stem-winder

A watch that is wound up by turning a small knob on a stem which holds a gear winding the mainspring.

A rousing speech, especially by a politician.

Someone who gives such speeches; a great orator.

A boring, interminable speech.

Or – heaven forbid – the Bill Clinton of 1988, who gave a tedious stemwinder in 1988 that has gone down in the books as the worst nominating speech in recent memory?

Something top-notch or first-rate.