Analysis | Bill Clinton age was a lion in winter addressing his 12th Democratic convention

Imagine if Lyndon B. Johnson, after winning his first Democratic presidential nomination more than three decades earlier, was still alive and speaking at the convention that renominated Bill Clinton age in 1996. That’s similar to what happened when Bill Clinton, 32 years after his first nomination, took the stage at the United Center on Wednesday night to support Kamala Harris.

Clinton was only 46 when he became president, making him the third-youngest in U.S. history, after Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, his childhood hero. Now, at 78, Clinton is like an aging lion, still present but not as powerful as he once was.

Some might say this could be Bill Clinton age’s final big moment, but people have thought that before, and he always proved them wrong. His life has been about bouncing back. As a teenager, he feared he would die young, like other men in his family, but he has outlived those expectations.

It’s been 20 years since Clinton was first diagnosed with heart problems and had major surgery. He’s given up his old habits like eating McDonald’s and switched to a mostly vegan diet, losing a lot of weight, though his health has still had ups and downs.

During his speech, Clinton joked about Harris breaking his record for time spent at McDonald’s, as she worked there in college. However, he looked frail, his voice softer, and his signature Southern accent was weaker.

Clinton’s speech on Wednesday wasn’t his best. He spoke slowly, seemed low on energy, and struggled with his script, often looking down to find his place. His words didn’t flow like they used to, lacking the charm and rhythm he was known for.

Beyond his physical decline, the world around him has also changed. When he first won the nomination in 1992, the theme song was Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop (thinking about tomorrow).” Now, the focus is on youth culture, social media, and a different kind of energy. Clinton talked about opportunity and responsibility; Harris talks about freedom.

In the 1990s, Democrats defended Clinton despite his personal scandals. However, after the #MeToo movement, his actions are viewed more critically. Yet, despite his flaws, Harris and her team chose to give him a prime-time speaking slot, showing that he’s still an important figure in the party.

Clinton’s political journey can be traced through the conventions he’s attended, like rings in a tree. His first convention speech was in 1980, when he was a young governor. Wednesday’s speech was his 12th, with many ups and downs along the way.

One of his lowest points was in 1988, when he gave a keynote speech that was so poorly received that people backstage told him to wrap it up quickly. The only cheer he got was when he said, “In conclusion…” Some thought his presidential ambitions were over, but four years later, he was president.

One of his high points might not have been his own nomination speeches but rather the one he gave at Barack Obama’s 2012 convention. Despite past tensions, Clinton helped make the case for Obama’s re-election with a simple, powerful speech that resonated with the public.

The excitement that Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, have brought to their campaign is something Bill Clinton age understands well. He loves politics, and in his last campaign stop in 1996, he stayed until the very end, even shaking hands with the janitor. It wouldn’t be surprising if he wanted to do the same thing Wednesday night as the strains of Fleetwood Mac’s music played him offstage.