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Prayer Breakfast 8/20/92 [OA 5811]
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323152138
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Prayer Breakfast 8/20/92 [OA 5811]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
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This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Draft Files
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Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13635
Folder ID Number:
13635-008
Folder Title:
Prayer Breakfast 8/20/92 [OA 5811]
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26
18
4
1
1462
Aug. 20 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
A small boy raised his hand. "I know," he
on the face of the Earth, the United States
said. "People make whales sick." [Laughter]
of America, one Nation under God.
Well, each of us turns to God daily to make
Thank you, and may God bless our great
lives well, and we act through the third and
country.
greatest of God's gifts, prayer. If Congress
can spend time debating Vanna White's ap-
Note: The President spoke at 9:30 a.m. at
pearance on the Home Shopping Network,
the University of Houston. In his remarks,
surely Congress can find time to pass an
he referred to Mary Lou Retton, 1984 Olym-
amendment allowing voluntary prayer in our
pic gold medalist; Ninfa Laurenzo, Houston
classrooms. So let's do what we can to bring
business leader; and evangelist Billy Graham.
the faith of our fathers back to our schools.
You know, I've been President for 3½
years now. More than ever, I believe with
all my heart that one cannot be President
Statement by Press Secretary
of our great country without a belief in God,
Fitzwater on the Arbitrator's
without the truth that comes on one's knees.
Decision in the Railway Labor
For me, prayer has always been important
Dispute
but quite personal. You know us Episcopa-
lians. [Laughter] And yet, it has sustained me
August 20, 1992
at every point of my life: as a boy, when reli-
On August 18, 1992, the President re-
gious reading was part of our home life; as
ceived for his review the decision of the arbi-
a teenager, when I memorized the Navy
trator in the one remaining railway labor dis-
Hymn. Or how 48 years ago, aboard the sub-
pute associated with the shutdown of the Na-
marine Finback after being shot down in the
tion's railroads in late June. This decision was
war, I went up topside one night on the deck,
rendered pursuant to the arbitration process
on the conning tower, and stood watch and
established by the Congress and concerns the
looked out at the dark. The sky was clear.
The stars were brilliant like a blizzard of
dispute between the National Railroad Pas-
senger Corporation (Amtrak) and the Amer-
fireflies in the night. There was a calm inner
ican Train Dispatchers Association. The deci-
peace. Halfway around the world in the war
sion becomes final and binding upon the par-
zone, there was a calm inner peace: God's
ties unless the President disapproves it within
therapy.
This month I got a letter from a little girl,
3 days following its receipt.
The President has decided that he will not
age 11, Joy Vaughn. Oh, I love getting the
mail at the White House, but this one was
disapprove this decision. The President is
special. She lives in Mesa, Arizona, and one
grateful to the arbitrator for his work in re-
of her brothers is a missionary. She wrote,
solving this dispute.
"I just wanted to tell you that I am praying
for you." And then she added, "God is in
charge."
So Barbara and I have concluded, as every
Remarks Accepting the Presidential
family that's been privileged to live in the
Nomination at the Republican
White House I'm sure has concluded, that
National Convention in Houston
you cannot be President without believing in
August 20, 1992
God. We say our prayers every night. When
we sit in that historic family dining room on
The President. Thank you all very much.
the second floor of the White House, we say
Thank you, thank you very much. And I am
the blessing before our meals. Today I ask
proud to receive and I am honored to accept
for your prayers, not for the campaign that
your nomination for President of the United
we're in but prayers asking God to give those
States.
of us in leadership positions and give me as
May I thank my dear friend and our great
President the strength to do what is right,
leader, Bob Dole, for that wonderful intro-
the courage to lead this, the greatest Nation
duction.
George Bush, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Aug. 20
1463
he United States
Let me say this: This nomination's not for
was inevitable. And while the U.S. postwar
er God.
me alone. It is for the ideas, principles, and
strategy was largely bipartisan, the fact re-
values that we stand for.
d bless our great
mains that the liberal McGovern wing of the
My job has been made easier by a leader
other party, including my opponent, consist-
who's taken a lot of unfair criticism with
ently made the wrong choices. In the seven-
at 9:30 a.m. at
grace and humor, the Vice President of the
ties, they wanted a hollow army. We wanted
In his remarks,
United States, Dan Quayle. And I am very
a strong fighting force. In the eighties-and
tton, 1984 Olym-
grateful to him.
you remember this one-in the eighties, they
urenzo, Houston
I want to talk tonight about the sharp
wanted a nuclear freeze, and we insisted on
list Billy Graham.
choice that I intend to offer Americans this
peace through strength. From Angola to
fall, a choice between different agendas, dif-
Central America, they said, "Let's negotiate,
ferent directions, and yes, a choice about the
deliberate, procrastinate." We said, "Just
character of the man you want to lead this
stand up for freedom." Now the cold war
Nation. I know that Americans have many
retary
is over, and they claim, "Hey, we were with
questions about our economy, about our
ator's
you all the way.
Labor
country's future, even questions about me.
Audience members. Boo-o-o!
I'll answer them tonight.
The President. You know, their behavior
First, I feel great. And I am heartened by
reminds me of the old con man's advice to
the polls, the ones that say that I look better
the new kid. He said, "Son, if you're being
in my jogging shorts than the Governor of
he President re-
run out of town, just get out in front and
Arkansas.
cision of the arbi-
make it look like a parade."
Four years ago, I spoke about missions for
Well, make no mistake: The demise of
railway labor dis-
my life and for our country. I spoke of one
tdown of the Na-
communism wasn't a sure thing. It took the
urgent mission, defending our security and
This decision was
strong leadership of Presidents from both
promoting the American ideal abroad.
parties, including Republicans like Richard
bitration process
Just pause for a moment to reflect on what
and concerns the
Nixon and Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.
we've done. Germany is united, and a slab
aal Railroad Pas-
Without their vision and the support of the
of the Berlin Wall sits right outside this As-
American people, the Soviet Union would be
5) and the Amer-
trodome. Arabs and Israelis now sit face to
ciation. The deci-
a strong superpower today, and we'd be fac-
face and talk peace, and every hostage held
ing a nuclear threat tonight.
ing upon the par-
in Lebanon is free. The conflict in El Sal-
My opponents say I spend too much time
approves it within
vador is over, and free elections brought de-
on foreign policy, as if it didn't matter that
mocracy to Nicaragua. Black and white South
schoolchildren once hid under their desks in
d that he will not
Africans cheered each other at the Olympics.
drills to prepare for nuclear war. I saw the
The President is
The Soviet Union can only be found in his-
chance to rid our children's dreams of the
or his work in re-
tory books. The captive nations of Eastern
nuclear nightmare, and I did. Over the past
Europe and the Baltics are captive no more.
4 years, more people have breathed the fresh
And today on the rural streets of Poland,
air of freedom than in all of human history.
merchants sell cans of air labeled "the last
I saw a chance to help, and I did. These were
breath of communism."
the two defining opportunities not of a year,
Presidential
If I had stood before you 4 years ago and
not of a decade, but of an entire span of
iblican
described this as the world we would help
human history. I seized those opportunities
Houston
to build, you would have said, "George Bush,
for our kids and our grandkids, and I make
you must have been smoking something, and
no apologies for that.
you must have inhaled."
Now, the Soviet bear may be gone, but
"U all very much.
This convention is the first at which an
there are still wolves in the woods. We saw
much. And I am
American President can say the cold war is
that when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.
onored to accept
over, and freedom finished first.
The Mideast might have become a nuclear
'nt of the United
Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
powder keg, our energy supplies held hos-
U.S.A.!
tage. So we did what was right and what was
nd and our great
The President. We have a lot to be proud
necessary. We destroyed a threat, freed a
wonderful intro-
of, a lot. Some want to rewrite history, want
people, and locked a tyrant in the prison of
to skip over the struggle, claim the outcome
his own country.
1464
Aug. 20 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
What about the leader of the Arkansas Na-
made a decision to go off and fight a battle
tional Guard, the man who hopes to be Com-
much different from political battles.
An
mander in Chief? Well, I bit the bullet, and
I was scared, but I was willing. I was
the
he bit his nails. Listen to this now. Two days
young, but I was ready. I had barely lived
after Congress followed my lead, my oppo-
when I began to watch men die. I began to
No
nent said this, and I quote directly: "I guess
see the special place of America in the world.
