LOS ANGELES — History's losers can emerge later as history's winners, especially in U.S. politics. John F. Kennedy lost his bid to become the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 1956, but his televised concession speech helped to propel him into the White House four years later.
The ultra-eloquent Adlai E. Stevenson of Illinois lost the presidential race twice, yet is well remembered in our political history as a giant figure.
As a first-term governor of Arkansas, William J. Clinton lost his bid for re-election, but rose from the ashes to become America's 42nd president.