Three keynote speakers from past conventions are considered to deliver the best speech of their political careers. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan at the 1976 Democratic Convention, three term new york governor mario cuomos address in 1984 and texas state treasurer and future governor and richards keynote speech in 1988. In 1976, congresswoman Barbara Jordan became the first black woman to give the keynote address to the dnc. She received a law degree from Boston University and was the first black woman elected to the texas senate. House,erving in the u. S. She taught political ethics at the university of texas at austin and later chaired the u. S. Commission on Immigration Reform which recommended immigration in the usb cut by 1 3. She spoke to delegates in new york city. [applause] ladies and gentlemen [applause] ladies and gentlemen [applause] ladies or arer you gentlemen. Gentlemen, in case you dont know it, may i now present our second keynote speaker, the honorable Barbara Jordan, d