Bush new US president

Dec 15, 2000

AUSTIN, Texas, Thursday - President-elect George W. Bush reached across the political divide on Wednesday in search of reconciliation and closure after his bitter post-election fight with Democrat Al Gore for the White House.

AUSTIN, Texas, Thursday - President-elect George W. Bush reached across the political divide on Wednesday in search of reconciliation and closure after his bitter post-election fight with Democrat Al Gore for the White House. In his first speech as the next leader of the United States, the Republican governor of Texas urged Americans to unite in "a spirit of common sense, common courtesy and common goals" and announced he and the vice president would meet in Washington next week. "Our nation must rise above a house divided ...I am optimistic that we can change the tone in Washington D.C," he said in a reprise of one of his major campaign themes. Using the symbolism of the Texas state legislature where he has a well-documented record of working across party lines, Bush said: "The spirit of cooperation I have seen in this hall is what is needed in Washington." "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." Bush's address was sprinkled with familiar themes from his campaign - education reform, the overhaul of Social Security and Medicare, a strong military and tax relief. He spoke in the well of the House chamber after he was introduced by Pete Laney, the Democratic speaker who called him "a leader you can trust and respect." Bush and his wife Laura received a prolonged standing ovation from staff, family friends and lawmakers. He spoke in measured tones using a TelePrompTer, thanked Gore for his "gracious" concession call, quoted Thomas Jefferson at length and concluded by saying he would be guided by the third U.S. president'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," Bush said. The new president-elect spoke for about 10 minutes almost an hour after Gore's concession speech. The vice president's concession call came about eight minutes before Gore gave his televised address. The two rivals will meet in Washington on Tuesday. Bush also was expected to visit Capitol Hill for talks with Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress and would pay the traditional courtesy call on the outgoing president. Most of Wednesday, Bush walked a delicate line between donning the mantle of president-elect and affording Gore the courtesy of conceding. Campaign aides said Bush wanted to give the vice president time "to speak with dignity," before making his own televised address in which he focused on the importance of bringing the country together after the divisive five-week political and legal post-election battle for the White House. The governor wanted to be gracious and humble and begin the process of uniting the country right away, they said. Bush tried to maintain a business-as-usual schedule with his now routine early morning national security briefing at the governor's mansion, working on state business for a few hours, then heading to the University of Texas for his daily workout. He called his parents, former President George Bush and first lady Barbara Bush, early on Wednesday. "I talked to them this morning. I woke them up," he said. Their response? "Thanks for the wake up call." Arriving at the Texas capitol, Bush declined to comment directly on the Supreme Court's decision late on Tuesday not to allow a recount of disputed votes in Florida, effectively giving him the key to the Oval Office. The U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to turn a Florida Supreme Court ruling for recounts. Ends

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