Democratic National Convention in Boston, 2004, Chris Chan
From MemoryArchive
Who: Chris Chan What: Democratic National Convention When: 2004 Where: Boston, Mass.It was surreal. I was sitting in a luxury box at the Democratic National Convention. With the treasurer of a major democratic state on one side of me and a city councilman on the other, I was watching John Kerrywalk from the back of the Fleet Center onto the stage set up in front of hundreds of delegates, hundreds more cheering in the stands, and millions watching on television. To the sounds of “good move” and “nice” coming from the many people littering the luxury box, I watched as the senator from Massachusetts took the stage, embraced Max Cleland, and took to the microphone.
This was part of a complete night filled with a strong line up of speakers, a crowd of enthused democratic delegates, and a media monster hunting for any scoop in a crowd of bigwigs. It was a media frenzy, a personal experience I’ll never forget, and just a boat load of fun.
The day began with a car ride to the Fleet Center. This sounds easy enough, but when a drove of protestors blocks traffic by walking on the roads to protest the Convention, it makes things difficult. I was in the car with my mom and two of her associates, and we were all sitting there while people marched through traffic, blocking our way.
Eventually we got close to the Center, but had to disembark because of security. The place was a mob scene. There were thousands of people were flowing through the narrow streets of Boston. We made our way to a TGI-Friday’s to sit down for a meal before the real commotion started. As we sat there, people all around us were talking about the crowds of people and the hectic nature of the convention.
After our meals we continued on our way. With my convention passes ready, we walked along the street towards the security lines. People supporting every side of every view littered the walkways. Throughout the mob of people passing around flyers to support abortion and keep our guns safe, people were running around for another reason. Like a scene heading towards Fenway Park, people were running around looking for anyone to give up an extra pass to the convention. School teachers trying to get their students into the Center were begging passers by, trying to get a pass. We I push through the crowds, I see the infamous “holding pen”, the space provided protesters that more resembles the courtyard of a prison than a position of protest, to my left.
We finally reached the security gate after waiting in a line. I was quickly processed by a variety of law enforcement officers. A mix of Secret Service, Military, Boston Police, and Massachusetts State Police stood guard around the metal detectors that stood as a barrier between the throngs of people and the Fleet Center.
We finally get into the Fleet Center and begin walking the concourse up to the luxury box that our passes denote. As we walk by the displays filled with Celtics and Bruins gear, I realize how different this trip to the Fleet Center is from other trips I have taken. We make our way to the luxury box level. Instead of being the colorful, peaceful place I remember, this time the luxury box level was vastly different. People were running around left and right. Wires engulfed the walls as every major and local news outlet had taken a luxury box overlooking the convention floor. People were scrambling to meet deadlines as commercials rolled to an end. I even pass Andy Hiller, Channel 7’s Political Analyst, pouring over his notes before he went on the air.
After bobbing and weaving through the jungle of the Fleet Center, we finally made our way to our luxury box. Once there, the night truly began. I sat alongside men and women in business suits. I didn’t necessarily recognize them, but it was obvious most were pretty important, even if only in their own worlds. After settling down from my epic journey, I finally took the time to look around the room. There was the standard Fleet Center luxury box set up. A bevy of food was laid out on the table for people to eat. At the bar, you had the option of water, soda, beer, or wine, and there was plenty of each. Next to the bar were two televisions tuned to the convention. Plush leather couches decorated the inside with bar stool seating facing the convention floor. Beyond the glass door was two rows of stadium seating.
As I grabbed myself a bottle of water and sat down, I finally started to actually listen to what was happening on stage. I sat down to the sounds of Kweisi Mfume, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, speaking to the convention. As I sat there, I remember a blur of speakers from Gov. Mark Warner, Cong. Ed Markey, and John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO.
After Mr. Sweeney spoke, the convention was gaveled into order by Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, and the convention officially began. The convention hall was crowded as people were squeezing into every last crevice. It got so bad, that we heard people, including delegates, were not being permitted into the building because the fire marshal felt the number of people exceeded the safety levels. He was probably right.
The next hour or so was a bit of a blur as people were moving in and out of the box we were in, and speakers were taking to the stage in front of me. I remember Joe Biden of Delaware taking to the stage and speaking. After him came former General Wesley Clark. General Clark’s speech was especially powerful as people were cheering quite emphatically. His message was simple: The Republican Party did not have a monopoly on what was best for the defense of the United States. His message resonated well in the crowd of delegates as many of them were standing and cheering as he was talking.
The crowd was still enthused as Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut took to the stage. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California took the stage next. After a short video feed, Willie Nelson performed. I’d never seen him perform live, so it was pretty awesome to be standing there as he did his set. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright then spoke at the podium, followed by more video feed.
After a performance by Carole King, the main event of the night (and the part that was televised by everyone) began. The Heinz ad Kerry children took to the stage to talk about the star of the evening. After some anecdotes about John Kerry the man, the mood quickly shifted to John Kerry to soldier and his service in Vietnam as the convention floor watched a biographical film about the Senator. After the video, crewmates of Senator Kerry were brought on stage and spoke about the service that John Kerry provided in Vietnam, and the service they felt he could provide in Washington as President of the United States. After the veterans spoke, one of the most well recognized veterans of the United States took the stage. Max Cleland took to the stage. His speech was very moving and he expressed his strong belief in the need for John Kerry to be elected President.
The crowd was starting to get anxious as they knew the time was soon for the Senator from Massachusetts to make his way to the stage and accept the nomination of the Democratic Party for President of the United States. As Max Cleland finished his speech, the crowd got ready, and soon enough the noise signaling the entrance of the Senator began. As everyone searched the stage for the Senator, everyone was befuddled as to where he was. The crowd standing in the luxury box I was in immediately focused on the TVs, which panned straight to the convention floor, where the Senator was walking up to the stage from the convention floor where all the delegates were standing. This public overture to the masses in the room won great praise from the people in my box. I shifted my sight to the convention floor to the sounds of “good move” and “nice” coming from my fellow onlookers. As I stood there with thousands of enthused individuals cheering and chanting for Senator Kerry, I was struck by the amount of energy flowing through the building. I honestly felt like I was at a playoff game at Fenway Park. Never before had I been swept up into something quite so quickly.
The senator’s speech won great applause as people intently listened to the message he was delivering to the American people. After the speech was over, people began filing out of the building to falling balloons and confetti, and in the background pundits were heard on all the news outlets analyzing the speech. Everything after this was a blur, I was truly exhausted. Still, this was one of those events that I will not easily forget.
