Thursday’s network morning shows applauded a “downhearted but unbroken” Hillary Clinton addressing supporters at a Washington gala Wednesday night with her first “emotional speech” since losing to Donald Trump in the presidential race. On ABC’s Good Morning America, co-host Robin Roberts touted Clinton “opening up about that defeat” and sympathetically declared: “Her disappointment and determination to move forward.”
In the report that followed, correspondent David Wright gushed: “Hillary Clinton has often said when she gets knocked down, she gets right back up. Well, here she was one week after this stunning upset addressing an event for the Children's Defense Fund, downhearted but unbroken.”
He also made sure to remind viewers that Clinton won the popular vote in the November 8 election: “Clinton lost the election but won the popular vote, more than a million votes ahead of Donald Trump....By the time all the votes had been counted, she may well have earned more raw votes than all but one of the men ever elected president. The exception, Barack Obama.”
Wright noted how “Clinton urged her supporters not to be discouraged” and that she “steered clear of any direct attacks.” “Instead, she spoke from the heart,” he explained. A soundbite followed of the defeated Democratic nominee: “I know that over the past week a lot of people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was, but, please listen to me when I say this, America is worth it.”
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On NBC’s Today, correspondent Kristen Welker announced: “It was a speech filled with reflection and also raw emotion. Hillary Clinton stepping back into the spotlight, greeted by an overwhelmingly supportive crowd with a standing ovation....A defeat she tried to turn into a call to action.”
The reporter added: “And as Clinton ended her speech, emotions overflowed remembering her mother, Dorothy Rodham, who as a small child faced a difficult life with no way to foresee what her future held.” A clip ran of Clinton stating: “And I dream of going up to her and saying, ‘Look, you will survive. And as hard as it might be to imagine, your daughter will grow up to be a United States senator, represent our country as Secretary of State, and win more than 62 million votes for President of the United States.’”
On CBS This Morning, with the headline “Clinton & Closure” emblazoned across the screen, correspondent Nancy Cordes heralded:
These remarks, at times, were pretty personal. After her former boss called her the people's president, Clinton shed some light on what the last week has been like for her....She did say that she wishes she could go back in time and tell her mother that her daughter would go on to win the majority of votes, about 62 million of them in the race for president.
Here are excerpts of the November 17 coverage on all three networks:
GMA
7:02 AM ET
ROBIN ROBERTS: But first Hillary Clinton giving her first speech since conceding to Donald Trump, opening up about that defeat. Her disappointment and determination to move forward. ABC's David Wright is here with details. Good morning, David.
DAVID WRIGHT: Good morning, Robin. Hillary Clinton has often said when she gets knocked down, she gets right back up. Well, here she was one week after this stunning upset addressing an event for the Children's Defense Fund, downhearted but unbroken.
HILLARY CLINTON: I will admit coming here tonight wasn't the easiest thing for me.
WRIGHT: It was her first appearance after conceding that long, bitter race.
CLINTON: There have been a few times this past week when all I wanted to do is just to curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again.
WRIGHT: Clinton lost the election but won the popular vote, more than a million votes ahead of Donald Trump.
CLINTON: I know many of you are deeply disappointed about the results of the election. I am too. More than I can ever express.
WRIGHT: By the time all the votes had been counted, she may well have earned more raw votes than all but one of the men ever elected president. The exception, Barack Obama. Clinton urged her supporters not to be discouraged.
CLINTON: Stay engaged on every level. We need you. America needs you, your energy, your ambition, your talent. That's how we get through this.
WRIGHT: Her primary opponent, Bernie Sanders is doing just that. Speaking last night at a separate event, he called trump's new chief strategist a racist.
SANDERS: I call upon Mr. Trump to rescind the appointment that he made of Mr. Bannon, a president of the United States should not have a racist at his side, unacceptable.
WRIGHT: For her part, Clinton steered clear of any direct attacks. Instead, she spoke from the heart.
CLINTON: I know that over the past week a lot of people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was, but, please listen to me when I say this, America is worth it.
