George W. Bush Presidential Exploratory Committee, Inc.
For Immediate Release
March 6, 1999
www.georgewbush.com SET TO LAUNCH ON SUNDAY
LIVE WEB BROADCAST SCHEDULED FOR NATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
AUSTIN –On Sunday, March 7 at 12:01 a.m. the official website for the Governor George W. Bush Presidential Exploratory Committee, Inc. will come on-line. Located at www.georgewbush.com , the site will serve as a guide to those interested in learning more about Governor Bush and his possible presidential campaign.
“The internet is an exciting and important way to communicate with potential voters,” said committee spokesman Mindy Tucker. “On this site people can find information ranging from the Governor's biography to background on his philosophy and policies to how to make a contribution to the exploratory committee.”
Also planned on Sunday is a live web broadcast of Governor Bush's national announcement event. Interested viewers can access the broadcast through the new website on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. CST.
Governor George W. Bush
Exploratory Committee Announcement
March 7, 1999
Tomorrow, I will file papers forming an exploratory committee so I can take the next step in considering a campaign for President of the United States. This will allow my friends, some of whom are on the stage here today, to begin assessing the level of support for my candidacy and to begin raising funds. I am honored that they have traveled far and wide to be here and I hope they will travel farther and wider in the months ahead.
I want to tell my friends outside of Texas, especially in the early primary states, I won’t be able to visit until this summer. I know I will be late -- much later than other candidates --but if I go forward with a campaign, I will work hard to overcome my late start. First, I have a job to do in Texas.
I’m a person who does in office what I say I will do. Last year, I told the people of Texas I did not know whether I would seek the presidency, and they should factor that in when they went to vote. I also told them I would be here this spring during our once-every-two-years legislative session, fighting for a bold agenda. Through the end of May, I must be here -- working with legislators to build consensus for major tax cuts and for education, welfare and criminal justice reforms.
After the legislative session, Laura and I intend to begin traveling to meet with people, to listen to people and to explore on our own the prospect of a campaign for President.
Many of you know I had doubts and concerns about what a campaign would mean for my family. Laura and the girls and I have talked about this a great deal, and they have concluded that if I run, they will probably vote for me. We have become comfortable that our love is strong enough, that we are close enough, that our family will thrive no matter what life brings.
I do have a compelling reason to consider running for President: I want the 21st century to be one of prosperity with a purpose. If America pursues limited government, low taxes, free and fair trade and free markets, our country will continue to be prosperous. But the purpose of prosperity is not merely material wealth. America must be prosperous and strong so the next century is peaceful. America must be prosperous so our citizens can find high quality, high paying jobs. And we must make the purpose of prosperity to help every single person have a shot at achieving the American dream, to strengthen our families where we find love and values, and to remove obstacles from faith-based groups and our local communities being involved in the compassionate delivery of help to those in need.
I believe in the promise of America -- the fundamentally American conviction that each of us can be what we want to be, can achieve what we want to achieve, so long as we are willing to work and earn it. The promise is meant for everyone, not just a few -- and as we move into the 21st century, I want the party of Lincoln to be the party that makes sure no one is left behind.
As friends begin to work on my behalf around the country, I hope the people of America will learn what the people of Texas know: that I base decisions on a set of core, conservative principles from which I will not waver. I believe government should be limited, that government should focus on a few priorities and do them well. I know the role of government is not to create wealth, but to foster an environment in which our small businesses and entrepreneurs can flourish.
I believe in local control of our counties, cities and schools. l know Texans can run Texas, and that states must be free to enact innovative and constructive reforms. I believe all public policy should encourage strong families and I believe in personal responsibility. I’ve worked in Texas to help usher in what I call the responsibility era, in which all individuals know they are responsible for their actions, responsible for the children they bring into this world, responsible for their families and communities and responsible for loving their neighbors as they would like to be loved themselves.
I’ve described myself as a compassionate conservative, because I am convinced a conservative philosophy is a compassionate philosophy that frees individuals to achieve their highest potential. It is conservative to cut taxes and compassionate to give people more money to spend. It is conservative to insist upon local control of schools and high standards and results; it is compassionate to make sure every child learns to read and no one is left behind. It is conservative to reform the welfare system by insisting on work; it’s compassionate to free people from dependency on government. It is conservative to reform the juvenile justice code to insist on consequences for bad behavior; it is compassionate to recognize that discipline and love go hand in hand.
As Governor of this great state, I have proven I know how to lead. I know that a leader must clearly see a better tomorrow. A leader must make decisions based on principles. And a leader must be a uniter, not a divider.
A leader sets a tone. Should I decide to run for President, I will set an optimistic and hopeful tone for America. I will campaign on my beliefs and principles and will not engage in the petty politics of personal destruction. America deserves better.
Finally, a good leader surrounds himself with smart, capable people. That’s been my hallmark in Texas and I am proud of the leaders who have come together to help me explore the prospects of a national campaign. The men and women on this stage represent the best of the Republican Party. I am grateful they will take time to help me make this decision and to recruit others to lead the campaign. From senior statesmen to current and future stars, they show that ours is a party that is open, that is diverse, that is principled -- that ours is the party with an optimistic vision for the future of America.
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
March 7, 1999
Remarks by Governor George W. Bush
June 12, 1999
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
[Note: Governor Bush deviates from his prepared text.]
What a pleasure it is to visit with you, to shake your hands. Laura and I are so grateful for your welcome, your enthusiasm, your confidence.
There will come a time for formal speeches and 10 point plans. But I know the question on your mind: Why are you thinking about running for president? So I’ll tell you what’s on my heart.
I’ll have a formal announcement sometime in the Fall. I have come here today to tell you this: I am running for President of the United States. There's no turning back, and I intend to be the next President of the United States.
I’m running because our country must be prosperous. But prosperity must have a purpose. The purpose of prosperity is to make sure the American dream touches every willing heart. The purpose of prosperity is to leave no one out… to leave no one behind. I’m running because my party must match a conservative mind with a compassionate heart. And I’m running to win.
Prosperity is not a given. Some in this administration think they invented it. But they did not invent prosperity, any more than they invented the Internet. Governments don’t create wealth. Wealth is created by Americans -- by creativity and enterprise and risk-taking. But government can create an environment where businesses and entrepreneurs and families can dream and flourish.
We’ll be prosperous if we reduce taxes. I’ll have a plan that reduces marginal rates to create jobs, but a plan that also helps struggling families on the outskirts of poverty. I believe that after we meet priorities, all that remains must be passed back to Americans, so it will not be spent by Washington.
We’ll be prosperous if we reduce the regulations that strangle enterprise. And I will do what I did in Texas: fight for meaningful, real tort reform.
We’ll be prosperous if we embrace free trade. I’ll work to end tariffs and break down barriers everywhere, entirely, so the whole world trades in freedom. The fearful build walls. The confident demolish them. I am confident in American workers and farmers and producers. And I am confident that America’s best is the best in the world.
We must be prosperous to keep our commitments to the health and security and dignity of the elderly. And we should trust Americans by giving them the option of investing part of their Social Security contributions in private accounts.
And we must be prosperous to keep the peace. This is still a world of terror and missiles and madmen. And we are challenged by aging weapons and failing intelligence.
I will rebuild our military power – because a dangerous world still requires a sharpened sword.
I will move quickly to defend our people and our allies against missiles and blackmail.
And I will have a foreign policy with a touch of iron – driven by American values and American interests.
America must seize this moment. America must lead. Because America’s greatest export to the world is, and always will be, freedom.
America will be prosperous and strong if we do the right things. But prosperity alone is simple materialism. Prosperity must have a greater purpose. The success of America has never been proven by cities of gold, but by citizens of character. Men and women who work hard, dream big, love their family, serve their neighbor. Values that turn a piece of earth into a neighborhood, a community, a chosen nation.