Ma
I would have voted with the majority if it
I began to see, even then, that the world
job
was a close vote. But I agree with the argu-
would become a much smaller place, and far-
ments the minority made." Now, sounds to
away places could become more and more
Act
me like his policy can be summed up by a
like America.
nor
road sign he's probably seen on his bus tour,
Fifty years later, after change of almost
tim
"Slippery When Wet."
Biblical proportions, we know that when
Look, this is serious business. Think about
freedom grows, America grows. Just as a
of
the impact of our foreign policy failures the
strong America means a safer world, we have
last time the Democrats controlled both ends
learned that a safer world means a stronger
job
of Pennsylvania Avenue: gas lines, grain em-
America.
bargoes, American hostages blindfolded.
This election is about change. But that's
a st
There will be more foreign policy chal-
not unusual, because the American revolu-
it
lenges like Kuwait in the next 4 years, terror-
tion is never ending. Today, the pace of
doe
ists and aggressors to stand up to, dangerous
change is accelerating. We face new opportu-
I
weapons to be controlled and destroyed.
nities and new challenges. The question is:
Ser
Freedom's fight is not finished. I look for-
Who do you trust to make change work for
stre
ward to being the first President to visit a
you?
it W
free, democratic Cuba. Who will lead the
Audience members. George Bush!
(
world in the face of these challenges? Not
my opponent. In his acceptance speech he
George Bush! George Bush!
Too
devoted just 65 seconds to telling us about
The President. My opponent says Amer-
am
the world.
ica is a Nation in decline. Of our economy,
par
Then he said that America was, and I
he says we are somewhere on the list beneath
us
quote again-I want to be fair and factual-
Germany, heading south toward Sri Lanka.
we
I quote, being "ridiculed" everywhere. Well,
Well, don't let anyone tell you that America
of C
is second-rate, especially somebody running
I
tell that to the people around the world, for
whom America is still a dream. Tell that to
for President.
hur
leaders around the world, from whom Amer-
Maybe he hasn't heard that we are still
hor
ica commands respect. Ridiculed? Tell that
the world's largest economy. No other nation
a jc
sells more outside its borders. The Germans,
that
to the men and women of Desert Storm.
the British, the Japanese can't touch the pro-
wha
Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
to
U.S.A.!
ductivity of you, the American worker and
the
The President. Let me just make an aside
the American farmer. My opponent won't
comment here because of what you've been
mention that. He won't remind you that in-
get
T
reading in the paper. This is a political year,
terest rates are the lowest they've been in
but there's a lot of danger in the world. You
20 years, and millions of Americans have refi-
ing
cha
can be sure I will never let politics interfere
nanced their homes. You just won't hear that
non
with a foreign policy decision. Forget the
inflation, the thief of the middle class, has
mu:
election; I will do right, what is right for the
been locked in a maximum security prison.
sup
national security of the United States of
You don't hear much about this good news
I1
America, and that is a pledge from my heart.
because the media also tends to focus only
of }
Fifty years ago this summer, I was 18 years
on the bad. When the Berlin Wall fell, I half
and
of age. I see some young people in the audi-
expected to see a headline, "Wall Falls,
to 1
ence tonight, and I remember how I felt in
Three Border Guards Lose Jobs." [Laughter]
pare
those days. I believed deeply in this country,
And underneath, it probably says, "Clinton
soci
and we were faced with a world war. So I
Blames Bush." [Laughter]
win.
George Bush, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Aug. 20
1465
and fight a battle
You don't hear a lot about progress in
We believe that now that the world looks
il battles.
America. So let me tell you about some good
more like America, it's time for America to
is willing. I was
things we've done together.
look more like herself. And so we offer a phi-
had barely lived
Just two weeks ago, all three nations of
losophy that puts faith in the individual, not
n die. I began to
North America agreed to trade freely from
the bureaucracy; a philosophy that empowers
rica in the world.
Manitoba to Mexico. This will bring good
people to do their best, so America can be
, that the world
jobs to Main Street, U.S.A.
at its best. In a world that is safer and freer,
ler place, and far-
We passed the Americans with Disabilities
this is how we will build an America that is
more and more
Act, bringing 43 million people into the eco-
stronger, safer, and more secure.
nomic mainstream. I must say, it's about
We start with a simple fact: Government
hange of almost
time.
is too big and spends too much.
know that when
Our children will breathe easier because
I have asked Congress to put a lid on man-
grows. Just as a
of our new clean air pact.
datory spending, except Social Security. I've
er world, we have
We are rebuilding our roads, providing
proposed doing away with over 200 programs
means a stronger
jobs for more than half a million Americans.
and 4,000 wasteful projects and to freeze all
We passed a child care law, and we took
other spending.
a stand for family values by saying that when
The gridlock Democrat Congress said no.
lange. But that's
Audience members. Boo-o-o!
american revolu-
it comes to raising children, Government
ay, the pace of
doesn't know best; parents know best.
The President. So, beginning tonight, I
will enforce the spending freeze on my own.
ice new opportu-
I have fought against prejudice and anti-
If Congress sends me a bill spending more
The question is:
Semitism all my life. I am proud that we
than I asked for in my budget, I will veto
change work for
strengthened our civil rights laws, and we did
it fast, veto it fast, faster than copies of
it without resorting to quotas.
Millie's book sold.
George Bush!
One more thing of vital importance to all:
Now, Congress won't cut spending, but re-
Today, cocaine use has fallen by 60 percent
fuses to give the President the power to
nent says Amer-
among young people. To the teenagers, the
eliminate pork-barrel projects that waste
Of our economy,
parents, and the volunteers who are helping
your money. Forty-three Governors have
1 the list beneath
us battle the scourge of drugs in America,
that power. So I ask you, the American peo-
ward Sri Lanka.
we say, thank you; thank you from the bottom
ple: Give me a Congress that will give me
of our hearts.
ou that America
the line-item veto.
mebody running
Do I want to do more? You bet. Nothing
Let me tell you about a recent battle
hurts me more than to meet with soldiers
fought with the Congress, a battle in which
home from the Persian Gulf who can't find
that we are still
I was aided by Bob Michel and his troops,
No other nation
a job or workers who have a job but worry
and Bob Dole and his. This spring, I worked
S. The Germans,
that the next day will bring a pink slip. And
day and night to get two-thirds of the House
what about parents who scrape and struggle
it touch the pro-
Members to approve a balanced budget
tican worker and
to send their kids to college, only to find
amendment to the Constitution. We almost
them back living at home because they can't
opponent won't
had it, but we lost by just nine votes. Now,
get work.
listen how. Just before the vote, the liberal
ind you that in-
The world is in transition, and we are feel-
leaders of the Congress convinced 12 Mem-
they've been in
ing that transition in our homes. The defining
ericans have refi-
bers who cosponsored the bill to switch sides
challenge of the nineties is to win the eco-
and vote no. Keep in mind, they voted
t won't hear that
nomic competition, to win the peace. We
against a bill they had already put their
iddle class, has
must be a military superpower, an economic
names on. Something fishy is going on.
security prison.
superpower, and an export superpower.
And look at my opponent on this issue.
t this good news
In this election, you'll hear two versions
Look at my opponent. He says he's for bal-
is to focus only
of how to do this. Theirs is to look inward
anced budgets. But he came out against the
I Wall fell, I half
and protect what we already have. Ours is
amendment. He's like that on a lot of issues,
e, "Wall Falls,
to look forward, to open new markets, pre-
first on one side, then the other. He's been
obs." [Laughter]
pare our people to compete, to restore our
spotted in more places than Elvis Presley.
y says, "Clinton
social fabric, to save and invest so we can
After all these years, Congress has become
win.
pretty creative at finding ways to waste your
1466
Aug. 20 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
money. So we need to be just as creative at
Audience members. Viva Bush! Viva
finding ways to stop them. I have a brandnew
Bush! Viva Bush!
idea. Taxpayers should be given the right to
The President. Thank you very much.
check a box on their tax returns so that up
Audience members. Hit 'em again! Hit
to 10 percent of their payments can go for
'em again, harder, harder! Hit 'em again! Hit
one purpose alone: to reduce the national
'em again, harder, harder!
debt.
