' 13th district (1997–2004) 2004 Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Illinois
Featured speakers NamePosition/NotabilityCarol Moseley Braun14th U.S. Ambassador to Samoa (2000–2001) 14th U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand (1999–2001) U.S. Senator from Illinois (1993–1999)Robert CaroTwo-time Pulitzer Prize winning author and historianTom CarperU.S. Senator from Delaware (2001–2025)Jon CorzineU.S. Senator from New Jersey (2001–2006)Would run for Governor in 2005 and would go on to serve as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from January 17, 2006 to January 19, 2010.Tom DaschleSenate Majority Leader (2001–2003; 2001) Senate Minority Leader (2003–2005; 2001; 1995–2001) Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus (1995–2005) U.S. Senator from South Dakota (1987–2005) Howard Dean79th Governor of Vermont (1991–2003) 2004 Democratic presidential candidateJohn DingellU.S. Congressman of Michigan (1955–2015)Dick GephardtHouse Majority Leader (1995–2005) U.S. Congressman of MO-03 (1977–2005)
2004 Democratic presidential candidate
1988 Democratic presidential candidateJames P. HoffaPresident of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (1998–2022)Mike HondaU.S. Congressman from California (2001–2017)Jesse JacksonU.S. Shadow Senator from the District of Columbia (1991–1997) 1984 and 1988 Democratic presidential candidateTed KennedyU.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1963–2009)Kwame Kilpatrick68th Mayor of Detroit (2002–2008)Bob MatsuiU.S. Congressman from California (1979–2005)Ben McKenzieActor and commentator (2002–present) Political activistJanet Napolitano21st Governor of Arizona (2003–2009)Ron ReaganSon of 40th President of the United States Ronald ReaganLinda SánchezU.S. Congresswoman from California (2003–present)Christie VilsackFirst Lady of Iowa (1999–2007) Wife of Tom Vilsack
Quotes "I’ve seen their desire to take our country back for the American people. I saw it in a college student in Pennsylvania who sold her bicycle and sent us a check for one hundred dollars with a note that said, "I sold my bicycle for democracy." I saw it in a woman from Iowa who handed me fifty dollars — all in quarters. She saved it from her monthly disability check, because she wanted to make America well again. And I saw it in the 19-year-old from Alabama who had never been involved in politics before he got in his car and drove up to Vermont, because he didn't feel like he was being heard in Washington. He was just one of so many. They learned that politics was too important to be left to the politicians. They didn't just pack their bags—they backed their hopes that we can take our country back. And you know what? We will." —Howard Dean "Words can be cheap in a political year, we all know that. But I'm going to borrow some familiar ones, to tell you that we need John Kerry as president — because we need a uniter, not a divider, in the White House. We need John Kerry as president because it's time to restore honor and dignity to the White House — to have a president whose whole life is a testament to his goodness and decency, to his courage under fire. We need John Kerry as president of the United States of America, because he will fight for working families, and help America to be what it ought to be." —Richard Gephardt "Today, more than two centuries after the embattled farmers stood and fired the shot heard "round the world", the ideals of our founders still resonate across the globe. Young people in other lands — inspired by the liberty we cherish — linked arms and sang "We Shall Overcome" when the Berlin Wall fell, when apartheid ended in South Africa, and when the courageous protests took place in Tiananmen Square. The goals of the American people are every bit as high as they were more than two hundred years ago. If America is failing to reach them today, it's not because our ideals need replacing, it's because our President needs replacing." —Edward M. Kennedy "I learned something then, and I believe it still. There is a value in taking a stand whether or not anyone may be noticing and whether or not it is a risky thing to do. And if even those who are in danger can raise their lonely voices, isn't more required of all of us, in this land where liberty had her birth? In America, the true patriots are those who dare speak truth to power." —Teresa Heinz Kerry "I was elected mayor at age 31 because I dared mighty things for the citizens of my city." —Kwame Kilpatrick A twelve-year-old founder of Kidsforkerry. Org addressed the delegates. She scolded Dick Cheney for his use of an expletive in a public remark to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy. "When our vice president had a disagreement with a Democratic senator, he used a really bad word. If I said that word, I would be put in a timeout. I think he should be put in a timeout." —Ilana Wexler
Wednesday, July 28th Principal speakers NamePosition/NotabilityJohn EdwardsU.S. Senator from North Carolina (1999–2005) 2004 Democratic presidential candidateEdwards had run against John Kerry for the nomination in the primaries and came second, securing 559 delegates and 19.4% of the popular vote compared to Kerry securing 2,573.5 delegates and 61.0% of the popular vote 2004 Democratic vice presidential nomineeWould run for the Democratic nomination for a second time in 2008, but would come in third behind Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama who had also spoken on day one and day two of the conventionElizabeth EdwardsWife of John Edwards (1977–2010)Cate EdwardsDaughter of John Edwards
Featured speakers NamePosition/NotabilitySteve BrozakBusinessman Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel 2004 Democratic nominee for NJ-07Elijah CummingsU.S. Congressman from MD-07 (1996–2019)Harold Ford Jr.U.S. Congressman from TN-09 (1997–2007)John GlennU.S. Senator from Ohio (1975–1999) 1984 Democratic presidential candidate NASA Astronaut (1959–1964)Bob GrahamU.S. Senator from Florida (1987–2005) 38th Governor of Florida (1979–1987)Jennifer Granholm47th Governor of Michigan (2003–2011)Cheryl JacquesState Senator for Massachusetts Senate's Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex district (1993–2004) President of Human Rights Campaign (2004)Claudia J. KennedyFirst female Lieutenant General in the United States Army (1969–2000)Dennis KucinichU.S. Congressman from OH-04 (1997–2013) 2004 Democratic presidential candidateWould seek the presidential nomination a second time in 2008, but would drop out just after the Florida primary and a few days before the Alabama primaryEd PastorU.S. Congressman from Arizona (1991–2015)Bill Richardson30th Governor of New Mexico (2003–2011) 9th United States Secretary of Energy (1998–2001) 21st United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1997–1998)
Chairman of the 2004 Democratic National ConventionAl SharptonReverend Cheryl Jacques, President of Human Rights Campaign Claudia J. Kennedy, first female Lieutenant General in the United States Army Dennis Kucinich, United States Representative from Ohio Ed Pastor, United States Representative from Arizona Bill Richardson, Chairman of the 2004 Democratic National Convention and Governor of New Mexico Al Sharpton, Former Democratic presidential candidate
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