Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo died Thursday at age 82. While many politicos remember him best for a race he didn't make -- he passed on the 1992 presidential contest at the absolute last minute -- he is a figure who leaves a far bigger footprint on Democratic politics than that one decision.

Cuomo's high point may well be his keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. The speech was meant as a response to Ronald Reagan's description of America as a shining city on a hill, the key to the Republican's political success.

"This nation is more a tale of two cities than it is just a shining city on a hill," Cuomo said. "There is despair, Mr. President, in the faces you don't see, in the places you don't visit in your shining city."

Longtime Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau tweeted this Thursday night.

Here's the speech. It's well worth the eight minutes.

The Washington Post's Dan Balz shares his experience hearing the former New York governor give the keynote address at the 1984 Democratic National Convention. It became one of Cuomo's most memorable speeches. ​ (Pamela Kirkland/The Washington Post)