This Is the Victory Speech Hillary Clinton Would Have Given If She Had Become President

The evening of November 8, 2016, was supposed to go like this: Standing beneath a glass ceiling, Hillary Clinton was going to become the first-ever female president of the United States. We know what happened next, as the networks and live feeds cut to another victory rally as Donald Trump became our 45th president.

It’s hard not to wonder, of course, what could have been, but also what would have been said that night at New York City’s Javits Center, as Clinton—a lifelong public servant—changed the course of history. Now we know, as Clinton teams up with MasterClass to share with subscribers a lot, including the victory speech that she had ready to go. 

“This was supposed to be the victory speech that I would have delivered on election night,” says Clinton. “I’ve never shared this with anybody. I’ve never read it out loud. But it helps to encapsulate who I am, what I believe in, and what my hopes were for the kind of country that I want for my grandchildren and that I want for the world.”

The 16-minute speech, which can be found in full at MasterClass, includes thanks for many people, the voters, her campaign team, her family, Barack Obama, and Bernie Sanders. HRC also addresses her opponent: “And to Donald Trump, it is no secret that he and I don’t see the world the same way and in this campaign, we weren’t shy about airing our differences but he fought relentlessly right until the finish and we wish him and his family well.”

Other highlights include Clinton addressing the glass ceiling she was poised to break.

“I’ve met women who were born before women had the right to vote. They’ve been waiting 100 years for tonight. I’ve met little boys and girls who didn’t understand why a woman has never been president before. Now they know, and the world knows that in America, every boy and every girl can grow up to be whatever they dream, even president of the United States. This is a victory for all Americans, men and women, boys and girls. Because as our country has proven once again when there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit. Now we must not rest until every remaining ceiling is shattered, every standing barrier is broken, and every single American can live up to her or his God-given potential. That is the promise of America, and it will be my promise to you as the 45th president of the United States.”