WRIGHT: Now Clinton did not say what her own plans are moving forward and had accepted this invitation to speak at the Children's Defense Fund long before Election Day – probably hoping it would be a different sort of speech, George.
STEPHANOPOULOS: That is an understatement. Okay David, thanks very much.
Today
7:14 AM ETMATT LAUER: Hillary Clinton was in the nation's capital last night and delivered an emotional speech. It was her first since conceding the election. NBC's Kristen Welker has more on that. Hi, Kristen, good morning.
KRISTEN WELKER: Hi, Matt, good morning to you. Secretary Clinton spoke at the Children's Defense fund here in Washington, D.C. last night. That's the organization where she first began her career. It was a speech filled with reflection and also raw emotion.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Hillary Clinton’s Emotional Address; Talks About Losing Election, Urges Supporters to “Never Give Up”]Hillary Clinton stepping back into the spotlight, greeted by an overwhelmingly supportive crowd with a standing ovation.
HILLARY CLINTON: Oh, thank you!
WELKER: It was an event aimed at helping children in need, but Clinton wasted no time addressing what everyone was thinking.
CLINTON: Now, I will admit, coming here tonight wasn't the easiest thing for me. There have been a few times this past week when all I wanted to do was just to curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again.
WELKER: A defeat she tried to turn into a call to action.
CLINTON: I ask you to stay engaged. Stay engaged on every level. That's how we get through this.
WELKER: It's the first time Clinton has addressed her stunning loss since she conceded a week ago.
CLINTON: This is painful, and it will be for a long time.
WELKER: And while she was spotted by a hiker last Thursday, Clinton has otherwise stayed out of the public eye.
CLINTON: I know this isn't easy. I know that over the past week a lot of people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was. The divisions laid bear by this election run deep. But please listen to me when I say this – America is worth it. Fight for our values and never, ever give up.
WELKER: And as Clinton ended her speech, emotions overflowed remembering her mother, Dorothy Rodham, who as a small child faced a difficult life with no way to foresee what her future held.
CLINTON: And I dream of going up to her and saying, “Look, you will survive. And as hard as it might be to imagine, your daughter will grow up to be a United States senator, represent our country as Secretary of State, and win more than 62 million votes for President of the United States.”
(...)
CBS This Morning
7:12 AMGAYLE KING: Hillary Clinton spoke in Washington last night, one week after conceding the presidential election. She received a very warm reception from supporters of the Children's Defense Fund. It's a non-profit advocacy group she worked as a young lawyer. Clinton told the crowd not to lose heart and believe in the country and its path forward. Nancy Cordes looks at Clinton’s first extended remarks since her concession speech. Nancy, good morning.
NANCY CORDES: Good morning. Clinton made a commitment before the election to deliver this speech and so she kept her promise. These remarks, at times, were pretty personal. After her former boss called her the people's president, Clinton shed some light on what the last week has been like for her. Clinton was greeted with a standing ovation and kiss on the cheek from Marian Wright Edelman, the woman who hired Clinton out of Yale Law School in the 1970s.
HILLARY CLINTON: I will admit, coming here tonight wasn't the easy thing for me. There have been a few times this past week when all I wanted to do is just to curl with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again. I know many of you are deeply disappointed about the results of the election. I am, too. More than I can ever express.
CORDES: She has been largely out of sight since her return to private life, except for this photo captured during a hike in the wood near her Chappaqua New York home last week.
CLINTON: I urge you, please, don't lose heart. Don't give up on the values we share.
(...)
CORDES: Clinton acknowledged that the base is still reeling.
CLINTON: I know that over the past week, a lot of people have asked themselves whether America is the country we thought it was. The divisions laid bare by this election run deep. But please, listen to me when I say this: America is worth it.
CORDES: The former Secretary of State spoke for about 20 minutes and she didn't give any hints about what might come next for her. She did say that she wishes she could go back in time and tell her mother that her daughter would go on to win the majority of votes, about 62 million of them in the race for president.
