Winfrey, a billionaire media mogul who built her career in Chicago, had never before spoken at a national convention. Her speech was carefully kept under wraps by Democratic organizers, including a cloak-and-dagger act during rehearsals in which one of the most famous women in America crept into the United Center wearing a hat, sunglasses and a face mask.
When Winfrey said hello to Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, Pelosi had no idea who she was at first, according to Winfrey’s friend Gayle King, a CBS anchor.
The obvious excitement in the crowd when Winfrey emerged Wednesday evening was a reminder of her power as a public speaker and a widely recognized icon of optimism, particularly among the female and Black voters that Harris is hoping to turn out in big numbers on Election Day.
Winfrey’s speech touched on school integration, the preservation of democracy, and civil rights icons including John Lewis. Dressed in a purple outfit, she appeared to direct her remarks toward the country’s political independents, a cohort to which she said she belonged.
“Decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024, and just plain common sense,” Winfrey said, before building to a climactic passage that evoked the energy of her daytime talk show, which ended in 2011. “Let us choose truth, let us choose honor, and let us choose joy!” Winfrey shouted, stretching out the final word for several seconds. “Because that is the best of America.” The fact that Winfrey appeared at all represented a feat by Harris’ campaign team.
Winfrey has often shied away from overt political activity, withholding the Oprah seal of approval for all but a few candidates. And at a moment when Americans have lost trust in many institutions, Winfrey’s celebrity has the ability to transcend politics.
In 2007, though, Winfrey waded into presidential politics for the first time. She endorsed Barack Obama, a close friend and compatriot from Chicago’s power circles. Winfrey hosted fundraisers and barnstormed cities in Iowa to round up votes for Obama, who at the time seemed a long shot to win the nomination.
In 2016, Hillary Clinton’s campaign sought to capitalize on Winfrey’s popularity by lobbying her for a full-throated endorsement. It never came. Winfrey mostly stayed away from politics that year, although she did tell one morning show interviewer, “I’m with her.”
In 2018, Winfrey stirred speculation that she herself might seek the White House. A speech she delivered at the Golden Globes, where she was accepting a lifetime achievement award, was shared widely for its stirring delivery and approach to grand themes such as sexism and racism in America.
The conversation died down after Winfrey poured cold water on the idea of a run. But her appearance Wednesday evening was a reminder that some Democrats once yearned for her to enter the political realm in earnest.
King said Wednesday on CBS that Winfrey had been editing her remarks up until a few hours before her live appearance.
“She was still tweaking this afternoon,” King said Wednesday. “She hadn’t intended to be involved; she tries to stay out of politics.”
But, King added, “she has some things to say tonight.”
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
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