The President. When the new Congress
But we also need to make sure that Con-
convenes next January, I will propose to fur-
gress doesn't just turn around and borrow
ther reduce taxes across the board, provided
more money to spend more money. So I will
we pay for these cuts with specific spending
require that for every tax dollar set aside to
reductions that I consider appropriate, so
cut the debt, the ceilings on spending will
that we do not increase the deficit. I will also
be cut by an equal amount. That way, we
continue to fight to increase the personal ex-
will cut both debt and spending and take a
emption and to create jobs by winning a cut
whack out of the budget deficit.
in capital gains taxes.
My feelings about big government come
That will especially help small businesses.
from my experience; I spent half my adult
You know, they create-small businesses-
life in the private sector. My opponent has
they create two-thirds of the new jobs in
a different experience; he's been in govern-
America. But my opponent's plan for small
ment nearly all his life. His passion to expand
business is clear, present, and dangerous. Be-
government knows no bounds.
side new income taxes, his plan will lead to
He's already proposed, and listen to this
a new payroll tax to pay for a Government
carefully, he has already proposed $220 bil-
takeover of health care and another new tax
lion in new spending, along with the biggest
to pay for training. That is just the beginning.
tax increase in history, $150 billion. And
If he gets his way, hardware stores across
that's just to start.
America will have a new sign up, "Closed
Audience members. Boo-o-o!
for despair." I guess you'd say his plan really
The President. He says he wants to tax
is "Elvis economics." America will be check-
the rich. But folks, he defines rich as anyone
ing into the "Heartbreak Hotel."
who has a job. [Laughter]
I believe that small business needs relief
You've heard of the separations of powers.
from taxation, regulation, and litigation. And
Well, my opponent practices a different the-
thus, I will extend for one year the freeze
ory: the power of separations. Government
on paperwork and unnecessary Federal regu-
has the power to separate you from your wal-
lation that I imposed last winter. There is
let. [Laughter]
no reason that Federal regulations should
Now let me say this: When it comes to
live longer than my friend George Burns. I
taxes, I've learned the hard way. There's an
will issue an order to get rid of any rule
old saying, "Good judgment comes from ex-
whose time has come and gone.
perience, and experience comes from bad
I see something happening in our towns
judgment." Two years ago, I made a bad call
and in our neighborhoods. Sharp lawyers are
on the Democrats tax increase. I underesti-
running wild. Doctors are afraid to practice
mated Congress' addiction to taxes. With my
medicine, and some moms and pops won't
back against the wall, I agreed to a hard bar-
even coach Little League any more. We must
gain: One tax increase one time in return for
sue each other less and care for each other
the toughest spending limits ever.
more. I am fighting to reform our legal sys-
Well, it was a mistake to go along with
tem, to put an end to crazy lawsuits. If that
the Democratic tax increase, and I admit it.
means climbing into the ring with the trial
But here's the question for the American
lawyers, well, let me just say, round one starts
people. Who do you trust in this election?
tonight.
The candidate who's raised taxes one time
After all, my opponent's campaign is being
and regrets it, or the other candidate who
backed by practically every trial lawyer who
raised taxes and fees 128 times and enjoyed
ever wore a tasselled loafer. He's not in the
it every time?
ring with them; he's in the tank.
George Bush, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992 / Aug. 20
1467
Viva Bush! Viva
There are other things we need to do to
is the truth. Our policies have not failed.
get our economy up to speed, prepare our
They haven't even been tried.
su very much.
kids for the next century. We must have new
Americans want jobs, and on January 28th,
it 'em again! Hit
incentives for research and new training for
I put before Congress a plan to create jobs.
Hit 'em again! Hit
workers. Small businesses need capital and
If it'd been passed back then, 500,000 more
credit, and defense workers need new jobs.
Americans would be at work right now. But
he new Congress
I have a plan to provide affordable health
in a Nation that demands action, Congress
II propose to fur-
care for every American, controlling costs by
has become the master of inaction.
board, provided
cutting paperwork and lawsuits and expand-
It wasn't always this way. I heard President
specific spending
ing coverage to the poorest of the poor.
Ford tonight. I served in Congress 22 years
appropriate, so
We do not need my opponent's plan for
ago, under him. And back then, we cooper-
deficit. I will also
a massive Government takeover of health
ated. We didn't get personal. We put the
the personal ex-
care, which would ration care and deny you
people above everything else. Heck, we
by winning a cut
the right to choose a doctor. Who wants
didn't even own blow dryers back in those
health care with a system with the efficiency
days.
small businesses.
of the House Post Office and the compassion
At my first inauguration, I said that people
all businesses-
of the KGB?
didn't send us to bicker. I extended my hand,
the new jobs in
What about our schools? What about our
and I think the American people know this,
's plan for small
schools? My opponent and I both want to
I extended my hand to the congressional
d dangerous. Be-
change the way our kids learn. He wants to
leaders, the Democratic leaders, and they bit
plan will lead to
change our schools a little bit, and I want
it.
r a Government
to change them a lot. Take the issue of
The House leadership has not changed in
another new tax
whether parents should be able to choose the
38 years. It is a body caught in a hopelessly
st the beginning.
best school for their kids. My opponent says
tangled web of PAC's, perks, privileges, part-
are stores across
that's okay, as long as the school is run by
nership, and paralysis. Every day, Congress
ign up, "Closed
ay his plan really
government. And I say every parent and child
puts politics ahead of principle and above
progress.
ca will be check-
should have a real choice of schools, public,
tel."
private, or religious.
Now, let me give you just one example:
less needs relief
So we have a clear choice to fix our prob-
February 20th, 1991. It was at the height of
lems. Do we turn to the tattered blanket of
the Gulf war. On that very same day, I asked
d litigation. And
year the freeze
bureaucracy that other nations are tossing
American pilots to risk their lives to fly mis-
away? Or do we give our people the freedom
sions over Baghdad. I also wanted to
ry Federal regu-
and incentives to build security for them-
strengthen our economic security for the fu-
winter. There is
selves?
ture. So that very same day, I introduced a
gulations should
new domestic energy strategy which would
George Burns. I
Here's what I'm fighting for: Open mar-
cut our dependence on foreign oil by 7 mil-
rid of any rule
kets for American products; lower Govern-
lion barrels a day.
ment spending; tax relief; opportunities for
ne.
How many days did it take to win the Gulf
ng in our towns
small business; legal and health reform; job
war? Forty-three. How many did it take Con-
harp lawyers are
training; and new schools built on competi-
gress to pass a national energy strategy? Five
fraid to practice
tion, ready for the 21st century.
hundred and thirty-two, and still counting.
and pops won't
Now, okay, why are these proposals not
I have ridden stationary bikes that can move
more. We must
in effect today? Only one reason: the gridlock
faster than the United States House of Rep-
for each other
Democratic Congress.
resentatives and the United States Senate,
m our legal sys-
Audience members. Clean your House!
controlled by the Democrat leadership.
lawsuits. If that
Clean your House! Clean your House!
Audience members. Hit 'em again! Hit
g with the trial
The President. A very good idea, a very
'em again, harder, harder! Hit 'em again! Hit
round one starts
good idea.
'em again, harder, harder!
Now, I know Americans are tired of the
The President. Okay. All right. You wait.
mpaign is being
blame game, tired of people in Washington
I'm fixing to.
rial lawyer who
acting like they're candidates for the next epi-
Where does my opponent stand with Con-
He's not in the
sode of "American Gladiators." I don't like
gress? Well, up in New York at their conven-
ik.
it, either. Neither should you. But the truth
tion, they kept the congressional leaders
1468
Aug. 20 / Administration of George Bush, 1992
away from the podium, hid them away. They
way they bounced their own checks. But oth-
didn't want America to hear from the people
ers are good Members, Republican and
who really make the decisions. They hid
Democrat, and they agree with me. The
them for a very good reason, because the
place just doesn't work anymore.
American people would recognize a dan-
One hundred-fifty new Members, from
gerous combination: a rubber-check Con-
both parties, will be coming to Washington
gress and a rubber-stamp President.
this fall. Every one will have a fresh view
Governor Clinton and Congress know that
of America's future.
you've caught on to their lingo. They know
I pledge today to the American people, im-
when they say "spending," you say "uh-oh."
mediately after this election, I will meet with
So now they have a new word, "investment."
every one of these Members, before they get
They want to "invest" $220 billion more of
attacked by the PAC's, overwhelmed by their
your money, but I want you to keep it.
staffs, and cornered by some camera crew.
Governor Clinton and Congress want to
I will lay out my case for change, change that
put through the largest tax increase in his-
matters, real change that makes a difference,
tory, but I will not let that happen. Governor
change that is right for America.