That dream is so vivid – but still many are saying: The dream is not for me. Kids who turn schoolyards into battlefields. Children who corrupt their wills and souls with drugs, who limit their ambitions by having children themselves. Failed schools are creating two societies: one that reads and one that can’t; one that dreams and one that doesn’t.
These are burdens on the conscience of a successful nation. The next president must close this gap of hope. It is the great challenge to America’s good heart.
I want to be a president who sets a tone, a direction, an agenda. I will be an activist president, who sets goals worthy of a great nation. I won’t use my office as a mirror to reflect public opinion. And I’ll be guided by conservative principles. Government should do a few things, and do them well. Government should not try to be all things to all people.
My first goal is to usher in the responsibility era. An era that stands in stark contrast to the last few decades, when the culture has clearly said: If it feels good, do it. If you’ve got a problem, blame someone else. Each of us must understand we are responsible for the choices we make in life. We’re responsible for the children we bring into the world. We’re responsible to love our neighbor as we want to be loved ourselves.
And we must pass this message to our children -- teach them there are right choices in life and wrong choices in life. Drugs will destroy you. Alcohol will ruin your life. And having a child out of wedlock is a sure fire way to fall behind. We’ll love the babies. But the message must be clear: It is not the definition of a man to father a child out of wedlock and say, "They’re not my problem, they’re yours."
Some people think it’s inappropriate to draw a moral line. Not me. For our children to have the lives we want for them, they must learn to say yes to responsibility, yes to family, yes to honesty and work. I have seen our culture change once in my lifetime, so I know it can change again.
What can be done? Government can help. We can write laws to give schools and principals more authority to discipline children and protect the peace of classrooms. We must encourage states to reform their juvenile justice laws. We must say to our children, "We love you, but discipline and love go hand in hand, and there will be bad consequences for bad behavior."
But changing our culture requires more than laws. Cultures change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. Government can spend money, but it can’t put hope in our hearts or a sense of purpose in our lives. This is done by churches and synagogues and mosques and charities that warm the cold of life. A quiet river of goodness and kindness that cuts through stone.
So my second goal -- one of the biggest jobs for the next president -- is to rally these armies of compassion that exist in every community. To nurture. To mentor. To comfort. To perform their commonplace miracles of renewal.
As president, I will lift the regulations that hamper them. I will involve them in after-school programs, maternity group homes, drug treatment, prison ministries. I will lay out specific incentives to encourage an outpouring of giving in America. Supporting these men and women – the soldiers in the army of compassion -- is the next, bold step of welfare reform. Because changing hearts will change our entire society.
And my third goal. We should make a solemn commitment in this country: That every child will be educated. That no child will be left behind.
I believe in the power of high standards and high hopes. I have seen what works in my state. Raise the bar of expectations. Measure progress. Insist on results. Blow the whistle on failure. Don’t give up on anyone.
As president, I will give more flexibility and authority to states – but encourage local folks to measure results for every child. I will praise success – but shine a spotlight of shame on failure. If schools fail, we must be bold enough to challenge the status quo. And I am going to change Head Start – to teach our youngest children phonics so they can read, and the basics, so they can add.
Everyone must have a first rate education, because there are no second rate children, no second rate dreams.
You’ve heard me talk about compassionate conservatism. These goals are what I mean.
It is conservative to cut taxes. It is compassionate to help people save and give and build.
It is conservative to reform welfare by insisting on work. It is compassionate to take the side of charities and churches that confront the suffering which remains.
It is conservative to confront illegitimacy. It is compassionate to offer practical help to women and children in crisis.
It is conservative to insist on education standards, basics and local control. It is compassionate to make sure that not one single child gets left behind.
I know this approach has been criticized. But why? Is compassion beneath us? Is mercy below us? Should our party be led by someone who boasts of a hard heart? I know Republicans – across the country -- are generous of heart. I am confident the American people view compassion as a noble calling. The calling of a nation where the strong are just and the weak are valued.
I am proud to be a compassionate conservative. I welcome the label. And on this ground I’ll take my stand.
It is the ground I’ve stood as governor of Texas, a job I really love. I know it isn’t the same as being president. But if Texas were a country, it would be the 11th largest economy in the world. And I’ve had some successes. We passed the two biggest tax cuts in Texas history. We reformed our welfare and tort laws. We improved test scores for all the children in our schools, especially African-American and Hispanic kids.
I’ve learned to lead. I don’t run polls to tell me what to think. I make decisions based on a conservative philosophy that is engrained in my heart. Trust local people to make right choices about their schools and cities. Understand that private property is the backbone of capitalism. Fight for American interests and American workers in the world. Know the importance of family and the need for personal responsibility. These are principles from which I will not vary.
I’ve learned you can not lead by dividing people. This country is hungry for a new style of campaign. Positive. Hopeful. Inclusive. A campaign that attracts new faces and new voices. A campaign that unites all Americans toward a better tomorrow.
I say a better tomorrow because I’ve learned that people want to follow an optimist. They don’t respond to the message: "Follow me, things are going to get worse." They respond to someone who appeals to our better angels, not our darker impulses. They respond to someone who sees better times – and I see better times.
I want you to imagine a campaign that carries this message. We will defend the American dream with sound economic policies and tax cuts. But we will also tell every American, "The dream is for you." Tell forgotten children in failed schools, "The dream is for you." Tell families, from the barrios of LA to the Rio Grande Valley: "El sueno americano es para ti." Tell men and women in our decaying cities, "The dream is for you." Tell confused young people, starved of ideals, "The dream is for you." This is the kind of campaign we must run.
For my part, I’m running, and I’m running hard. I know that this race will be competitive. I know the other candidates are good and talented people. And I know I’m late. But now that the Texas legislative session is over, I’m taking my front porch campaign to every front porch in this state. I will tell people exactly what I told you here today. Face to face. Eye to eye. And I cannot wait.
It feels to me like an old era of American politics is ending -- like Americans are waiting for new hopes, new energy, new idealism. We will prove that someone who is conservative and compassionate can win without sacrificing principle. We will show that politics, after a time of tarnished ideals, can be higher and better. We will give our country a fresh start after a season of cynicism.
We have a long way to go, but we start today. And I hope you’ll join me.
Thank you.
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
August 15, 1999
Governor Bush Unveils Innovative New Website
AUSTIN, TX –Governor George W. Bush today launched an innovative new design for his presidential campaign website, www.georgewbush.com, that includes personalization, a Hispanic site, a special section for children and 50 individual state websites.
"The internet is an efficient and innovative way to reach people directly with information and issue positions," said Gov. Bush. "This new design allows individuals to personalize the website to their interests and to get the latest news about the campaign in both Spanish and English. I hope it will be a useful tool for people who are interested in learning more about my presidential campaign."
The redesigned site allows people to create a personalized page with news and information in which they are interested. For example, a voter from Virginia who is most interested in education and economic issues can create a home page that always contains the latest news on those issues, information about the campaign in Virginia and photos and details about the Governor’s travel to Virginia. After the individual site is created, it comes up on the screen each time the person logs in.
The new website also includes a comprehensive Hispanic site, available through http://www.georgewbush.com/ or at http://www.enespanol.georgewbush.com/. This site provides information in Spanish including campaign speeches, positions on issues, news releases, and video testimonials of Hispanic supporters.
The Youth Zone portion of the website is designed to teach children more about the presidential election by using America’s game, baseball, as a kid-friendly reference point. Children can learn about the election process and see the differences and similarities between politics and baseball in a fun and appealing way.
The newly redesigned website also offers the following information and options:
Campaign activities in each of the 50 states;
Photos and details of Gov. Bush’s travel across the country to meet with voters;
Text of Gov. Bush’s speeches, including a video link to view a speech;
A photo journal of Gov. Bush’s life from his childhood in Midland, to the birth of his twin daughters to his work as the managing general partner of the Texas Rangers;
The opportunity to sign up for volunteer activities;
Information about Gov. Bush policy proposals.
