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Schieffer: Clinton's Likely Nomination As Woman Is 'A Moment'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- CBS News analyst Bob Schieffer said early Wednesday that whether people like presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton or not, her likely nomination is historic.

Schieffer noted that people will remember the momentous occasion of a woman receiving the presidential nomination for a major party for the first time. He talked about his own early memories of politics.

"My first consciousness of politics, as it were, was 1948 – you know, when (Harry S) Truman was running against (Thomas E.) Dewey. And the big news in our town was Lyndon Johnson, who was running for Senate, was coming to the vacant lot where we played baseball," Schieffer said.

Schieffer, who grew up in Fort Worth, Texas, noted that Johnson came to the lot in a helicopter – a conveyance he had never seen before.

"I remember that day, you know, like it was yesterday," Schieffer said. "I can't remember any of the commercials from the last campaign."

But people will remember Clinton's nomination, Schieffer said.

"When you think about where we have come to that day to where we are, whether you like Hillary Clinton or don't like her or whatever, this is a moment. This is a moment. This is something important in the history of this country," Schieffer said.

Schieffer said no one would have conceived of a woman presidential nominee 68 years ago.

"If you'd have suggested that in 1948, I think people would have said, 'Oh no, that could never happen,'" Schieffer said. "But it did."

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Clinton had received enough pledged delegates for the nomination Tuesday night, having won in New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota. CBS News also projected Clinton was likely to win in California, while rival Bernie Sanders won in North Dakota and Montana remained too close to call early Wednesday.

In addressing supporters at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Clinton presented herself as the presumptive nominee and noted that she had now won the majority of pledged delegates.

"It may be hard to see tonight, but we are standing under a glass ceiling right now. But don't worry – we're not smashing this one. Thanks to you, we've reached a milestone – the first time in our nation's history that a woman will be a major party's nominee," Clinton said.

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