Clinton and Congress don't want kids to have
You see, there is a yearning in America,
the option of praying in school, but I do.
a feeling that maybe it's time to get back to
Clinton and Congress don't want to close
our roots. Sure we must change, but some
legal loopholes and keep criminals behind
values are timeless. I believe in families that
bars, but I will. Clinton and Congress will
stick together, fathers who stick around. I
stock the judiciary with liberal judges who
happen to believe, very deeply in the worth
write laws they can't get approved by the vot-
of each individual human being, born or un-
ers.
born. I believe in teaching our kids the dif-
Governor Clinton even says that Mario
ference between what's wrong and what's
Cuomo belongs on the Supreme Court.
right, teaching them respect for hard work
[Laughter] Wait a minute, though. No, wait.
and to love their neighbors. I believe that
Maybe not a bad idea. If you believe in judi-
America will always have a special place in
cial restraint, you probably ought to be
God's heart, as long as He has a special place
happy. After all, the good Governor of New
in ours. Maybe that's why I've always be-
York can't make up his mind between choco-
lieved that patriotism is not just another point
late and vanilla at Baskin Robbins. He's
of view.
there, we won't have another court decision
There are times in every young person's
for 35 years, and maybe that's all right, too.
life when God introduces you to yourself. I
Are my opponent and Congress really in
remember such a time. It was back many
cahoots? Look at one important question:
years ago, when I stood watch at 4 a.m. up
Should we limit the terms of Congress?
on the bridge of a submarine, the United
Audience members. Yes.
States Finback, U.S.S. Finback. And I would
The President. Governor Clinton says, no.
stand there and look out on the blackness
Congress says, no. I say, yes.
of the sky, broken only by the sparkling stars
We tried this-look, we tried this once be-
above. And I would think about friends I lost,
fore, combining the Democratic Governor of
a country I loved, and about a girl named
a small southern State with a very liberal Vice
Barbara. I remember those nights as clearly
President and a Democratic Congress. Amer-
as any in my life.
ica does not need Carter II. We do not want
You know, you can see things from up
to take America back to those days of mal-
there that other people don't see. You can
aise. But Americans want to know: Where's
see storm clouds rise and then disappear, the
proof that we will have better days in Wash-
first hint of the sun over the horizon, and
ington?
the first outline of the shore far away.
I'll give you 150 reasons. That's how many
Now, I know that Americans are uneasy
Members of Congress are expected to leave
today. There is anxious talk around our kitch-
Washington this year. Some are tainted by
en tables. But from where I stand, I see not
scandal; the voters have bounced them the
America's sunset but a sunrise.
George Bush, 1992
Administration of George Bush, 1992
1469
wn checks. But oth-
The world changes for which we've sac-
al victory, to win the peace, so that we may
3, Republican and
rificed for a generation have finally come to
make America safer and stronger for all our
ree with me. The
pass, and with them a rare and unprece-
people.
ymore.
dented opportunity to pass the sweet cup of
May God bless you, and may God bless
W Members, from
prosperity around our American table.
the United States of America. Thank you very
ning to Washington
Are we up to it? I know we are. As I travel
much.
have a fresh view
our land, I meet veterans who once worked
the turrets of a tank and can now master the
Note: The President spoke at 9:20 p.m. at
nerican people, im-
keyboards of high-tech economy. I see teach-
the Houston Astrodome.
on, I will meet with
ers blessed with the incredible American ca-
ers, before they get
pacity for innovation who are teaching our
erwhelmed by their
Points of Light Recognition Program
children a new way to learn for a new cen-
ome camera crew.
tury. I meet parents, some working two jobs
change, change that
The President named the following individ-
with hectic schedules, who still find new ways
nakes a difference,
uals and institutions as exemplars of his com-
to teach old values to steady their kids in
erica.
mitment to making community service
a turbulent world.
trning in America,
central to the life and work of every Amer-
I take heart from what is happening in
ican.
ime to get back to
America, not from those who profess a new
change, but some
passion for government but from those with
've in families that
an old and enduring faith in the human po-
August 15
10 stick around. I
tential, those who understand that the genius
Volunteers of the Vigo County School Corp.
eeply in the worth
of America is our capacity for rebirth and
Adult Literacy Program, of Terre Haute, IN
being, born or un-
renewal. America is the land where the sun
; our kids the dif-
August 16
is always peeking over the horizon.
wrong and what's
Tonight I appeal to that unyielding, undy-
Ivy Olson and the volunteers of the Angel Net-
ect for hard work
work, of Honolulu, HI
ing, undeniable American spirit. I ask you
rs. I believe that
to consider, now that the entire world is mov-
August 17
a special place in
ing our way, why would we want to go back
has a special place
Volunteers of the Susquehanna County Volun-
their way? I ask not just for your support
teer Literacy Council, of Montrose, PA
y I've always be-
for my agenda but for your commitment to
just another point
renew and rebuild our Nation by shaking up
August 18
the one institution that has withstood change
Volunteers of Bethlehem House Project, Inc.,
y young person's
for over four decades. Join me in rolling away
of Redlands, CA
you to yourself. I
the roadblock at the other end of Pennsylva-
was back many
August 19
nia Avenue, so that in the next 4 years, we
atch at 4 a.m. up
will match our accomplishments outside by
Carol and Hurt Porter and the volunteers of
arine, the United
building a stronger, safer, more secure Amer-
We Care About Kids, Kid Care, Inc., of
ack. And I would
Houston, TX
ica inside.
on the blackness
Forty-four years ago in another age of un-
August 20
he sparkling stars
certainty a different President embarked on
out friends I lost,
Jerry and Elouise Lee, of Page, AZ
a similar mission. His name was Harry S Tru-
ut a girl named
man. As he stood before his party to accept
August 21
nights as clearly
their nomination, Harry Truman knew the
Community Caring Volunteers, of Billings, MT
freedom I know this evening, the freedom
things from up
to talk about what's right for America, and
n't see. You can
Digest of Other
let the chips fall where they may.
en disappear, the
White House Announcements
Harry Truman said this: This is more than
he horizon, and
a political call to arms. Give me your help,
not to win votes alone, but to win this new
The following list includes the President's
ar away.
crusade and keep America safe and secure
public schedule and other items of general
cans are uneasy
round our kitch-
for its own people.
interest announced by the Office of the Press
stand, I see not
Well, tonight I say to you: Join me in our
Secretary and not included elsewhere in this
issue.
e.
new crusade, to reap the rewards of our glob-
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I AM PROUD TO RECEIVE, AND I AM
HONORED TO ACCEPT YOUR NOMINATION FOR
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. //
THIS NOMINATION IS NOT FOR ME ALONE. IT
IS FOR THE IDEAS, PRINCIPLES, AND VALUES
THAT WE STAND FOR.
MY JOB HAS BEEN MADE EASIER BY A LEADER
WHO HAS TAKEN A LOT OF UNFAIR CRITICISM,
X
WITH GRACE AND HUMOR -- VICE PRESIDENT --
DAN QUAYLE.//
- 2 -
I WANT TO TALK TONIGHT ABOUT THE SHARP
CHOICE I INTEND TO OFFER AMERICANS THIS FALL
-- A CHOICE BETWEEN DIFFERENT AGENDAS,
DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, AND YES, A CHOICE
ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF THE MAN YOU WANT TO
LEAD THIS NATION.
- 3 -
I KNOW THAT AMERICANS HAVE MANY
QUESTIONS -- ABOUT OUR ECONOMY, ABOUT OUR
COUNTRY'S FUTURE, EVEN QUESTIONS ABOUT ME.
// I WILL ANSWER THEM TONIGHT.
FIRST, I FEEL GREAT // AND I AM
HEARTENED BY THE POLLS // THE ONES THAT SAY
THAT I LOOK BETTER IN MY JOGGING SHORTS THAN
THE GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS!//
FOUR YEARS AGO, I SPOKE ABOUT MISSIONS -
- FOR MY LIFE AND FOR OUR COUNTRY. I SPOKE
OF ONE URGENT MISSION - -- DEFENDING OUR
SECURITY AND PROMOTING THE AMERICAN IDEAL
ABROAD.
- 4 -
JUST PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON
WHAT WE'VE DONE.
GERMANY HAS UNITED - -- AND A SLAB OF THE
BERLIN WALL SITS RIGHT OUTSIDE THIS
*
ASTRODOME. //
ARABS AND ISRAELIS NOW SIT FACE-TO-
FACE AND TALK PEACE.