Governor Bush Welcomes You To His Virtual Campaign Headquarters
Welcome to georgewbush.com - my virtual campaign headquarters. The most important question I can answer for you is why I am running for President of the United States. I am running for President because our country must be prosperous. But prosperity must have a purpose.
The purpose of prosperity is to make sure the American dream touches every willing heart. The purpose of prosperity is to leave no one out - to leave no one behind. I'm running because my political party must match a conservative mind with a compassionate heart. And I'm running to win.
We will be prosperous if we reduce taxes. I'll have a plan that reduces marginal rates so we can continue to create high paying high quality jobs. But a plan that also helps struggling families who live on the outskirts of poverty.
We will be prosperous if we reduce the regulations that strangle enterprise. And I will do what I did in Texas - I will fight for meaningful, real tort reform.
We will be prosperous if we embrace free trade. I will work to end tariffs and breakdown barriers everywhere - entirely - so that the whole world trades in freedom. The fearful build walls. The confident tear them down.
And I am confident in the American workers, and farmers and entrepreneurs. And I am confident that America's best is the best in the world.
And we must be prosperous. We must be prosperous to keep the peace. This still is a dangerous world. A world of madmen, terror, and missiles. And our nation is plagued by failing intelligence and aging weapons systems. Because a dangerous world still requires a sharpened sword, I will rebuild the military power of the United States.
So America will be prosperous and strong if we do the right things. But prosperity alone is simple materialism. Prosperity must have a greater purpose. The success of America has never been proven by cities of gold, but by citizens of character.
This country is hungry for a new style of campaign. A positive campaign. A hopeful campaign. An inclusive campaign.
I'll wage a campaign that attracts new faces and new voices. A campaign that unites all Americans toward a better tomorrow. I've learned how to lead. I know how to set a clear agenda and get results.
I've learned that you cannot lead by dividing people. I'm a uniter - not a divider. And I know that one of my most important responsibilities will be this: When I put my hand on the Bible I will swear to not only uphold the laws of our country, I will swear to uphold the dignity and honor of the office to which I have been elected.
Thank you very much for your interest and thank you for visiting georgewbush.com.
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
October 19, 1999
Announcement of the Vice-President
Austin, Texas
Tuesday, July 25, 2000
Governor George W. Bush Remarks
I believe you are looking at the next Vice President of the United States.
Throughout this vice presidential selection process, my foremost goal has been to select an outstanding individual who is capable of serving as President of the United States.
I wanted the selection process to be thorough and dignified. I reached out to a distinguished and experienced statesman to lead the search. For months, we worked closely together to review the qualifications of many impressive candidates.
As we worked to evaluate the strengths of others, I saw firsthand Dick Cheney’s outstanding judgment. As we considered many different credentials, I benefited from his keen insight.
I was impressed by the thoughtful and thorough way he approached his mission. And gradually, I realized that the person who was best qualified to be my vice presidential nominee was working by my side.
Before I asked Dick Cheney to chair the selection process, I had asked whether he would consider being a candidate himself. At the time, he said no. He had a challenging and demanding job leading a worldwide company; he was enjoying life in the private sector. But I kept the thought of him joining me in the back of my mind.
When Secretary Cheney visited me in Crawford over the July 4th weekend, we reviewed many different candidates, all of whom are impressive. But I continued to believe the best candidate might be sitting next to me. I asked him again whether he would be willing to join me to accomplish some great goals for our country: to save and strengthen social security, to improve medicare and provide prescription drug benefits to seniors, to reform our public schools and to rebuild our military. This time he said he was willing to talk with his family and consider it.
Early this morning, I called and asked him to join me in renewing America’s purpose, together. So I am proud to announce that Dick Cheney, a man of great integrity and judgment and experience, is my choice to be the next Vice President of the United States. I can’t wait for the delegates at our convention next week to hear from Dick Cheney and I will ask them to confirm this good man as our party’s choice for Vice-President.
The fact that this outstanding man is willing to serve speaks to the power of our compassionate conservative message and its promise for our country.
I have to admit: I didn’t pick Dick Cheney because of Wyoming’s three electoral votes – although we want and will work hard to earn them. I picked him because he is without a doubt fully capable of being President of the United States and he will be a valuable partner in a Bush administration.
Dick Cheney has served our country as chief of staff to a President, served in the United States Congress and as Secretary of Defense. He is a man of integrity who is respected by Republicans and Democrats alike. Even my opponent, Vice President Gore, once said Dick Cheney is a good man who is well liked and respected by his colleagues. I am proud to call him my friend, and honored to call him my running mate.
I also want to welcome Lynne Cheney. She is woman of many accomplishments. She served as chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities and she is a leader in developing high standards and sound curriculum for public schools. She is an important member of our team.
Laura and I are delighted to have Dick and Lynne by our side. And we look forward to winning and working for a better America.
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
July 25, 2000
Governor George W. Bush - Acceptance Speech
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thursday, August 3, 2000
Mr. Chairman, delegates, and my fellow citizens ... I accept your nomination. Thank you for this honor. Together, we will renew America's purpose.
Our founders first defined that purpose here in Philadelphia ... Ben Franklin was here. Thomas Jefferson. And, of course, George Washington -- or, as his friends called him, "George W."
I am proud to have Dick Cheney at my side. He is a man of integrity and sound judgment, who has proven that public service can be noble service. America will be proud to have a leader of such character to succeed Al Gore as Vice President of the United States.
I am grateful for John McCain and the other candidates who sought this nomination. Their convictions strengthen our party.
I am especially grateful tonight to my family.
No matter what else I do in life, asking Laura to marry me was the best decision I ever made.
To our daughters, Barbara and Jenna, we love you, we're proud of you, and as you head off to college this fall ... ... Don't stay out too late, and e-mail your old dad once in a while, will you?
And mother, everyone loves you and so do I.
Growing up, she gave me love and lots of advice. I gave her white hair. And I want to thank my father -- the most decent man I have ever known. All my life I have been amazed that a gentle soul could be so strong. And Dad, I want you to know how proud I am to be your son.
My father was the last president of a great generation. A generation of Americans who stormed beaches, liberated concentration camps and delivered us from evil.
Some never came home.
Those who did put their medals in drawers, went to work, and built on a heroic scale ... highways and universities, suburbs and factories, great cities and grand alliances -- the strong foundations of an American Century.
Now the question comes to the sons and daughters of this achievement...
What is asked of us?
This is a remarkable moment in the life of our nation. Never has the promise of prosperity been so vivid. But times of plenty, like times of crisis, are tests of American character.
Prosperity can be a tool in our hands -- used to build and better our country. Or it can be a drug in our system -- dulling our sense of urgency, of empathy, of duty.
Our opportunities are too great, our lives too short, to waste this moment.
So tonight we vow to our nation ...
We will seize this moment of American promise.
We will use these good times for great goals.
We will confront the hard issues -- threats to our national security, threats to our health and retirement security -- before the challenges of our time become crises for our children.
And we will extend the promise of prosperity to every forgotten corner of this country.
To every man and woman, a chance to succeed. To every child, a chance to learn. To every family, a chance to live with dignity and hope.
For eight years, the Clinton/Gore administration has coasted through prosperity.
And the path of least resistance is always downhill.
But America's way is the rising road.
This nation is daring and decent and ready for change.
Our current president embodied the potential of a generation. So many talents. So much charm. Such great skill. But, in the end, to what end? So much promise, to no great purpose.
Little more than a decade ago, the Cold War thawed and, with the leadership of Presidents Reagan and Bush, that wall came down.
But instead of seizing this moment, the Clinton/Gore administration has squandered it. We have seen a steady erosion of American power and an unsteady exercise of American influence.
Our military is low on parts, pay and morale.
If called on by the commander-in-chief today, two entire divisions of the Army would have to report ... Not ready for duty, sir.
