David Jackson

USA TODAY

CLEVELAND — Ted Cruz bashed Hillary Clinton, President Obama and establishment politicians during his convention speech Wednesday — but did not endorse Donald Trump, drawing angry boos from the businessman's backers in the hall.

Trump delegates cat-called and pointed fingers at the Texas senator as he told the delegates to "vote your conscience" — but did not mention Trump. He named the New York real estate mogul only once in his entire speech, and that was to say only "I congratulate Donald Trump on winning the nomination."

Hundreds of Cruz backers responded with cheers for their candidate, who appeared bemused at the fray and said at one point that "I appreciate the enthusiasm of the New York delegation."

GOP convention: Cruz booed, teleprompter freeze and more

Trump backers — periodically chanting "We Want Trump!" — also yelled at the senator's wife, Heidi Cruz, as she exited the floor, surrounded by a security cordon.

Ted Cruz, repeatedly called a liar by Trump during their angry primary campaign, said he he hopes that the Republican Party's principles "prevail in November," and that Clinton loses; he also expressed support for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, but did not note that Trump made it a signature issue.

"We’re fighting not for one particular candidate or one campaign," Cruz said at another point, but so that Americans can tell their children and grandchildren "that we did our best for their future, and our country."

Boos turned to cheers in the Quicken Loans Arena when Trump himself entered the arena right after Cruz's remarks; he was there to watch his son Eric give a follow-up speech.

Later, former House speaker Newt Gingrich tried to calm down delegates by saying that some had "misunderstood" Cruz. The Texas senator urged them to vote for the candidate who will best protect the Constitution, Gingrich said, before adding: "In this election, there is only one candidate who will uphold the Constitution."

Trump tweeted after Wednesday night's session ended that Cruz "got booed off the stage" and that he hadn't honored an agreement earlier in the primary campaign by GOP candidates to back the eventual nominee.

"I saw his speech two hours early but let him speak anyway," Trump added. "No big deal!"

One of the last Republican rivals to fall to Trump and the second-place finisher in terms of delegates, Cruz's once-cordial relationship with the New York businessman deteriorated during their long primary fight earlier this year.

In indicting both Obama and Clinton as emblematic of the failed establishment, Cruz said the Democrats have failed to address terrorism, illegal immigration and education problems. He hit them over the new health care system, taxes, regulations and what he called a weak anti-Israel foreign policy.

While Trump focuses on 2016, others looking to 2020, 2024 at RNC

Recalling the life of one of the Dallas police officers killed earlier this month, Cruz said the nation owes much to the children of "fallen heroes" who have sacrificed all.

"And citizens are furious — rightly furious — at a political establishment that cynically breaks its promises and that ignores the will of the people," Cruz said. "We have to do better."

As Cruz ponders his political future, aides said he has often spoken about Ronald Reagan, a candidate who survived a primary defeat to President Gerald Ford in 1976 and rallied to become president four years later — and who helped himself with a strong speech at the convention he lost. Some of the delegates in 1976 said they wish they had nominated Reagan after hearing him speak.

Perhaps hoping for a similar effect, Cruz told this year's delegates: "People are fed up with politicians who don’t listen to them, fed up with a corrupt system that benefits the elites, instead of working men and women."

Some aides to Trump, who habitually described Cruz as "Lying Ted" during the campaign, expected an endorsement. Campaign manager Paul Manafort predicted before the speech that Cruz would leave no doubt he wanted Trump to be president.

At Trump's convention, boos for Cruz's non-endorsement

This year's Republican convention caps a notably nasty nomination fight, especially as it related to Trump and Cruz.

The New York businessman denigrated the looks of Heidi Cruz and appeared to endorse a conspiracy theory that implicated Cruz's father in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

For his part, Cruz described Trump as "amoral" and a "pathological liar."

The Texas senator praised his father at length as some Trump delegates booed during his convention remarks.

In opening his remarks, Cruz noted that LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers won the pro basketball title last month after a come-from-behind win in the final series.

"LeBron James just led an incredible comeback victory," Cruz said. "I'm convinced America is going to come back too."