Amidst the speeches from Michelle Obama, Sarah Silverman, Lena Dunham and Meryl Streep that have dominated the headlines this week, there's one poignant speech that will go down in US history.

Last night, former President and husband to the first female nominee of a major US political party, Bill Clinton, delivered the first First Lady Speech expressed by a man.

Bill Clinton speaks at DNC | ELLE UKpinterest
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Clinton, who was the 42nd President of the United States (1993-2001) stepped into the spotlight for the first time in his political career, not to promote himself at a Democratic convention, but to stand by his wife and urge the US public to vote for a Democratic president and, more importantly, his wife of 41 years.

Turning the tables on Hillary – who first addressed a national convention when her husband was running for a second term in 1996 – Bill took to the lectern to describe a side to Hillary often hidden from the public.

Considering the now infamous furore surrounding his indiscretions while in the White House, some might say this speech was really the least he could do. 

His support for Hillary's campaign while forthright, hasn't always been well received.

This speech may mark a turning point.

And where better place to start than the moment that he fell in love with Hillary Rodham?

Bill and Hillary Clinton at rally | ELLE UKpinterest
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In the spring of 1971, I met a girl. The first time I saw her, we were, appropriately enough, in a class on political and civil rights. She had thick blond hair, big glasses. Wore no makeup. And she exuded this strength of self-possession I found magnetic.
Bill and Hillary Clinton embrace | ELLE UKpinterest
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He went onto describe the subsequent weeks after spotting his future wife and the first time she spoke to him.

She walked the whole length of the library, came up to me, and said, "Look, if you are going to keep staring at me, we at least ought to know each other's name. I'm Hillary Rodham, who are you?" I was so impressed and surprised that, whether you believe it or not, momentarily, I was speechless.

After meeting her 'crusty, conservative father' and mother Dorothy ('one of the greatest gifts that Hillary ever gave me'), he went on to marry his 'best friend'.

'She's the best darn change-maker I ever met in my life.'

Discussing his wife's relentless motivation and dedication to US politics he said:

She has been around a long time. She sure has. And she has sure been worth every single year she has put into making people's lives better. I can tell you this — if you were sitting where I am sitting and you heard what I have heard and at every dinner conversation, every lunch conversation, on every long walk, you would say, "This woman has never been satisfied with the status quo in anything." She always wants to move the ball forward. That is just who she is.
Hillary and Bill Clinton at Clinton Global Initiative | ELLE UKpinterest
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He added that Hillary has: 

'done more positive change-making before she was 30 than many public officials do in a lifetime'.
'I have lived a long, full, blessed life. It really took off when I met and fell in love with that girl in the spring of 1971.'

He ended his 40-minute speech with: 

'Those of us who have more yesterdays than tomorrows tend to care more about our children and grandchildren, and the reason you should elect her is that in the greatest country on earth we have always been about tomorrow.'

Someone give him a hug.

Watch the full speech below

[youtube ]https://youtu.be/Hr8frG_OJH4 [/youtube]

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Katie O'Malley
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Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.