This administration had its moment.
They had their chance. They have not led. We will.
This generation was given the gift of the best education in American history. Yet we do not share that gift with everyone. Seven of ten fourth-graders in our highest poverty schools cannot read a simple children's book.
And still this administration continues on the same old path with the same old programs -- while millions are trapped in schools where violence is common and learning is rare.
This administration had its chance. They have not led. We will.
America has a strong economy and a surplus. We have the public resources and the public will -- even the bipartisan opportunities -- to strengthen Social Security and repair Medicare.
But this administration -- during eight years of increasing need -- did nothing.
They had their moment. They have not led. We will.
Our generation has a chance to reclaim some essential values -- to show we have grown up before we grow old.
But when the moment for leadership came, this administration did not teach our children, it disillusioned them.
They had their chance. They have not led. We will.
And now they come asking for another chance, another shot.
Our answer?
Not this time.
Not this year.
This is not a time for third chances, it is a time for new beginnings. The rising generations of this country have our own appointment with greatness.
It does not rise or fall with the stock market. It cannot be bought with our wealth.
Greatness is found when American character and American courage overcome American challenges.
When Lewis Morris of New York was about to sign the Declaration of Independence, his brother advised against it, warning he would lose all his property.
Morris, a plain-spoken Founder, responded ... "Damn the consequences, give me the pen." That is the eloquence of American action.
We heard it during World War II, when General Eisenhower told paratroopers on D-Day morning not to worry -- and one replied, "We're not worried, General ... It's Hitler's turn to worry now."
We heard it in the civil rights movement, when brave men and women did not say ... "We shall cope," or "We shall see." They said ... "We shall overcome."
An American president must call upon that character.
Tonight, in this hall, we resolve to be, not the party of repose, but the party of reform.
We will write, not footnotes, but chapters in the American story.
We will add the work of our hands to the inheritance of our fathers and mothers -- and leave this nation greater than we found it.
We know the tests of leadership. The issues are joined.
We will strengthen Social Security and Medicare for the greatest generation, and for generations to come.
Medicare does more than meet the needs of our elderly, it reflects the values of our society.
We will set it on firm financial ground, and make prescription drugs available and affordable for every senior who needs them.
Social Security has been called the "third rail of American politics" -- the one you're not supposed to touch because it shocks you.
But, if you don't touch it, you can't fix it. And I intend to fix it.
To seniors in this country ... You earned your benefits, you made your plans, and President George W. Bush will keep the promise of Social Security ... no changes, no reductions, no way.
Our opponents will say otherwise. This is their last, parting ploy, and don't believe a word of it.
Now is the time for Republicans and Democrats to end the politics of fear and save Social Security, together.
For younger workers, we will give you the option -- your choice -- to put a part of your payroll taxes into sound, responsible investments.
This will mean a higher return on your money, and, over 30 or 40 years, a nest egg to help your retirement, or pass along to your children.
When this money is in your name, in your account, it's not just a program, it's your property.
Now is the time to give American workers security and independence that no politician can ever take away.
On education ... Too many American children are segregated into schools without standards, shuffled from grade-to-grade because of their age, regardless of their knowledge.
This is discrimination, pure and simple -- the soft bigotry of low expectations.
And our nation should treat it like other forms of discrimination ... We should end it.
One size does not fit all when it comes to educating our children, so local people should control local schools.
And those who spend your tax dollars must be held accountable.
When a school district receives federal funds to teach poor children, we expect them to learn. And if they don't, parents should get the money to make a different choice.
Now is the time to make Head Start an early learning program, teach all our children to read, and renew the promise of America's public schools. Another test of leadership is tax relief.
The last time taxes were this high as a percentage of our economy, there was a good reason ... We were fighting World War II.
Today, our high taxes fund a surplus. Some say that growing federal surplus means Washington has more money to spend.
But they've got it backwards.
The surplus is not the government's money. The surplus is the people's money.
I will use this moment of opportunity to bring common sense and fairness to the tax code.
And I will act on principle.
On principle ... every family, every farmer and small businessperson, should be free to pass on their life's work to those they love.
So we will abolish the death tax.
On principle ... no one in America should have to pay more than a third of their income to the federal government.
So we will reduce tax rates for everyone, in every bracket.
On principle ... those in the greatest need should receive the greatest help.
So we will lower the bottom rate from 15 percent to 10 percent and double the child tax credit.
Now is the time to reform the tax code and share some of the surplus with the people who pay the bills.
The world needs America's strength and leadership, and America's armed forces need better equipment, better training, and better pay.
We will give our military the means to keep the peace, and we will give it one thing more ... a commander-in-chief who respects our men and women in uniform, and a commander-in-chief who earns their respect.
A generation shaped by Vietnam must remember the lessons of Vietnam.
When America uses force in the world, the cause must be just, the goal must be clear, and the victory must be overwhelming.
I will work to reduce nuclear weapons and nuclear tension in the world -- to turn these years of influence into decades of peace.
And, at the earliest possible date, my administration will deploy missile defenses to guard against attack and blackmail.
Now is the time, not to defend outdated treaties, but to defend the American people.
A time of prosperity is a test of vision. And our nation today needs vision. That is a fact ... or as my opponent might call it, a "risky truth scheme." Every one of the proposals I've talked about tonight, he has called a "risky scheme," over and over again.
It is the sum of his message -- the politics of the roadblock, the philosophy of the stop sign.
If my opponent had been there at the moon launch, it would have been a "risky rocket scheme."
If he'd been there when Edison was testing the light bulb, it would have been a "risky anti-candle scheme."
And if he'd been there when the Internet was invented well ... I understand he actually was there for that.
He now leads the party of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But the only thing he has to offer is fear itself.
That outlook is typical of many in Washington -- always seeing the tunnel at the end of the light.
But I come from a different place, and it has made me a different leader. In Midland, Texas, where I grew up, the town motto was "the sky is the limit" ... and we believed it.
There was a restless energy, a basic conviction that, with hard work, anybody could succeed, and everybody deserved a chance.
Our sense of community was just as strong as that sense of promise.
Neighbors helped each other. There were dry wells and sandstorms to keep you humble, and lifelong friends to take your side, and churches to remind us that every soul is equal in value and equal in need.
This background leaves more than an accent, it leaves an outlook.
Optimistic. Impatient with pretense. Confident that people can chart their own course.
That background may lack the polish of Washington. Then again, I don't have a lot of things that come with Washington.
I don't have enemies to fight. And I have no stake in the bitter arguments of the last few years. I want to change the tone of Washington to one of civility and respect.
The largest lesson I learned in Midland still guides me as governor ... Everyone, from immigrant to entrepreneur, has an equal claim on this country's promise.
So we improved our schools, dramatically, for children of every accent, of every background.
We moved people from welfare to work.
We strengthened our juvenile justice laws.
Our budgets have been balanced, with surpluses, and we cut taxes not only once, but twice.
We accomplished a lot.
I don't deserve all the credit, and don't attempt to take it. I worked with Republicans and Democrats to get things done.
A bittersweet part of tonight is that someone is missing, the late Lt. Governor of Texas Bob Bullock.
Bob was a Democrat, a crusty veteran of Texas politics, and my great friend.
He worked by my side, endorsed my re-election, and I know he is with me in spirit in saying to those who would malign our state for political gain... Don't mess with Texas.
As governor, I've made difficult decisions, and stood by them under pressure. I've been where the buck stops -- in business and in government. I've been a chief executive who sets an agenda, sets big goals, and rallies people to believe and achieve them.
I am proud of this record, and I'm prepared for the work ahead.
If you give me your trust, I will honor it ... Grant me a mandate, and I will use it... Give me the opportunity to lead this nation, and I will lead ...
And we need a leader to seize the opportunities of this new century -- the new cures of medicine, the amazing technologies that will drive our economy and keep the peace.
But our new economy must never forget the old, unfinished struggle for human dignity.
