Clinton says Bush ruined legacy

BOSTON — Bill Clinton accused President Bush of wasting the advances of his eight years as president in a rousing opening-night speech to the Democratic National Convention yesterday, urging the election of Sen. John Kerry to restore his legacy.

“The president had an amazing opportunity [after September 11] to bring the country together under his slogan of compassionate conservatism and to unite the world in the struggle against terror. Instead, he and his congressional allies made a very different choice,” Mr. Clinton said.

“They chose to use that moment of unity to try to push the country too far to the right and to walk away from our allies,” he said.

Mr. Clinton, who received a rapturous reception on the first night of the four-day convention, said Mr. Bush walked away from the Democrat’s legacy on the environment, public safety and education.

“If you like these choices and you agree with them, you should vote to return them to the White House and the Congress,” he said to ironic boos from the crowd. “If not, take a look at John Kerry, John Edwards and the Democrats.”

Mr. Clinton was introduced by his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, and the two drew, by far, the loudest applause of the evening.

In her short introduction, Mrs. Clinton likened Mr. Kerry to her husband.

“I think I know a great leader when I see one and so does America,” Mrs. Clinton said. “He showed Democrats how to win again. And so will John Kerry.”

The Kerry campaign said the theme was the “Kerry-Edwards plan for America’s future,” but yesterday’s lineup was heavy on the party’s elder statesmen, including former President Jimmy Carter and former Vice President Al Gore, who focused on the past.

“Take it from me every vote counts,” Mr. Gore said. “Let’s make sure that this time every vote is counted. Let’s make sure that the Supreme Court does not pick the next president and that this president is not the one who picks the next Supreme Court.”

Mr. Gore — who as the Democratic candidate in 2000 won the popular vote, but lost Florida by 537 votes and thus the Electoral College tally — said voters should put their anger to good use.

“To those of you who felt disappointed or angry with the outcome in 2000, I want you to remember all of those feelings. But then I want you to do with them what I have done: Focus them fully and completely on putting John Kerry and John Edwards in the White House,” Mr. Gore said.

Mr. Kerry’s campaign said Mr. Gore’s presence underscored the fact that they believe the 2004 election began in 2000.

“I think having Al Gore to be one of the first speakers tonight, or the first major speakers of the evening, really picks up the end of the 2000 election, and Democrats know what that means,” campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill said.

Mr. Gore and Mr. Carter spoke earlier in the evening, while the Clintons spoke in prime time.

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