Concession speeches are a prominent part of our electoral politics. They usually demonstrate our democracy – our ability to transfer power peacefully. So, what does it say that President Trump refuses to concede? What’s the history of concession speeches?

According to National Geographic, the first 100 years of American politics had no concession speech. The first known concession speech was in 1896 when Republican William McKinley defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan.

The first concession speech was not a concession speech. It was merely a telegram from Bryan to McKinley, acknowledging his win and wishing him well.

Sore losers aren’t a new phenomenon in the high stakes world of politics.  According to National Geographic, in 1916, it took Republican Charles Evan Hughes two weeks to concede to Democratic incumbent Woodrow Wilson. It was a high-stakes election in which initially, the election was called in Hughes’s favor before eventually being called for President Wilson.

According to National Geographic, in 1944, Thomas Dewey conceded defeat to Franklin Delano Roosevelt without a call but by a concession speech following election day. He was the first opponent not to send a telegram or congratulatory call.

It is hard to take a loss when it’s given to you by the American people. CNN Anchors have effectively compared an electoral loss to a bad break up. America, your ex, has effectively broken up with you – you are just not good enough for her. This tenuous situation of American voters – the American people breaking up with their leaders is a time-honored tradition that goes back to its founding when America broke up with John Adams in favor of Thomas Jefferson, the first peaceful transfer of power after President George Washington.

While the break-up analogy has wide use, an election has ramifications beyond the break-up. Change is often the reason for voting – voters want a change in direction or a change in rhetoric. And they have gotten that with the election of President-Elect Joe Biden.

So, what does it say that President Trump hasn’t conceded? First, he has yet to pass Republican Chris Evan Hughes two-weeks without a concession speech, at least now. The expectation is that President Trump will not concede an election, and legal scholars have made clear that a concession speech is not necessarily legally but is more in line with a norm. And President Trump famously ignores norms in favor of his whims.

We do not need a concession speech. Although a concession speech might unite our country. In the past, according to National Geographic, once it was known that Abraham Lincoln would win based on his viewpoint of the civil war, his Democratic opponent, Stephen Douglas, embarked on a unifying campaign to Southern states to unite America around accepting Lincoln’s anti-slavery viewpoint.

The concession speech isn’t just about losing gracefully. It’s about the call to unite after an election so close and so divisive that has left America in shambles with one party celebrating and another one calling the election, “a fraud.” The longer we wait for a concession speech, the more divided we become as a nation as people hold onto their narratives instead of the important work of uniting America for a better future.

Concession speeches are a prominent part of our electoral politics. They usually demonstrate our democracy – our ability to transfer power peacefully. So, what does it say that President Trump refuses to concede? What’s the history of concession speeches?

According to National Geographic, the first 100 years of American politics had no concession speech. The first known concession speech was in 1896 when Republican William McKinley defeated Democrat William Jennings Bryan.

The first concession speech was not a concession speech. It was merely a telegram from Bryan to McKinley, acknowledging his win and wishing him well.

Sore losers aren’t a new phenomenon in the high stakes world of politics.  According to National Geographic, in 1916, it took Republican Charles Evan Hughes two weeks to concede to Democratic incumbent Woodrow Wilson. It was a high-stakes election in which initially, the election was called in Hughes’s favor before eventually being called for President Wilson.

According to National Geographic, in 1944, Thomas Dewey conceded defeat to Franklin Delano Roosevelt without a call but by a concession speech following election day. He was the first opponent not to send a telegram or congratulatory call.

Sore losers are not a new thing in our politics. It is hard to take a loss when it’s given to you by the American people. CNN Anchors have effectively compared an electoral loss to a bad break up. America, your ex, has effectively broken up with you – you are just not good enough for her. This tenuous situation of American voters – the American people breaking up with their leaders is a time-honored tradition that goes back to its founding when America broke up with John Adams in favor of Thomas Jefferson, the first peaceful transfer of power after President George Washington.

While the break-up analogy has wide use, an election has ramifications beyond the break-up. Change is often the reason for voting – voters want a change in direction or a change in rhetoric. And they have gotten that with the election of President-Elect Joe Biden.

So, what does it say that President Trump hasn’t conceded? First, he has yet to pass Republican Chris Evan Hughes two-weeks without a concession speech, at least now. The expectation is that President Trump will not concede an election, and legal scholars have made clear that a concession speech is not necessarily legally but is more in line with a norm. And President Trump famously ignores norms in favor of his whims.

We do not need a concession speech. Although a concession speech might unite our country. In the past, according to National Geographic, once it was known that Abraham Lincoln would win based on his viewpoint of the civil war, his Democratic opponent, Stephen Douglas, embarked on a unifying campaign to Southern states to unite America around accepting Lincoln’s anti-slavery viewpoint.

The concession speech isn’t just about losing gracefully. It’s about the call to unite after an election so close and so divisive that has left America in shambles with one party celebrating and another one calling the election, “a fraud.” The longer we wait for a concession speech, the more divided we become as a nation as people hold onto their narratives instead of the important work of uniting America for a better future.