And here we face a challenge to the very heart and founding premise of our nation.
A couple of years ago, I visited a juvenile jail in Marlin, Texas, and talked with a group of young inmates. They were angry, wary kids. All had committed grownup crimes.
Yet when I looked in their eyes, I realized some of them were still little boys.
Toward the end of conversation, one young man, about 15, raised his hand and asked a haunting question... "What do you think of me?"
He seemed to be asking, like many Americans who struggle ... "Is there hope for me? Do I have a chance?" And, frankly ... "Do you, a white man in a suit, really care what happens to me?"
A small voice, but it speaks for so many. Single moms struggling to feed the kids and pay the rent. Immigrants starting a hard life in a new world. Children without fathers in neighborhoods where gangs seem like friendship, where drugs promise peace, and where sex, sadly, seems like the closest thing to belonging. We are their country, too.
And each of us must share in its promise, or that promise is diminished for all.
If that boy in Marlin believes he is trapped and worthless and hopeless -- if he believes his life has no value, then other lives have no value to him -- and we are ALL diminished.
When these problems aren't confronted, it builds a wall within our nation. On one side are wealth and technology, education and ambition.
On the other side of the wall are poverty and prison, addiction and despair.
And, my fellow Americans, we must tear down that wall.
Big government is not the answer. But the alternative to bureaucracy is not indifference.
It is to put conservative values and conservative ideas into the thick of the fight for justice and opportunity.
This is what I mean by compassionate conservatism. And on this ground we will govern our nation.
We will give low-income Americans tax credits to buy the private health insurance they need and deserve.
We will transform today's housing rental program to help hundreds of thousands of low-income families find stability and dignity in a home of their own.
And, in the next bold step of welfare reform, we will support the heroic work of homeless shelters and hospices, food pantries and crisis pregnancy centers -- people reclaiming their communities block-by-block and heart-by-heart.
I think of Mary Jo Copeland, whose ministry called "Sharing and Caring Hands" serves 1,000 meals a week in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Each day, Mary Jo washes the feet of the homeless, then sends them off with new socks and shoes.
"Look after your feet," she tells them ...... "They must carry you a long way in this world, and then all the way to God."
Government cannot do this work. It can feed the body, but it cannot reach the soul. Yet government can take the side of these groups, helping the helper, encouraging the inspired.
My administration will give taxpayers new incentives to donate to charity, encourage after-school programs that build character, and support mentoring groups that shape and save young lives.
We must give our children a spirit of moral courage, because their character is our destiny.
We must tell them, with clarity and confidence, that drugs and alcohol can destroy you, and bigotry disfigures the heart.
Our schools must support the ideals of parents, elevating character and abstinence from afterthoughts to urgent goals.
We must help protect our children, in our schools and streets, by finally and strictly enforcing our nation's gun laws.
Most of all, we must teach our children the values that defeat violence. I will lead our nation toward a culture that values life -- the life of the elderly and the sick, the life of the young, and the life of the unborn. I know good people disagree on this issue, but surely we can agree on ways to value life by promoting adoption and parental notification, and when Congress sends me a bill against partial-birth abortion, I will sign it into law.
Behind every goal I have talked about tonight is a great hope for our country.
A hundred years from now, this must not be remembered as an age rich in possessions and poor in ideals.
Instead, we must usher in an era of responsibility.
My generation tested limits -- and our country, in some ways, is better for it.
Women are now treated more equally. Racial progress has been steady, if still too slow. We are learning to protect the natural world around us. We will continue this progress, and we will not turn back.
At times, we lost our way. But we are coming home.
So many of us held our first child, and saw a better self reflected in her eyes.
And in that family love, many have found the sign and symbol of an even greater love, and have been touched by faith.
We have discovered that who we are is more important than what we have. And we know we must renew our values to restore our country.
This is the vision of America's founders.
They never saw our nation's greatness in rising wealth or advancing armies, but in small, unnumbered acts of caring and courage and self-denial.
Their highest hope, as Robert Frost described it, was "to occupy the land with character."
And that, 13 generations later, is still our goal ... to occupy the land with character.
In a responsibility era, each of us has important tasks -- work that only we can do.
Each of us is responsible ... to love and guide our children, and help a neighbor in need.
Synagogues, churches and mosques are responsible ... not only to worship but to serve.
Corporations are responsible ... to treat their workers fairly, and leave the air and waters clean.
Our nation's leaders are responsible ... to confront problems, not pass them on to others.
And to lead this nation to a responsibility era, a president himself must be responsible.
And so, when I put my hand on the Bible, I will swear to not only uphold the laws of our land, I will swear to uphold the honor and dignity of the office to which I have been elected, so help me God.
I believe the presidency -- the final point of decision in the American government -- was made for great purposes.
It is the office of Lincoln's conscience and Teddy Roosevelt's energy and Harry Truman's integrity and Ronald Reagan's optimism.
For me, gaining this office is not the ambition of a lifetime, but it IS the opportunity of a lifetime.
And I will make the most of it. I believe great decisions are made with care, made with conviction, not made with polls.
I do not need to take your pulse before I know my own mind. I do not reinvent myself at every turn. I am not running in borrowed clothes. When I act, you will know my reasons ...When I speak, you will know my heart.
I believe in tolerance, not in spite of my faith, but because of it.
I believe in a God who calls us, not to judge our neighbors, but to love them.
I believe in grace, because I have seen it ... In peace, because I have felt it ... In forgiveness, because I have needed it.
I believe true leadership is a process of addition, not an act of division. I will not attack a part of this country, because I want to lead the whole of it.
And I believe this will be a tough race, down to the wire.
Their war room is up and running ... but we are ready. Their attacks will be relentless ... but they will be answered. We are facing something familiar, but they are facing something new.
We are now the party of ideas and innovation ... The party of idealism and inclusion.
The party of a simple and powerful hope ...
My fellow citizens, we can begin again. After all of the shouting, and all of the scandal. After all of the bitterness and broken faith. We can begin again.
The wait has been long, but it won't be long now.
A prosperous nation is ready to renew its purpose and unite behind great goals ... and it won't be long now.
Our nation must renew the hopes of that boy I talked with in jail, and so many like him... and it won't be long now.
Our country is ready for high standards and new leaders ... and it won't be long now.
An era of tarnished ideals is giving way to a responsibility era ... and it won't be long now.
I know how serious the task is before me.
I know the presidency is an office that turns pride into prayer.
But I am eager to start on the work ahead.
And I believe America is ready for a new beginning.
My friend, the artist Tom Lea of El Paso, captured the way I feel about our great land.
He and his wife, he said, "live on the east side of the mountain ...
It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side.
It is the side to see the day that is coming ... not the side to see the day that is gone."
Americans live on the sunrise side of mountain.
The night is passing.
And we are ready for the day to come.
Thank you. And God bless you.
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
August 3, 2000
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!
'Governor Bush and Secretary Cheney asked me to thank you for all your terrific support and hard work. We hope and believe we have elected the next president of the United States. The latest vote count in the state of Florida shows Governor Bush winning that state by more than 1,200 votes. They are still counting and I am confident when it is all said and done we will prevail. Thank you again for all your hard work and all your effort. We look forward to a great celebration. God bless.'
--Don Evans, Campaign Chairman, Bush-Cheney 2000
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
November 7, 2000
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!
'Governor Bush and Secretary Cheney asked me to thank you for all your terrific support and hard work. We hope and believe we have elected the next president of the United States. The latest vote count in the state of Florida shows Governor Bush winning that state by more than 1,200 votes. They are still counting and I am confident when it is all said and done we will prevail. Thank you again for all your hard work and all your effort. We look forward to a great celebration. God bless.'
--Don Evans, Campaign Chairman, Bush-Cheney 2000
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
November 8, 2000
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!