EVERY HOSTAGE HELD IN LEBANON - -- IS
*
FREE.
THE CONFLICT IN EL SALVADOR IS OVER, AND
*
FREE ELECTIONS BROUGHT DEMOCRACY TO
NICARAGUA.
- 5 -
BLACK AND WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS CHEERED
EACH OTHER AT THE OLYMPICS.
THE SOVIET UNION CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN
HISTORY BOOKS.
THE CAPTIVE NATIONS OF EASTERN EUROPE
AND THE BALTICS ARE CAPTIVE NO MORE.
AND TODAY ON THE RURAL STREETS OF
POLAND, MERCHANTS SELL CANS OF AIR LABELLED,
THE / LAST / BREATH / OF / COMMUNISM.
- 6 -
IF I HAD STOOD BEFORE YOU FOUR YEARS
AGO AND DESCRIBED THIS AS THE WORLD WE WOULD
HELP TO BUILD, YOU WOULD HAVE SAID: "GEORGE
BUSH, YOU MUST BE SMOKING SOMETHING -- AND /
*
YOU MUST HAVE INHALED. "//
THIS CONVENTION IS THE FIRST AT WHICH AN
AMERICAN PRESIDENT CAN SAY // -- THE COLD
WAR IS OVER, AND FREEDOM / FINISHED /
* FIRST. //
- 7 -
SOME WANT TO REWRITE HISTORY, WANT TO
SKIP OVER THE STRUGGLE, CLAIM THE OUTCOME
WAS / INEVITABLE. AND WHILE THE U.S.
POSTWAR STRATEGY WAS LARGELY BIPARTISAN, THE
FACT REMAINS THAT THE LIBERAL, MCGOVERN WING
OF THE OTHER PARTY -- INCLUDING MY
OPPONENT - -- // CONSISTENTLY MADE THE WRONG
* CHOICES.
IN THE 70'S, THEY WANTED A HOLLOW ARMY -
- WE WANTED A STRONG FIGHTING FORCE.
IN THE 80'S, THEY WANTED A NUCLEAR
FREEZE -- WE INSISTED ON PEACE THROUGH
Ж STRENGTH.
- 8 -
FROM ANGOLA TO CENTRAL AMERICA -- THEY
SAID "LETS NEGOTIATE, DELIBERATE,
PROCRASTINATE." WE SAID -- JUST STAND UP
FOR FREEDOM.
NOW THE COLD WAR IS OVER AND THEY
300l.c
CLAIM -- "HEY, WE WERE WITH YOU ALL THE
WAY!"// THEIR BEHAVIOR REMINDS ME OF THE
OLD CON MAN'S ADVICE TO THE NEW KID. HE
SAID SON, "IF YOU'RE BEING RUN OUT OF TOWN,
JUST GET OUT IN FRONT / AND MAKE IT LOOK
X
LIKE A PARADE. "//
- 9 -
MAKE NO MISTAKE -- WITHOUT STEADFAST
REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP, AND THE SUPPORT OF
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, THE SOVIET UNION WOULD
* NIXCA PR
BE A DOMINANT SUPERPOWER TODAY AND/ WE'D BE
FACING A NUCLEAR THREAT TONIGHT. //
MY OPPONENTS SAY I SPEND TOO MUCH TIME
ON FOREIGN POLICY. //
- 10 -
AS IF IT DIDN'T MATTER THAT
SCHOOLCHILDREN ONCE HID UNDER THEIR DESKS IN
DRILLS TO PREPARE FOR NUCLEAR WAR. I SAW
THE CHANCE TO RID OUR CHILDREN'S DREAMS OF
THE NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE / -- AND I DID. OVER
THE PAST FOUR YEARS, MORE PEOPLE HAVE
BREATHED THE FRESH AIR OF FREEDOM THAN IN
ALL OF HUMAN HISTORY. I SAW A CHANCE TO
HELP// -- AND I DID. THESE WERE THE TWO
DEFINING OPPORTUNITIES NOT OF A YEAR -- NOT
OF A DECADE, BUT OF AN ENTIRE SPAN OF HUMAN
HISTORY.
I SEIZED THOSE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR
KIDS AND OUR GRANDKIDS -- AND / I / MAKE /
NO / APOLOGIES / FOR / THAT.
- 11 -
/\/\
NOW, THE SOVIET BEAR MAY BE GONE, BUT
THERE ARE STILL WOLVES IN THE WOODS.
WE SAW THAT WHEN SADDAM HUSSEIN INVADED
KUWAIT. THE MIDEAST MIGHT HAVE BECOME A
NUCLEAR POWDERKEG -- OUR ENERGY SUPPLIES
HELD HOSTAGE. SO WE DID WHAT WAS RIGHT, AND
WHAT WAS NECESSARY. WE DESTROYED A THREAT /
-- FREED A PEOPLE -- AND LOCKED A TYRANT IN
*
THE PRISON OF HIS OWN COUNTRY.//
[SMILE]
- 12 -
WHAT ABOUT THE LEADER OF THE ARKANSAS
NATIONAL GUARD -- THE MAN WHO HOPES TO BE
COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF? WELL, WHILE I BIT THE
*
BULLET// -- HE BIT HIS NAILS.
TWO DAYS AFTER CONGRESS VOTED TO FOLLOW
MY LEAD, MY OPPONENT SAID THIS -- AND I
QUOTE. "I GUESS I WOULD HAVE VOTED WITH THE
MAJORITY IF IT WAS A CLOSE VOTE. BUT I
Boo!
AGREE WITH THE ARGUMENTS THE MINORITY MADE."
/\/\
SOUNDS TO ME LIKE HIS POLICY CAN BE
SUMMED UP BY A ROAD SIGN HE'S PROBABLY SEEN
*
ON HIS BUS TOUR --// "SLIPPERY WHEN WET. "//
- 13 -
\/\/
BUT THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS.
THINK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF OUR FOREIGN
POLICY FAILURES THE LAST TIME THE DEMOCRATS
CONTROLLED BOTH ENDS OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE.
GAS LINES. GRAIN EMBARGOES. AMERICAN
HISS
HOSTAGES BLINDFOLDED. //
- 14 -
THERE WILL BE MORE FOREIGN POLICY
CHALLENGES LIKE KUWAIT IN THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS. TERRORISTS AND AGGRESSORS TO STAND
UP TO -- DANGEROUS WEAPONS TO BE CONTROLLED
AND DESTROYED. AND FREEDOM'S FIGHT IS NOT
FINISHED. I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING THE FIRST
PRESIDENT TO VISIT A FREE, DEMOCRATIC
CUBA. //
WHO WILL LEAD THE WORLD IN THE FACE OF
THESE CHALLENGES? NOT MY OPPONENT. IN HIS
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH HE DEVOTED JUST 65 SECONDS
TO TELLING US ABOUT THE WORLD.
- 15 -
THEN HE SAID THAT AMERICA WAS -- AND I
QUOTE -- BEING "RIDICULED" EVERYWHERE. TELL
THAT TO THE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD -- FOR
WHOM AMERICA IS STILL A DREAM. TELL THAT TO
*
LEADERS AROUND THE WORLD -- FROM WHOM
AMERICA COMMANDS RESPECT. "RIDICULED?"
TELL THAT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF DESERT
STORM.//
(LET ME MAKE AN ASIDE. THIS IS A
POLITICAL YEAR, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DANGER
IN THE WORLD. YOU CAN BE SURE, I WILL NEVER
LET POLITICS INTERFERE WITH A FOREIGN POLICY
DECISION. FORGET THE ELECTION, I WILL DO
WHAT'S RIGHT FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY.) )//
- 16 - -
50 YEARS AGO THIS SUMMER, // I WAS 18
YEARS OF AGE. (I SEE SOME YOUNG PEOPLE IN
THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, AND I REMEMBER HOW I
*
FELT IN THOSE DAYS.) I BELIEVED DEEPLY IN
THIS COUNTRY, AND WE WERE FACED WITH A WORLD
WAR. SO I MADE A DECISION, TO GO OFF AND
FIGHT A BATTLE MUCH DIFFERENT FROM POLITICAL
BATTLES.
