| | PRESIDENT
BUSH: (Cheers, applause, chants of "Four more years.") Thank you all.
Thank you all for coming.
We had a long night -- (laughter) -- and a
great night. (Cheers, applause.) The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered
an historic victory. (Cheers, applause.)
Earlier today, Senator Kerry
called with his congratulations. We had a really good phone call. He was very
gracious.
Senator Kerry waged a spirited campaign, and he and his supporters
can be proud of their efforts. (Applause.) Laura and I wish Senator Kerry
and Teresa and their whole family all our best wishes.
America has spoken,
and I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens. With that
trust comes a duty to serve all Americans, and I will do my best to fulfill that
duty every day as your president. (Cheers, applause.)
There are many
people to thank, and my family comes first. (Cheers, applause.) Laura is the love
of my life. (Cheers, applause.) I'm glad you love her, too. (Laughter.) I want
to thank our daughters, who joined their dad for his last campaign. (Cheers, applause.)
I appreciate the hard work of my sister and my brothers. I especially want to
thank my parents for their loving support. (Cheers, applause.)
I'm grateful
to the vice president and Lynne and their daughters, who have worked so hard and
been such a vital part of our team. (Cheers, applause.)
The vice president
serves America with wisdom and honor, and I'm proud to serve beside him. (Cheers,
applause.)
I want to thank my superb campaign team. I want to thank you
all
for your hard work. (Cheers, applause.) I was impressed every day by how
hard and how skillful our team was.
I want to thank Chairman Mark Racicot
and -- (cheers, applause) -- the campaign manager Ken Mehlman -- (cheers, applause)
-- the architect, Karl Rove. (Cheers, applause.) I want to thank Ed Gillespie
for leading our party so well. (Cheers, applause.)
I want to thank the
thousands of our supporters across our country. I want to thank you for your hugs
on the rope lines. I want to thank you for your prayers on the rope lines. I want
to thank you for your kind words on the rope lines. I want to thank you for everything
you did to make the calls and to put up the signs, to talk to your neighbors,
and to get out the vote. (Cheers, applause.) And because you did the incredible
work, we are celebrating today. (Cheers, applause.)
There's an old saying,
"Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your
tasks." In four historic years, America has been given great tasks and faced
them with strength and courage. Our people have restored the vigor of this
economy and shown resolve and patience in a new kind of war. Our military has
brought justice to the enemy and honor to America. (Cheers, applause.) Our nation
-- our nation has defended itself and served the freedom of all mankind. I'm proud
to lead such an amazing country, and I am proud to lead it forward. (Applause.)
Because we have done the hard work, we are entering a season of hope. We
will continue our economic progress. We will reform our outdated tax code. We
will strengthen the Social Security for the next generation.
We will
make public schools all they can be, and we will uphold our deepest values of
family and faith.
We will help the emerging democracies of Iraq and Afghanistan
-- (cheers, applause) -- so they can -- so they can grow in strength and defend
their freedom, and then our servicemen and -women will come home with the honor
they have earned. (Cheers, applause.)
With good allies at our side, we
will fight this war on terror with every resource of our national power so our
children can live in freedom and in peace. (Cheers, applause.)
Reaching
these goals will require the broad support of Americans, so today I want to speak
to every person who voted for my opponent.
To make this nation stronger
and better, I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all
I can do to deserve your trust.
A new term is a new opportunity to
reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one
future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no
limit to the greatness of America. (Cheers, applause.) Let me close with
a word to the people of the state of Texas. (Cheers, applause.) We have known
each other the longest, and you started me on this journey. On the open plains
of Texas, I first learned the character of our country; sturdy and honest, and
as hopeful as the break of day. I will always be grateful to the good people of
my state. And whatever the road that lies ahead, that road will take me home.
A campaign has ended, and the United States of America goes forward with
confidence and faith. I see a great day coming for our country, and I am eager
for the work ahead.
God bless you. And may God bless America. (Cheers,
applause.)
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