'Governor Bush and Secretary Cheney asked me to thank you for all your terrific support and hard work. We hope and believe we have elected the next president of the United States. The latest vote count in the state of Florida shows Governor Bush winning that state by more than 1,200 votes. They are still counting and I am confident when it is all said and done we will prevail. Thank you again for all your hard work and all your effort. We look forward to a great celebration. God bless.'
--Don Evans, Campaign Chairman, Bush-Cheney 2000
Governor Bush Statement
Austin, TX
Wednesday, November 15, 2000
Tonight, Secretary Cheney and I thank the many thousands of Americans who have written, or called or emailed to offer prayers and encouragement as we all await the outcome of the election.
I'm sure that Vice President Gore and Senator Lieberman are receiving similar good wishes and would want to join us in thanking our fellow Americans for their caring and concern.
No matter who you voted for in this election, whether you supported Vice President Gore, or whether you supported me, all Americans want a fair and accurate count of the votes in Florida -- a fair and accurate count that measures up to the highest standards and principles outlined in our Constitution and our laws.
As we work to conclude this election, we should be guided by three principles:
This process must be fair. This process must be accurate. And this process must be final.
First, the election must be fair -- fair to voters throughout America, fair to voters in Florida, and fair to voters in different counties in Florida. I honor and respect the value of every single vote. That's why my campaign supported the automatic recount of all the votes in Florida. Everyone in Florida has had his or her vote counted once. Those votes have been recounted. In some counties, they have been counted a third and even a fourth time. And that brings us to the second principle, accuracy.
The process must be accurate. As Americans have watched on television, they have seen for themselves that manual counting, with individuals making subjective decisions about voter intent, introduces human error and politics into the vote counting process. Each time these voting cards are handled, the potential for errors multiplies. Additional manual counts of votes that have been counted and recounted will make the process less accurate, not more so.
Third, not for Vice President Gore or for me, but for America, this process must have a point of conclusion -- a moment when America and the world know who is the next President. This is precisely why the laws of the state of Florida have deadlines for certification of the election vote.
One of them came last night, and tonight, Florida's chief election official and the state's election canvassing commission have reaffirmed it, as their responsibilities require. The next and final deadline comes on Friday at midnight, when overseas absentee ballots must have been received to be counted in Florida.
I do not know who those ballots will support, and neither does Vice President Gore. The votes of Florida have been counted, they have been recounted and tonight they have been certified, and we do not know yet who has won. The way to conclude this election, in a fair, accurate and final way, is for the state of Florida to count the remaining overseas ballots, add them to the certified vote, and announce the results, as required by Florida law.
I was encouraged tonight that Vice President Gore called for a conclusion to this process. We all agree. Unfortunately, what the Vice President proposed is exactly what he's been proposing all along: continuing with selective hand recounts that are neither fair nor accurate, or compounding the error by extending a flawed process statewide. This means every vote in Florida would be evaluated differently, by different individuals, using different judgment and perhaps different local standards -- or perhaps, no standards at all. This would be neither fair nor accurate, it would be arbitrary and chaotic. At this unique moment in our nation's history, all of us have responsibilities.
We have a responsibility to conduct ourselves with dignity and honor.
We have a responsibility to make sure that those who speak for us do not poison our politics. And we have a responsibility to respect the law and not seek to undermine it when we do not like its outcome. The outcome of this election will not be the result of deals or efforts to mold public opinion. The outcome of this election will be determined by the votes and by the law.
Once this election is over, I would be glad to meet with Vice President Gore and I join him in pledging that regardless of who wins after this weekend's final count, we will work together to unite our great country.
Thank you and God Bless America.
December 13, 2000
Remarks by President-Elect George W. Bush State Capitol
My fellow Americans, I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you tonight. Mr. Speaker, Lt. Governor Perry, distinguished guests and friends:
Our country has been through a long and trying period, with the outcome of the presidential election not finalized for longer than any of us could have ever imagined. Vice President Gore and I put our hearts and hopes into our campaigns; we both gave it our all. We shared similar emotions.
I understand how difficult this moment must be for Vice President Gore and his family. He has a distinguished record of service to our country as a Congressman, a Senator and as Vice President.
This evening I received a gracious call from the Vice President. We agreed to meet early next week in Washington and we agreed to do our best to heal our country after this hard fought contest.
Tonight, I want to thank all the volunteers and campaign workers who worked so hard on my behalf, I also salute the Vice President and his supporters for waging a spirited campaign, ...and I thank him for a call that I know was difficult to make.
Laura and I wish the Vice President and Senator Lieberman and their families
the very best.
I have a lot to be thankful for tonight. I am thankful for America and thankful that we are able to resolve our electoral differences in a peaceful way.
And I am thankful to the American people for the great privilege of being able to serve as your next President.
I thank my wife and daughters for their love. Laura's active involvement as First Lady has made Texas a better place, and she will be a wonderful First Lady for America.
I am proud to have Dick Cheney by my side, and America will be proud to have
him as our next Vice President.
Tonight, I chose to speak from the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives because it has been home to bipartisan cooperation.
Here, in a place where Democrats have the majority, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to do what is right for the people we represent.
We had spirited disagreements, and in the end, we found constructive consensus. It is an experience I will always carry with me, and an example I
will always follow.
I thank my friend, House Speaker Pete Laney, a democrat, who introduced me
today. And I thank the legislators of both parties with whom I worked.
Across the hall in our Texas Capitol is the State Senate, and I cannot help but think of our mutual friend, the former Democrat Lieutenant Governor, Bob Bullock. His love for Texas and his ability to work in a bipartisan way continue to be a model for all of us.
The spirit of cooperation I have seen in this hall is what is needed in Washington. It is the challenge of our moment. After a difficult election, we must put politics behind us and work together to make the promise of America available for every one of our citizens.
I am optimistic that we can change the tone of Washington, D.C. I believe things happen for a reason, and I hope the long wait of the last five weeks will heighten a desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past.
Our nation must rise above a house divided. Americans share hopes and goals
and values far more important than any political disagreements. Republicans
want the best for our nation. So do Democrats.
Our votes may differ, but not our hopes.
I know America wants reconciliation and unity. I know Americans want progress. And we must seize this moment and deliver.
Together, guided by a spirit of common sense, common courtesy and common
goals, we can unite and inspire the American citizens.
Together, we will work to make all our public schools excellent, teaching every student of every background and every accent, so that no child is left behind.
Together, we will save Social Security and renew its promise of a secure retirement for generations to come.
Together, we will strengthen Medicare and offer prescription drug coverage to all of our seniors.
Together, we will give Americans the broad, fair and fiscally responsible tax relief they deserve.
Together, we will have a bipartisan foreign policy true to our values and true to our friends. And we will have a military equal to every challenge, and superior to every adversary.
Together, we will address some of society's deepest problems one person at a
time, by encouraging and empowering the good hearts and good works of the
American people. This is the essence of compassionate conservatism, and it
will be a foundation of my administration.
These priorities are not merely Republican concerns or Democratic concerns,
these are American responsibilities.
During the fall campaign, we differed about details of these proposals - but there was remarkable consensus about the important issues before us: excellent schools, retirement and health security, tax relief, a strong military and a more civil society.
We have discussed our differences; now it is time to find common ground and
build consensus to make America a beacon of opportunity in the 21st century.
I am optimistic this can happen. Our future demands it, and our history proves it.
Two hundred years ago, in the election of 1800, America faced another close
presidential election. A tie in the electoral college put the outcome into the hands of Congress.
After six days of voting, and 36 ballots, the House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson the third President of the United States. That election brought the first transfer of power from one party to another in our new democracy.
Shortly after the election, Jefferson, in a letter titled reconciliation and reform, wrote: "the steady character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor...
Unequivocal in principle, reasonable in manner, we shall be able I hope to do a great deal of good to the cause of freedom and harmony."
Two hundred years have only strengthened the steady character of America.
And so as we begin the work of healing our nation, tonight I call upon that character.
