A look at American history: you can lose with dignity



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Trump does not want to admit the increasingly imminent defeat against Biden. How the losers of the presidential elections have behaved in the past.

Presidential defeat to Barack Obama: John McCain, Republican presidential candidate in 2008.

Presidential defeat to Barack Obama: John McCain, Republican presidential candidate in 2008.

Photo: Keystone

With abstruse accusations of fraud Donald Trump opposes his threatening Electoral defeat. And it covers several states with a wave of lawsuits. True to his erratic presidency violates Triumph again against a tradition of American democracy. For more than 120 years, losing presidential candidates have followed the ritual of so-called “concession». What is meant is the obligatory admission of electoral defeatme and congratulations to the winner of the presidential election.

The words are directed at one «spe concessionmech» to the future president as to the American people. In an act of non-partisanship, the loser shows respect and support to his opponent and yells the american to unity. The unifying ritual is all the more important the more violent and bitter the electoral campaign was. After one The presidential election is about evoking the common spirit of the American nation.

McCain pays tribute to historic Obama election

the most memorable «spe concessionmech» held Senator John McCain in 2008. After losing to Barack Obama, the Republican paid tribute to the historic election of the first African American.amerikaners for president of the USA in his public appearance on election night McCain urged his supporters to calm down when they started booing Obama. McCain said he and Obama disagree on many points. At the same time, he emphasized but The similarities. Both he and Obama believed that America had great opportunities for all bortonorth. «Obama has accomplished great things, for him and for our country.»said McCainwho died two years ago.

Clinton Offers Collaboration With Trump

Hillary Clinton also delivered a conciliatory speech when, surprisingly, she narrowly lost to Donald Trump four years ago. The presidential candidate defeated the democratmen brought America’s strength to the fore.It’s worth it, one fight American values. «The American Dream is open to all Americans»Clinton said, unable to hide the pain of his defeat. However, he said phrases like «The best days of our nation are still ahead». ORand offered cooperation to the new president.

Gore congratulates Bush junior on second attempt

A special case of one «spe concessionmech» it is the admission of the electoral defeat of Al Gore in 2000 by George W. Bush. The Democrat and former Vice President of Bill Clinton first congratulated the Republican on the victory in a phone call, but withdrew his congratulations shortly after. The reason was the beginning of the week-long legal dispute over the outcome of the Florida elections. After a Supreme Court decision, a Democratic presidency was not long away. 537 votes were decisivegramthe Bush benefit. «For the sake of unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my admission of defeat.»said in the second and final «concession»-Gore’s statement in the address of Bush.

Bush Senior Introduces Clinton

George W. Bush’s father, George Herbert Walker Bush, was the last US president to be removed from office after one term. In 1992 the Republican was defeated by Democrat Bill Clinton. «People were talking»announced Bush Sr. «America must always come first.» Plus: «We should all support the new president and wish him well.» A letter that Bush delivered to his successor became famous in the white house had left behind. «Don’t let the critics put you off or put you off. (…) I encourage you. »

Carter pledges to support Reagan

Like Bush senior too Jimmy Carter President of the United States for only four years. The Democrat lost to Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. «I wanted to serve as president because I love this country and its people. This love will stay even if I’m disappointed now»Carter said in his «spe concessionmech». Carter extolled America’s political system and secured maximum support for his successor. in the transfer of power to. «A Net with grace and class»wrote the «Washington Post».

William Jennings started

Paul Corcoran, Professor of Political Science at the University of Adelaide, Australia, is familiar with the US presidential campaigns. According to Corcoran, every “concession speech” includes the following elements: the admission of defeat or the clear recognition of the election result, the call for the unity of the nation, the praise of democracy itself, the recognition of the voters as important actors in politics and the promise to continue fighting against their own political ideals and goals.

Loser in the 1896 presidential election: William Jennings, Democrat and first presidential candidate to issue a statement of

Losers in the 1896 presidential election: William Jennings, Democrat and first presidential candidate to issue a “concession” statement.

Photo: Bettmann Archive

the «award speech“In a presidential election It is not legally anchored in the constitution or otherwise. However, it is a tradition since 1896. In the USA. At that time, the Democratic telegram William Jennings Bryan congratulated his Republican adversary William McKinley two days after the election. Since then, the homeless have by PresIchoices IHe always admitted defeat in one way or another and congratulated the winner, a total of 32 in the last 120 years.-meterAlabama. This is not to be expected of Donald Trump so far. The president still believes in reelection.

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