\/\/
- 17 -
I WAS SCARED, / BUT I WAS WILLING./ I
WAS YOUNG/, BUT I WAS READY/. I HAD BARELY
LIVED, / WHEN I BEGAN TO WATCH MEN DIE. // I
BEGAN TO SEE THE SPECIAL PLACE OF AMERICA IN
THE WORLD, AND I BEGAN TO SEE -- EVEN THEN -
- THAT THE WORLD WOULD BECOME A MUCH SMALLER
PLACE -- AND FARAWAY PLACES COULD BECOME
MORE AND MORE LIKE AMERICA.
FIFTY YEARS LATER, AFTER CHANGE OF
ALMOST BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS, / WE KNOW THAT
WHEN FREEDOM GROWS, AMERICA GROWS./ JUST AS
A STRONG AMERICA MEANS A SAFER WORLD, / WE
HAVE LEARNED THAT A SAFER WORLD MEANS A
STRONGER AMERICA.
- 18 -
/\/\
THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT CHANGE. BUT
THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL, BECAUSE THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION IS NEVER ENDING. TODAY, THE PACE
OF CHANGE IS ACCELERATING. WE FACE NEW
OPPORTUNITIES AND NEW CHALLENGES. THE
QUESTION IS -- WHO DO YOU TRUST TO MAKE
CHANGE WORK FOR YOU?
MY OPPONENT SAYS AMERICA IS A NATION IN
DECLINE. OF OUR ECONOMY HE SAYS -- WE ARE
SOMEWHERE ON THE LIST BENEATH GERMANY,
HEADING SOUTH TOWARD SRI LANKA.//
- 19 -
WELL, DON'T LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT
AMERICA IS SECOND-RATE, ESPECIALLY /
SOMEBODY / RUNNING / FOR / PRESIDENT. //
- 20 -
MAYBE HE HASN'T HEARD THAT WE ARE STILL
THE WORLD'S LARGEST ECONOMY./ NO OTHER
NATION SELLS MORE OUTSIDE ITS BORDERS. THE
GERMANS, THE BRITISH, THE JAPANESE -- CAN'T
TOUCH THE PRODUCTIVITY OF YOU -- THE
AMERICAN WORKER AND THE AMERICAN FARMER. MY
OPPONENT WON'T MENTION THAT. HE WON'T
REMIND YOU THAT INTEREST RATES ARE THE
LOWEST THEY'VE BEEN IN 20 YEARS -- AND
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS HAVE REFINANCED THEIR
HOMES./ AND YOU JUST WON'T HEAR THAT
INFLATION -- THE THIEF OF THE MIDDLE-CLASS -
- HAS BEEN LOCKED IN A MAXIMUM SECURITY
PRISON.
- 21 -
\/\/
YOU DON'T HEAR MUCH ABOUT THIS GOOD NEWS
-- BECAUSE THE MEDIA ALSO TENDS TO FOCUS
ONLY ON THE BAD. WHEN THE BERLIN WALL FELL,
I HALF EXPECTED TO SEE A HEADLINE -- "WALL
FALLS, THREE BORDER GUARDS LOSE JOBS. "//
AND UNDERNEATH IT PROBABLY SAYS -- "CLINTON
10A
BLAMES BUSH."
YOU DON'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT PROGRESS IN
AMERICA. SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT SOME GOOD
THINGS WE'VE DONE TOGETHER.
JUST TWO WEEKS AGO, ALL THREE NATIONS OF
NORTH AMERICA AGREED TO TRADE FREELY FROM
MANITOBA TO MEXICO. THIS WILL BRING GOOD
JOBS TO MAIN STREET USA.
- 22 -
WE PASSED THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT -- BRINGING 43 MILLION
PEOPLE INTO THE ECONOMIC MAINSTREAM. I MUST
+ SAY, IT IS ABOUT TIME. //
OUR CHILDREN WILL BREATHE EASIER BECAUSE
OF OUR NEW CLEAN AIR ACT. //
WE ARE REBUILDING OUR ROADS, PROVIDING
JOBS FOR MORE THAN HALF A MILLION
AMERICANS.//
WE PASSED A CHILD CARE LAW, AND WE TOOK
A STAND FOR FAMILY VALUES BY SAYING THAT
WHEN IT COMES TO RAISING CHILDREN --
*
GOVERNMENT DOESN'T KNOW BEST -- PARENTS KNOW
BEST. //
- 23 -
\/\/
I'VE FOUGHT AGAINST PREJUDICE AND ANTI-
SEMITISM ALL MY LIFE. AND I AM PROUD THAT
WE STRENGTHENED OUR CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS -- AND
*
WE DID IT WITHOUT RESORTING TO QUOTAS.
ONE MORE THING./ TODAY, COCAINE USE HAS
FALLEN BY 60% AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE. TO THE
TEENAGERS, THE PARENTS AND THE VOLUNTEERS - -
-
WHO ARE HELPING US BATTLE THE SCOURGE OF
*
DRUGS IN AMERICA:/ WE THANK YOU.//
- 24 -
\/\/
DO I WANT TO DO MORE? YOU BET.
NOTHING HURTS ME MORE THAN TO MEET WITH
SOLDIERS HOME FROM THE PERSIAN GULF, WHO
CAN'T FIND A JOB. OR WORKERS WHO HAVE A
JOB, BUT WORRY THAT THE NEXT DAY WILL BRING
A PINK SLIP. AND WHAT ABOUT PARENTS WHO
SCRAPE AND STRUGGLE TO SEND THEIR KIDS TO
COLLEGE, ONLY TO FIND THEM BACK LIVING AT
HOME -- BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET WORK.
THE WORLD IS IN TRANSITION, AND WE ARE
FEELING THAT TRANSITION IN OUR HOMES.
THE DEFINING CHALLENGE OF THE
NINETIES IS TO WIN THE ECONOMIC
COMPETITION -- TO WIN THE PEACE./
- 25 -
WE MUST BE A MILITARY SUPERPOWER, AN
ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER, AND AN EXPORT
*
SUPERPOWER.
IN THIS ELECTION, YOU'LL HEAR TWO
VISIONS OF HOW TO DO THIS. THEIRS IS TO
LOOK INWARD, AND PROTECT WHAT WE ALREADY
HAVE.// OURS IS TO LOOK FORWARD -- TO OPEN
NEW MARKETS, PREPARE OUR PEOPLE TO COMPETE,
TO RESTORE OUR SOCIAL FABRIC -- TO SAVE AND
KINVEST -- SO WE CAN WIN. //
\/\/
- 26 -
WE BELIEVE THAT NOW THAT THE WORLD LOOKS
MORE LIKE AMERICA, IT IS TIME FOR AMERICA TO
LOOK MORE LIKE HERSELF.
AND SO WE OFFER A PHILOSOPHY THAT PUTS
FAITH IN THE INDIVIDUAL, NOT THE
BUREAUCRACY. A PHILOSOPHY THAT EMPOWERS
PEOPLE TO BE THEIR BEST -- SO AMERICA CAN BE
AT ITS BEST. IN A WORLD THAT IS SAFER AND
FREER, THIS IS HOW WE WILL BUILD AN AMERICA
THAT IS STRONGER, SAFER AND MORE SECURE.
WE START WITH A SIMPLE FACT --
GOVERNMENT IS TOO BIG, AND SPENDS TOO MUCH.
- 27 -
I'VE ASKED CONGRESS TO PUT A LID ON
MANDATORY SPENDING EXCEPT SOCIAL SECURITY.
AND I'VE PROPOSED DOING AWAY WITH OVER 200
PROGRAMS AND 4,000 WASTEFUL PROJECTS // AND
TO FREEZE / ALL/ OTHER / SPENDING.
THE GRIDLOCK DEMOCRAT CONGRESS HAS
Bar
SAID -- "NO."
so, / BEGINNING TONIGHT,/ I WILL ENFORCE
THE SPENDING FREEZE ON / MY / OWN. IF
CONGRESS SENDS ME A BILL SPENDING MORE THAN
I ASKED FOR IN MY BUDGET -- I WILL VETO IT
FAST -- FASTER THAN COPIES OF MILLIE'S BOOK
SOLD. //
- 28 -
CONGRESS WON'T CUT SPENDING, BUT REFUSES
TO GIVE THE PRESIDENT THE POWER TO ELIMINATE
PORK BARREL PROJECTS THAT WASTE YOUR MONEY.
43 GOVERNORS HAVE THAT POWER. SO I ASK YOU,
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, / GIVE ME A CONGRESS/
THAT WILL GIVE ME THE LINE-ITEM VETO.
LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT A RECENT BATTLE I
FOUGHT WITH CONGRESS. THIS SPRING, I WORKED
DAY AND NIGHT TO GET 2/3RDS OF ITS MEMBERS
TO APPROVE A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO
THE CONSTITUTION.
- 29 -
WE ALMOST HAD IT, BUT WE LOST BY JUST
NINE VOTES. LISTEN HOW. JUST BEFORE THE
VOTE, THE LIBERAL LEADERS OF CONGRESS
CONVINCED 12 MEMBERS WHO COSPONSORED THE
BILL -- TO SWITCH SIDES AND VOTE NO. KEEP
IN MIND, THEY VOTED AGAINST A BILL THEY HAD
ALREADY PUT THEIR NAMES ON.//
BOO!
SOMETHING FISHY GOING ON? WELL, LOOK AT
MY OPPONENT ON THIS ISSUE. HE SAYS HE'S FOR
BALANCED BUDGETS. BUT -- HE CAME OUT
AGAINST THE AMENDMENT. HE'S LIKE THAT ON A
LOT OF ISSUES -- FIRST ONE SIDE, THEN THE
OTHER. HE'S BEEN SPOTTED IN MORE PLACES
*
THAN ELVIS PRESLEY.//
- 30 -
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, CONGRESS HAS
BECOME PRETTY CREATIVE AT FINDING WAYS TO
WASTE YOUR MONEY. / SO WE NEED TO BE JUST AS
CREATIVE AT FINDING WAYS TO STOP THEM. I
HAVE A BRAND NEW IDEA.
TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO
CHECK A BOX ON THEIR TAX RETURNS, SO THAT UP
TO 10 PERCENT OF THEIR PAYMENTS CAN GO FOR
ONE PURPOSE ALONE -- TO REDUCE THE NATIONAL
DEBT.
- 31 -
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
CONGRESS DOESN'T JUST TURN AROUND AND BORROW
MORE MONEY -- TO SPEND MORE MONEY. SO I
WILL REQUIRE THAT FOR EVERY TAX DOLLAR SET
ASIDE TO CUT THE DEBT, THE CEILINGS ON
SPENDING WILL BE CUT BY AN EQUAL AMOUNT.
THAT WAY -- WE'LL CUT BOTH DEBT AND SPENDING
-- AND TAKE A WHACK OUT OF THE BUDGET
*
DEFICIT./
MY FEELINGS ABOUT BIG GOVERNMENT COME
FROM MY EXPERIENCE -- I SPENT HALF MY ADULT
LIFE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.// MY OPPONENT
HAS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE -- HE'S BEEN IN
GOVERNMENT NEARLY ALL HIS LIFE. HIS PASSION
TO EXPAND GOVERNMENT KNOWS NO BOUNDS.
- 32 -
HE'S ALREADY PROPOSED $220 BILLION IN NEW
SPENDING, ALONG WITH THE BIGGEST TAX
INCREASE IN HISTORY -- $150 BILLION
BOO!
DOLLARS -- THAT'S JUST TO START.
HE SAYS HE WANTS TO TAX THE RICH, BUT,
FOLKS, HE DEFINES RICH/ -- AS ANYONE WHO HAS
*
A JOB.//
YOU'VE HEARD OF THE SEPARATIONS OF
POWERS. MY OPPONENT PRACTICES A DIFFERENT
THEORY -- "THE POWER OF SEPARATIONS.'
GOVERNMENT HAS THE POWER TO SEPARATE YOU
FROM YOUR WALLET.
- 33 -
\/\/
WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES, I'VE LEARNED THE
HARD WAY.
THERE'S AN OLD SAYING. "GOOD JUDGMENT
COMES FROM EXPERIENCE, AND EXPERIENCE COMES
FROM BAD JUDGMENT. "//
TWO YEARS AGO, I MADE A BAD CALL ON THE
DEMOCRATS TAX INCREASE. I UNDERESTIMATED
CONGRESS' ADDICTION TO TAXES. WITH MY BACK
AGAINST THE WALL, I AGREED TO A HARD
BARGAIN: ONE TAX INCREASE ONE TIME, IN
RETURN FOR THE TOUGHEST SPENDING LIMITS
EVER.
- 34 -
WELL, IT WAS A MISTAKE TO GO ALONG WITH
* THE DEMOCRATIC TAX INCREASE./ BUT HERE'S MY
QUESTION FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WHO DO
YOU TRUST IN THIS ELECTION? THE CANDIDATE
WHO RAISED TAXES ONE TIME AND REGRETS IT, OR
THE OTHER CANDIDATE WHO RAISED TAXES AND
* FEES 128 TIMES, AND ENJOYED IT EVERY TIME.//
WHEN THE NEW CONGRESS CONVENES, I WILL
PROPOSE TO FURTHER REDUCE TAXES ACROSS THE
BOARD -- PROVIDED WE PAY FOR THESE CUTS WITH
SPECIFIC SPENDING REDUCTIONS THAT I CONSIDER
APPROPRIATE, SO THAT WE DO NOT INCREASE THE
DEFICIT. I WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO
INCREASE THE PERSONAL EXEMPTION// AND TO
CREATE JOBS BY WINNING A CUT IN CAPITAL
GAINS TAXES.//
- 35 -
THAT WILL ESPECIALLY HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES. THEY CREATE 2/3RDS OF THE NEW
JOBS IN AMERICA./ BUT MY OPPONENT'S PLAN
FOR SMALL BUSINESS IS CLEAR, PRESENT -- AND
DANGEROUS./ BESIDES NEW INCOME TAXES -- HIS
PLAN WILL LEAD TO A NEW PAYROLL TAX TO PAY
FOR A GOVERNMENT TAKEOVER OF HEALTH CARE --
B20'
AND ANOTHER NEW TAX TO PAY FOR TRAINING.
THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING.
IF HE GETS HIS WAY, HARDWARE STORES
ACROSS AMERICA WILL HAVE A NEW SIGN UP --
"CLOSED FOR DESPAIR". I GUESS YOU'D SAY HIS
PLAN REALLY IS "ELVIS ECONOMICS." AMERICA
WILL BE CHECKING INTO THE "HEARTBREAK
HOTEL." //
- 36 -
I BELIEVE SMALL BUSINESS NEEDS RELIEF -
*- FROM TAXATION, REGULATION, AND LITIGATION.
I WILL EXTEND FOR ONE YEAR THE FREEZE
ON PAPERWORK AND UNNECESSARY FEDERAL
+
REGULATION THAT I IMPOSED LAST WINTER. THERE
IS NO REASON THAT FEDERAL REGULATIONS SHOULD
LIVE LONGER THAN MY FRIEND GEORGE BURNS. I
WILL ISSUE AN ORDER -- TO GET RID OF ANY
RULE WHOSE TIME HAS COME/ -- AND GONE. //
- 37 -
I SEE SOMETHING HAPPENING IN OUR TOWNS
AND IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. SHARP LAWYERS ARE
RUNNING WILD. DOCTORS ARE AFRAID TO
PRACTICE MEDICINE, AND SOME MOMS AND DADS
WON'T EVEN COACH LITTLE LEAGUE ANY MORE. WE
MUST SUE EACH OTHER LESS -- AND CARE FOR
* EACH OTHER MORE. //
I'M FIGHTING TO REFORM OUR LEGAL SYSTEM,
TO PUT AN END TO CRAZY LAWSUITS. IF THAT
MEANS CLIMBING INTO THE RING WITH THE TRIAL
*
LAWYERS, WELL, LET ME JUST SAY, ROUND ONE
STARTS TONIGHT.
- 38 -
AFTER ALL, MY OPPONENT'S CAMPAIGN IS
BEING BACKED BY PRACTICALLY EVERY TRIAL
LAWYER WHO EVER WORE A TASSELLED LOAFER.
HE'S NOT IN THE RING WITH THEM, HE'S IN THE
TANK.//
THERE ARE OTHER THINGS WE NEED TO DO TO
GET OUR ECONOMY UP TO SPEED -- AND PREPARE
OUR KIDS FOR THE NEXT CENTURY.
WE MUST HAVE NEW INCENTIVES FOR
RESEARCH, AND NEW TRAINING FOR WORKERS.
SMALL BUSINESSES NEED CAPITAL AND CREDIT,
AND DEFENSE WORKERS NEED NEW JOBS.