Respect for each other. Respect for our differences. Generosity of spirit. And a willingness to work hard and work together to solve any problem.
I have something else to ask of you, every American. I ask for you to pray for this great nation. I ask your prayers for leaders from both parties.
I thank you for your prayers for me and my family, and I ask you to pray for Vice President Gore and his family.
I have faith that with God's help we as a nation will move forward together, as one nation, indivisible. And together we will create an America that is open, so every citizen has access to the American dream.
An America that is educated, so every child has the keys to realize that dream. And an America that is united in our diversity and our shared American values that are larger than race or party.
I was not elected to serve one party, but to serve one nation. The President of the United States is the President of every single American, of every race and every background. Whether you voted for me or not, I will do my best to serve your interests, and I will work to earn your respect.
I will be guided by President Jefferson's sense of purpose: to stand for principle, to be reasonable in manner, and, above all, to do great good for the cause of freedom and harmony.
The Presidency is more than an honor, more than an office. It is a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.
Thank you and good night. May God bless America.
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
November 9, 2000
Governor Bush Statement
Austin, TX
Wednesday, November 15, 2000
Tonight, Secretary Cheney and I thank the many thousands of Americans who have written, or called or emailed to offer prayers and encouragement as we all await the outcome of the election.
I'm sure that Vice President Gore and Senator Lieberman are receiving similar good wishes and would want to join us in thanking our fellow Americans for their caring and concern.
No matter who you voted for in this election, whether you supported Vice President Gore, or whether you supported me, all Americans want a fair and accurate count of the votes in Florida -- a fair and accurate count that measures up to the highest standards and principles outlined in our Constitution and our laws.
As we work to conclude this election, we should be guided by three principles:
This process must be fair. This process must be accurate. And this process must be final.
First, the election must be fair -- fair to voters throughout America, fair to voters in Florida, and fair to voters in different counties in Florida. I honor and respect the value of every single vote. That's why my campaign supported the automatic recount of all the votes in Florida. Everyone in Florida has had his or her vote counted once. Those votes have been recounted. In some counties, they have been counted a third and even a fourth time. And that brings us to the second principle, accuracy.
The process must be accurate. As Americans have watched on television, they have seen for themselves that manual counting, with individuals making subjective decisions about voter intent, introduces human error and politics into the vote counting process. Each time these voting cards are handled, the potential for errors multiplies. Additional manual counts of votes that have been counted and recounted will make the process less accurate, not more so.
Third, not for Vice President Gore or for me, but for America, this process must have a point of conclusion -- a moment when America and the world know who is the next President. This is precisely why the laws of the state of Florida have deadlines for certification of the election vote.
One of them came last night, and tonight, Florida's chief election official and the state's election canvassing commission have reaffirmed it, as their responsibilities require. The next and final deadline comes on Friday at midnight, when overseas absentee ballots must have been received to be counted in Florida.
I do not know who those ballots will support, and neither does Vice President Gore. The votes of Florida have been counted, they have been recounted and tonight they have been certified, and we do not know yet who has won. The way to conclude this election, in a fair, accurate and final way, is for the state of Florida to count the remaining overseas ballots, add them to the certified vote, and announce the results, as required by Florida law.
I was encouraged tonight that Vice President Gore called for a conclusion to this process. We all agree. Unfortunately, what the Vice President proposed is exactly what he's been proposing all along: continuing with selective hand recounts that are neither fair nor accurate, or compounding the error by extending a flawed process statewide. This means every vote in Florida would be evaluated differently, by different individuals, using different judgment and perhaps different local standards -- or perhaps, no standards at all. This would be neither fair nor accurate, it would be arbitrary and chaotic. At this unique moment in our nation's history, all of us have responsibilities.
We have a responsibility to conduct ourselves with dignity and honor.
We have a responsibility to make sure that those who speak for us do not poison our politics. And we have a responsibility to respect the law and not seek to undermine it when we do not like its outcome. The outcome of this election will not be the result of deals or efforts to mold public opinion. The outcome of this election will be determined by the votes and by the law.
Once this election is over, I would be glad to meet with Vice President Gore and I join him in pledging that regardless of who wins after this weekend's final count, we will work together to unite our great country.
Thank you and God Bless America.
December 13, 2000
Remarks by President-Elect George W. Bush State Capitol
My fellow Americans, I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you tonight. Mr. Speaker, Lt. Governor Perry, distinguished guests and friends:
Our country has been through a long and trying period, with the outcome of the presidential election not finalized for longer than any of us could have ever imagined. Vice President Gore and I put our hearts and hopes into our campaigns; we both gave it our all. We shared similar emotions.
I understand how difficult this moment must be for Vice President Gore and his family. He has a distinguished record of service to our country as a Congressman, a Senator and as Vice President.
This evening I received a gracious call from the Vice President. We agreed to meet early next week in Washington and we agreed to do our best to heal our country after this hard fought contest.
Tonight, I want to thank all the volunteers and campaign workers who worked so hard on my behalf, I also salute the Vice President and his supporters for waging a spirited campaign, ...and I thank him for a call that I know was difficult to make.
Laura and I wish the Vice President and Senator Lieberman and their families
the very best.
I have a lot to be thankful for tonight. I am thankful for America and thankful that we are able to resolve our electoral differences in a peaceful way.
And I am thankful to the American people for the great privilege of being able to serve as your next President.
I thank my wife and daughters for their love. Laura's active involvement as First Lady has made Texas a better place, and she will be a wonderful First Lady for America.
I am proud to have Dick Cheney by my side, and America will be proud to have
him as our next Vice President.
Tonight, I chose to speak from the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives because it has been home to bipartisan cooperation.
Here, in a place where Democrats have the majority, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to do what is right for the people we represent.
We had spirited disagreements, and in the end, we found constructive consensus. It is an experience I will always carry with me, and an example I
will always follow.
I thank my friend, House Speaker Pete Laney, a democrat, who introduced me
today. And I thank the legislators of both parties with whom I worked.
Across the hall in our Texas Capitol is the State Senate, and I cannot help but think of our mutual friend, the former Democrat Lieutenant Governor, Bob Bullock. His love for Texas and his ability to work in a bipartisan way continue to be a model for all of us.
The spirit of cooperation I have seen in this hall is what is needed in Washington. It is the challenge of our moment. After a difficult election, we must put politics behind us and work together to make the promise of America available for every one of our citizens.
I am optimistic that we can change the tone of Washington, D.C. I believe things happen for a reason, and I hope the long wait of the last five weeks will heighten a desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past.
Our nation must rise above a house divided. Americans share hopes and goals
and values far more important than any political disagreements. Republicans
want the best for our nation. So do Democrats.
Our votes may differ, but not our hopes.
I know America wants reconciliation and unity. I know Americans want progress. And we must seize this moment and deliver.
Together, guided by a spirit of common sense, common courtesy and common
goals, we can unite and inspire the American citizens.
Together, we will work to make all our public schools excellent, teaching every student of every background and every accent, so that no child is left behind.
Together, we will save Social Security and renew its promise of a secure retirement for generations to come.
Together, we will strengthen Medicare and offer prescription drug coverage to all of our seniors.
Together, we will give Americans the broad, fair and fiscally responsible tax relief they deserve.
Together, we will have a bipartisan foreign policy true to our values and true to our friends. And we will have a military equal to every challenge, and superior to every adversary.
Together, we will address some of society's deepest problems one person at a
time, by encouraging and empowering the good hearts and good works of the
American people. This is the essence of compassionate conservatism, and it
will be a foundation of my administration.
These priorities are not merely Republican concerns or Democratic concerns,
these are American responsibilities.
During the fall campaign, we differed about details of these proposals - but there was remarkable consensus about the important issues before us: excellent schools, retirement and health security, tax relief, a strong military and a more civil society.
We have discussed our differences; now it is time to find common ground and
build consensus to make America a beacon of opportunity in the 21st century.
