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Speeches Fill a Week-Long Party

Cuomo, Carter, Clinton Rouse Euphoric Delegates; Brown Finally Gets to the Podium

Both Brown and former Sen. Paul E. Tsongas also spoke on Wednesday in well-received addresses. Brown's speech largely ignored Clinton and called for sweeping government reform. Tsongas supported Clinton but urged Democrats to adopt a more moderate fiscal policy.

On Tuesday, delegates voted down Tsongas' four minority planks to the platform before approving "A New Covenant with the American People" as the party's offical position paper.

Later, former President James E. Carter addressed the convention, emphasizing human rights and praising Clinton's character.

Criticizing American support for military action in Grenada, Panama, Nicaragua and Iraq, Carter pointed out that "in none of these cases was Camp David or any other venue used to avoid conflict."

"Our country should seek greatness in peace, not war," Carter said.

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"I tell you, as you all know," Carter said late in his speech, "[Clinton] is a man of honesty and integrity."

The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Too, stirred the crowd Tuesday, urging the party to remember its roots and to "keep hope alive."

The evening's most emotional moments came during a presentation by a man and woman infected with the AIDS virus.

The woman, Elizabeth Glaser, contracted the virus through a blood transfusion and unknowingly passed it to her daughter through breast milk and to her son in utero.

"Exactly four years ago, my daughter died of AIDS. She did not survive the Reagan administration," Glaser said. "I am here because my son and I may not survive four more years of leaders who say they care but do nothing," she said.

In addition, the Tuesday program continued Monday's emphasis on women Congressional candidates, with convention chair Ann Richards introducing every female Democratic nominee for the House and Senate.

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