all americans, and for those multitudes around the world who look to us for leadership in the cause of freedom. in the words of our great hymn, america, america, let us crown tsai good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. and now, my friends, in a phrase i wants addressed to others, it's time for me to go. thank you, and goodnight, and god bless america. after al gore conceded, president bush delivered his in austin texas. but >> thank you very much, good evening my fellow americans, i appreciate very much the opportunity to speak with you tonight and mister speaker lieutenant governor, friends and distinguished guests, our country has been

through a long and trying period. with the outcome of the presidential election, not finalized for any of us could ever imagine. vice president gore and i, but our hearts and hopes into our campaigns, and we both gave it our all, and we shared similar emotions, so 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 a vice president this evening i received a gracious call from the vice president and 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 and tonight i want to thank all of the thousands of volunteers and campaign workers who work so hard on my behalf and i also

salute the vice president and his supporters for waging a spirited campaign and i thank him for call that i know was difficult to make lauren i wish the vice president, senator liebermann and their families the very best i have a lot to be thankful for tonight, and i'm thankful for america, and i'm thankful that we were able to resolve our electoral differences, in a peaceful way into i'm thankful to the american people for the great privilege of being able to serve, as your next president. i want to thank our daughters and my wife for their love. they have made texas a better place, and she will be a wonderful first lady for

america. [applause] >> i am proud to have dick cheney by my side, and america will be proud to have him as our next vice president. today i chose to speak from the chamber of house of representatives because it's been a home to bipartisan cooperation. you're in a place where you are in the majority, republicans a democrats have work together to work for the people who they represent. we have had spirited disagreements, at the and we found constructive consensus. it's an experience i will always carry with me, an example i will

always follow. i want to thank my friend, speaker, pete leni, a democrat who introduced me today. i'm to thank the legislators from both political parties with whom i've worked. across the hall in our texas capital is the texas senate. i can't help but think of our mutual friend, the former democrat lieutenant governor bob. 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 d. c.. it's 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'm optimistic that we can change the tone in washington d. c.. i believe that things happen for a bit of a reason and the long last few will pass the business and the part doesn't ship of the last few weeks. our nation must rise above a house divided, americans sheer goals and values much more important than any political disagreements. republicans want the best for our nation. and so democrats.

our votes me differ. but not our hopes. i know america wants reconciliation and unity. i know americans want progress. 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 background and every accent, so 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. they are american responsibilities. during the fall campaign, we diferred about the details of the proposals, but there was remarkable consensus about the important issues before us. excellent schools, retirement and health security, tax relief, a strong military, 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'm optimistic this can happen. our future

demands it. our history proves. it 200 years ago in the election of 1800, america faced another close presidential election. a tie in the electoral college put the outcome in 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., shortly after the election jefferson through reconciliation and reform wrote this. >> the steady character of our

countrymen is a rock which is mixed. unequivocal and reasonable, and manner, we should hope to do a great deal of good in the cause of freedom and great harmony. 200 years have only strengthened the steady character of america. 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 you, to ask every american. i ask for you to pray for this great nation. i ask for 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's educated, so

every child has the keys to realize that dream, and an america that's 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. it 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 the presidency is more than an honor. it is more than an office. it is a church to keep, it and i will give it my all. but thank you very much, and god bless america. [applause] the 2000 presidential contest took place between texas governor george w. bush, and vice president al gore. saturday morning at 8:30 eastern we look back at the election.