I am optimistic this can happen. Our future demands it, and our history proves it.
Two hundred years ago, in the election of 1800, America faced another close
presidential election. A tie in the electoral college put the outcome into the hands of Congress.
After six days of voting, and 36 ballots, the House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson the third President of the United States. That election brought the first transfer of power from one party to another in our new democracy.
Shortly after the election, Jefferson, in a letter titled reconciliation and reform, wrote: "the steady character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor...
Unequivocal in principle, reasonable in manner, we shall be able I hope to do a great deal of good to the cause of freedom and harmony."
Two hundred years have only strengthened the steady character of America.
And so as we begin the work of healing our nation, tonight I call upon that character.
Respect for each other. Respect for our differences. Generosity of spirit. And a willingness to work hard and work together to solve any problem.
I have something else to ask of you, every American. I ask for you to pray for this great nation. I ask your prayers for leaders from both parties.
I thank you for your prayers for me and my family, and I ask you to pray for Vice President Gore and his family.
I have faith that with God's help we as a nation will move forward together, as one nation, indivisible. And together we will create an America that is open, so every citizen has access to the American dream.
An America that is educated, so every child has the keys to realize that dream. And an America that is united in our diversity and our shared American values that are larger than race or party.
I was not elected to serve one party, but to serve one nation. The President of the United States is the President of every single American, of every race and every background. Whether you voted for me or not, I will do my best to serve your interests, and I will work to earn your respect.
I will be guided by President Jefferson's sense of purpose: to stand for principle, to be reasonable in manner, and, above all, to do great good for the cause of freedom and harmony.
The Presidency is more than an honor, more than an office. It is a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.
Thank you and good night. May God bless America.
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
November 15, 2000
December 13, 2000
Remarks by President-Elect George W. Bush State Capitol
My fellow Americans, I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you tonight. Mr. Speaker, Lt. Governor Perry, distinguished guests and friends:
Our country has been through a long and trying period, with the outcome of the presidential election not finalized for longer than any of us could have ever imagined. Vice President Gore and I put our hearts and hopes into our campaigns; we both gave it our all. We shared similar emotions.
I understand how difficult this moment must be for Vice President Gore and his family. He has a distinguished record of service to our country as a Congressman, a Senator and as Vice President.
This evening I received a gracious call from the Vice President. We agreed to meet early next week in Washington and we agreed to do our best to heal our country after this hard fought contest.
Tonight, I want to thank all the volunteers and campaign workers who worked so hard on my behalf, I also salute the Vice President and his supporters for waging a spirited campaign, ...and I thank him for a call that I know was difficult to make.
Laura and I wish the Vice President and Senator Lieberman and their families
the very best.
I have a lot to be thankful for tonight. I am thankful for America and thankful that we are able to resolve our electoral differences in a peaceful way.
And I am thankful to the American people for the great privilege of being able to serve as your next President.
I thank my wife and daughters for their love. Laura's active involvement as First Lady has made Texas a better place, and she will be a wonderful First Lady for America.
I am proud to have Dick Cheney by my side, and America will be proud to have
him as our next Vice President.
Tonight, I chose to speak from the chamber of the Texas House of Representatives because it has been home to bipartisan cooperation.
Here, in a place where Democrats have the majority, Republicans and Democrats have worked together to do what is right for the people we represent.
We had spirited disagreements, and in the end, we found constructive consensus. It is an experience I will always carry with me, and an example I
will always follow.
I thank my friend, House Speaker Pete Laney, a democrat, who introduced me
today. And I thank the legislators of both parties with whom I worked.
Across the hall in our Texas Capitol is the State Senate, and I cannot help but think of our mutual friend, the former Democrat Lieutenant Governor, Bob Bullock. His love for Texas and his ability to work in a bipartisan way continue to be a model for all of us.
The spirit of cooperation I have seen in this hall is what is needed in Washington. It is the challenge of our moment. After a difficult election, we must put politics behind us and work together to make the promise of America available for every one of our citizens.
I am optimistic that we can change the tone of Washington, D.C. I believe things happen for a reason, and I hope the long wait of the last five weeks will heighten a desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past.
Our nation must rise above a house divided. Americans share hopes and goals
and values far more important than any political disagreements. Republicans
want the best for our nation. So do Democrats.
Our votes may differ, but not our hopes.
I know America wants reconciliation and unity. I know Americans want progress. And we must seize this moment and deliver.
Together, guided by a spirit of common sense, common courtesy and common
goals, we can unite and inspire the American citizens.
Together, we will work to make all our public schools excellent, teaching every student of every background and every accent, so that no child is left behind.
Together, we will save Social Security and renew its promise of a secure retirement for generations to come.
Together, we will strengthen Medicare and offer prescription drug coverage to all of our seniors.
Together, we will give Americans the broad, fair and fiscally responsible tax relief they deserve.
Together, we will have a bipartisan foreign policy true to our values and true to our friends. And we will have a military equal to every challenge, and superior to every adversary.
Together, we will address some of society's deepest problems one person at a
time, by encouraging and empowering the good hearts and good works of the
American people. This is the essence of compassionate conservatism, and it
will be a foundation of my administration.
These priorities are not merely Republican concerns or Democratic concerns,
these are American responsibilities.
During the fall campaign, we differed about details of these proposals - but there was remarkable consensus about the important issues before us: excellent schools, retirement and health security, tax relief, a strong military and a more civil society.
We have discussed our differences; now it is time to find common ground and
build consensus to make America a beacon of opportunity in the 21st century.
I am optimistic this can happen. Our future demands it, and our history proves it.
Two hundred years ago, in the election of 1800, America faced another close
presidential election. A tie in the electoral college put the outcome into the hands of Congress.
After six days of voting, and 36 ballots, the House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson the third President of the United States. That election brought the first transfer of power from one party to another in our new democracy.
Shortly after the election, Jefferson, in a letter titled reconciliation and reform, wrote: "the steady character of our countrymen is a rock to which we may safely moor...
Unequivocal in principle, reasonable in manner, we shall be able I hope to do a great deal of good to the cause of freedom and harmony."
Two hundred years have only strengthened the steady character of America.
And so as we begin the work of healing our nation, tonight I call upon that character.
Respect for each other. Respect for our differences. Generosity of spirit. And a willingness to work hard and work together to solve any problem.
I have something else to ask of you, every American. I ask for you to pray for this great nation. I ask your prayers for leaders from both parties.
I thank you for your prayers for me and my family, and I ask you to pray for Vice President Gore and his family.
I have faith that with God's help we as a nation will move forward together, as one nation, indivisible. And together we will create an America that is open, so every citizen has access to the American dream.
An America that is educated, so every child has the keys to realize that dream. And an America that is united in our diversity and our shared American values that are larger than race or party.
I was not elected to serve one party, but to serve one nation. The President of the United States is the President of every single American, of every race and every background. Whether you voted for me or not, I will do my best to serve your interests, and I will work to earn your respect.
I will be guided by President Jefferson's sense of purpose: to stand for principle, to be reasonable in manner, and, above all, to do great good for the cause of freedom and harmony.
The Presidency is more than an honor, more than an office. It is a charge to keep, and I will give it my all.
Thank you and good night. May God bless America.
Source: George W. Bush for President Official 2000 Web Site
George W. Bush 2000 Web Site
December 13, 2000
COPYRIGHT 2000-2024 - 4PRESIDENT CORPORATION/MIKE DEC PHOTOGRAPHY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
COPYRIGHT 2000-2024 - 4PRESIDENT CORPORATION/MIKE DEC PHOTOGRAPHY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
COPYRIGHT 2000-2024 - 4PRESIDENT CORPORATION/MIKE DEC PHOTOGRAPHY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
COPYRIGHT 2000-2024 - 4PRESIDENT CORPORATION/MIKE DEC PHOTOGRAPHY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED