Eric Fang

Former President Barack Obama addresses the crowd at the United Center on Tuesday night.

Former President Barack Obama, who taught as a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago’s law school from 1992 to 2004, delivered the keynote speech of day two of the Democratic National Convention, hosted in Chicago’s United Center on Tuesday night. 

Barack Obama’s speech ended an evening filled with speeches from prominent democrats including former First Lady Michelle Obama, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) ‘64, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Governor of Illinois JB Pritzker, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. 

Barack Obama began his speech by praising the accomplishments of President Joe Biden’s term in office. Namely, Obama commended Biden’s role in revitalizing the economy post-COVID pandemic, raising wages, reducing healthcare costs, and for “putting his own ambition aside for the sake of the country,” referring to Biden’s decision to not seek re-election. 

“History will remember Joe Biden as an outstanding President who defended democracy at a moment of great danger,” Obama said. “And I am proud to call him my President, but I am even prouder to call him my friend.”

Obama then emphasized the importance of defeating former President Donald Trump in the general election. He further stressed that Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris is the best candidate for that job. 

“Kamala Harris won’t be focused on her problems, she’ll be focused on yours,” Obama said. “As President, she won’t just cater to her own supporters and punish those who refuse to kiss the ring or bend the knee. She’ll work on behalf of every American. That’s who Kamala is.”

Obama’s speech came at the heels of a speech by his wife and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Beginning in 1996, Michelle Obama served as the associate dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago. She was then named the University of Chicago Medical Center’s Executive Director for Community Affairs and Vice President for Community and External Affairs in 2002 and 2005 respectively. 

In her speech, Michelle Obama praised Harris and directed several attacks at Trump. Ultimately, she encouraged voters, regardless of political affiliation, to make their voices heard and to protect democracy.

“It’s up to all of us to be the antidote to the darkness and division,” she said. “Look, I don’t care how you identify politically, whether you are Democrat, Republican, independent or none of the above. This is our time to stand up for what we know in our hearts is right. To stand up not just for our basic freedoms, but for decency and humanity. For basic respect, dignity and empathy. For the values at the very foundation of this democracy.”

Earlier in the evening, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), who graduated from the College at UChicago with a political science degree in 1964, listed some of Congress’ accomplishments since 2020. From 2020 to 2022, Democrats controlled both the House and the Senate, and only the Senate since. 

Sanders highlighted the passing of the American Rescue Plan, expanded benefits for the unemployed, expansion of the child tax credit, emergency relief for small businesses during the COVID Pandemic, and the expansion of Medicaid. 

“My fellow Americans, in the last three and a half years working together, we have accomplished more than any government since FDR,” Sanders said. “But much, much more remains to be done. We must summon the courage to stand up to wealth and power and deliver justice for people at home and abroad.” 

Through the Institute of Politics (IOP), a delegation of University of Chicago students attended the second day of the DNC along with IOP Director of Career Development Mark Schaurete. 

One of the students attending was Leonardo Lopez, a second-year political science major at the University of Chicago. 

“I’ve never really felt that energy of people being all together in believing in something, just being there to support who they think would be best for the country,” Lopez said. “So it was a really thrilling experience to see and also to meet really prominent politicians that you see on the news all the time.”

Lopez, who is a member of UChiVotes, says he thinks there is room to grow in terms of voter participation at UChicago. 

“I think there’s a lot to do. Some people are excited, but they should be more excited,” Lopez said.

In terms of what he was looking forward to during the convention, Lopez said he wanted to hear more about specific policy proposals from the Democratic nominees. 

“I feel like they were campaigning mostly on surface level issues, but they couldn’t really say a lot about specific policies they were supporting because they weren’t the official candidates yet,” Lopez said. “But I know Kamala just announced some policies that she’s supporting a few days ago, so it’s starting to feel a little more official.”