Politics & Government

4 Amazing Days in American History in 2 Minutes: The Donald Trump Convention (VIDEO)

Video: Plagiarized speech passages, an address about gay rights from a gay man, a refusal to be a "servile puppy dog" and a personal feud.

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On June 16, 2015, Donald Trump announced his presidential candidacy. Much mirth was made at the time. His bid was seen as a platform for self-promotion more than a serious attempt to win the White House.

Brash, pugnacious, blunt and "politically incorrect," Trump effectively tapped into strong emotions and prejudices the Republican Party long has danced with and exploited but never committed to. Trump turned them on to his "Make America Great Again" message, staged rowdy rallies, butted heads figuratively and literally with his 16 primary foes, and dispatched every one of them.

"... it was the summer of Trump. It was the autumn of Trump. It was the Christmas of Trump. It was everything," Trump said the morning after accepting the Republican nomination for president.

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For four days in Cleveland, 50,000 people gathered to formally nominate the 70-year-old New York businessman, listen to speakers extol his ideas and his persona, and turn their attention toward the November election and their arch-villain, Hillary Clinton. "Lock her up, lock her up," they chanted. She doesn't belong in the White House, she belongs in prison.

Cleveland braced for trouble. Protesters from all corners of the country came here to vent their anger at Trump's vision for America. In a state where people can openly carry firearms, tennis balls and squirt guns weren't allowed on Public Square, but AR-15s and Glocks were. A small army of police from several states, Homeland Security agents, Secret Service, FBI and military assembled to secure "Fortress Cleveland" as this next great phase of our democratic process played out.

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But arrests were few. No violence erupted. The high drama came when Melania Trump uttered words in her speech strikingly similar to those uttered by first lady Michelle Obama in 2008. Another wave came when Ted Cruz set off the convention crowd when he refused to endorse Trump and urged everyone to "vote your conscience." After accepting the nomination in an epic address of dire warnings that "our very way of life" is at risk, Trump reverted to form, praised his own virtues, and cut into this foes again with great zeal.

Patch was there for moments large and small. Here's a 2-minute look back.

Patch in Cleveland for Republican Convention
Aftermath

No Mistakes Here: Cleveland Rocks the GOP Convention with Peace and, Dare We Say, Love

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Day 4 Coverage

Day 3 Coverage

Day 2 Coverage

Day 1 Coverage

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