- 39 -
AND I HAVE A PLAN, TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE
HEALTH CARE FOR EVERY AMERICAN, CONTROLLING
COSTS BY CUTTING PAPERWORK AND LAWSUITS --
AND EXPANDING COVERAGE TO THE POOREST OF THE
POOR. //
WE DON'T NEED MY OPPONENT'S PLAN FOR A
MASSIVE GOVERNMENT TAKE OVER OF HEALTH
CARE -- WHICH WOULD RATION CARE AND DENY YOU
THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE YOUR DOCTOR. WHO WANTS
A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WITH THE EFFICIENCY OF
THE HOUSE POST OFFICE, AND THE COMPASSION OF
K
THE K.G.B.?
- 40 -
WHAT ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS? MY OPPONENT AND
I BOTH WANT TO CHANGE THE WAY OUR KIDS
LEARN. HE WANTS TO CHANGE OUR SCHOOLS A
LITTLE BIT -- I WANT TO CHANGE THEM A LOT.
TAKE THE ISSUE OF WHETHER PARENTS SHOULD
BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THE BEST SCHOOL FOR THEIR
KIDS. MY OPPONENT SAYS THAT'S OKAY --AS
LONG AS THE SCHOOL IS RUN BY GOVERNMENT. I
SAY EVERY PARENT AND CHILD SHOULD HAVE A
REAL CHOICE OF SCHOOLS -- PUBLIC, PRIVATE OR
* RELIGIOUS.
- 41 -
/\/\
SO WE HAVE A CLEAR CHOICE TO FIX OUR
PROBLEMS. DO WE TURN TO THE TATTERED
BLANKET OF BUREAUCRACY THAT OTHER NATIONS
ARE TOSSING AWAY? OR DO WE GIVE OUR PEOPLE
THE FREEDOM AND INCENTIVES TO BUILD SECURITY
FOR THEMSELVES?
HERE'S WHAT I'M FIGHTING FOR.
-- OPEN MARKETS FOR AMERICAN PRODUCTS;
-- LOWER GOVERNMENT SPENDING,
-- TAX RELIEF,
- 42 -
-- OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS,
-- LEGAL AND HEALTH REFORM,
-- JOB TRAINING,
AND NEW SCHOOLS BUILT ON COMPETITION,
*
READY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.
WHY / ARE / THESE / PROPOSALS NOT IN
EFFECT TODAY?
ONLY ONE REASON -- THE GRIDLOCK
*
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS.
- 43 -
NOW, I KNOW AMERICANS ARE TIRED OF THE
BLAME GAME, TIRED OF PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON
ACTING LIKE THEY ARE CANDIDATES FOR THE NEXT
EPISODE OF AMERICAN GLADIATORS.//
I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER. NEITHER SHOULD
YOU. BUT THE / TRUTH / IS/ THE TRUTH/. OUR
POLICIES HAVEN'T FAILED, THEY HAVEN'T BEEN
TRIED.//
AMERICANS WANT JOBS. ON JANUARY 28TH,
I PUT BEFORE CONGRESS A PLAN TO CREATE JOBS.
IF IT HAD BEEN PASSED BACK THEN, 500,000
MORE AMERICANS WOULD BE AT WORK RIGHT NOW.
BUT IN A NATION THAT DEMANDS ACTION --
CONGRESS HAS BECOME THE MASTER OF INACTION.
- 44 -
IT WASN'T ALWAYS THIS WAY. I SERVED IN
CONGRESS 22 YEARS AGO. BACK THEN, WE
COOPERATED, WE DIDN'T GET PERSONAL, WE PUT
THE PEOPLE ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE. CHECK, WE
DIDN'T EVEN OWN BLOWDRIERS BACK THEN.]
AT MY FIRST INAUGURATION -- I SAID THAT
PEOPLE DIDN'T SEND US TO BICKER. I EXTENDED
MY HAND TO THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS. AND THEY
BIT IT.
- 45 -
THE HOUSE LEADERSHIP HAS NOT CHANGED IN
38 YEARS. IT IS A BODY CAUGHT IN A
HOPELESSLY TANGLED WEB OF PAC'S, PERKS,
PRIVILEGES, PARTISANSHIP, AND PARALYSIS./
EVERY DAY, CONGRESS PUTS POLITICS AHEAD OF
PRINCIPLE, AND ABOVE PROGRESS.
LET ME GIVE YOU JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
FEBRUARY 20, 1991. IT WAS THE HEIGHT OF THE
GULF WAR./ ON THAT VERY SAME DAY, / I ASKED
AMERICAN PILOTS TO RISK THEIR LIVES TO FLY
MISSIONS OVER BAGHDAD. I ALSO WANTED TO
STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMIC SECURITY FOR THE
FUTURE. SO THAT SAME DAY, I INTRODUCED A
NEW DOMESTIC ENERGY STRATEGY WHICH WOULD CUT
OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL BY 7 MILLION
BARRELS A DAY.
- 46 -
HOW MANY DAYS DID IT TAKE TO WIN THE
GULF WAR? 43. HOW MANY DAYS HAS IT TAKEN
CONGRESS TO PASS A NATIONAL ENERGY STRATEGY?
FIVE / HUNDRED / AND / THIRTY-TWO -- AND /
STILL / COUNTING. //
(I'VE RIDDEN STATIONARY BIKES THAT CAN
MOVE FARTHER, FASTER -- THAN THE U.S.
CONGRESS)
WHERE'S MY OPPONENT STAND WITH CONGRESS?
WELL, UP IN NEW YORK AT THEIR CONVENTION,
THEY KEPT THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS AWAY
FROM THE PODIUM -- HID THEM AWAY.
- 47 -
THEY DIDN'T WANT AMERICA TO HEAR FROM
THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY MAKE THE DECISIONS.
THEY HID THEM FOR A VERY GOOD REASON -
- BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD
RECOGNIZE A DANGEROUS COMBINATION: A RUBBER
CHECK CONGRESS// -- AND A RUBBER STAMP
* PRESIDENT./
GOVERNOR CLINTON AND CONGRESS KNOW THAT
YOU'VE CAUGHT ON TO THEIR LINGO. THEY KNOW
WHEN THEY SAY "SPENDING," YOU SAY -- "OH,
OH." SO NOW THEY HAVE A NEW WORD --
"INVESTMENT." " THEY WANT TO "INVEST" $220
BILLION MORE OF YOUR MONEY -- BUT I WANT YOU
TO KEEP IT./
- 48 -
GOVERNOR CLINTON AND CONGRESS WANT TO
PUT THROUGH THE LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN
HISTORY -- BUT I WON'T LET IT HAPPEN.
GOVERNOR CLINTON AND CONGRESS DON'T WANT
KIDS TO HAVE THE OPTION OF PRAYING IN SCHOOL
* - BUT I DO. CLINTON AND CONGRESS DON'T
WANT TO CLOSE LEGAL LOOPHOLES AND KEEP
CRIMINALS BEHIND BARS -- BUT I WILL.
CLINTON AND CONGRESS WILL STOCK THE
JUDICIARY WITH LIBERAL JUDGES WHO WRITE LAWS
THEY CAN'T GET APPROVED BY THE VOTERS.
- 49 -
Boo!
GOVERNOR CLINTON / EVEN SAYS THAT MARIO
CUOMO BELONGS ON THE SUPREME COURT. IF YOU
BELIEVE IN JUDICIAL RESTRAINT, YOU PROBABLY
OUGHT TO BE HAPPY. AFTER ALL, THE GOOD
GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK CAN'T MAKE UP HIS MIND
BETWEEN CHOCOLATE AND VANILLA AT BASKIN
ROBBINS./ WE WON'T HAVE ANOTHER COURT
DECISION FOR 35 YEARS. //
ARE MY OPPONENT AND CONGRESS REALLY IN
CAHOOTS? LOOK AT ONE IMPORTANT QUESTION --
SHOULD WE LIMIT THE TERMS OF CONGRESS?
GOVERNOR CLINTON SAYS "NO." CONGRESS SAYS
NO./ I SAY: "YES".
- - 50 -
WE TRIED THIS ONCE BEFORE, COMBINING THE
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR OF A SMALL SOUTHERN
STATE, WITH A VERY LIBERAL VICE PRESIDENT,
AND A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS. AMERICA DOESN'T
*N
NEED: CARTER II. "//
WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE AMERICA BACK TO
THOSE DAYS OF MALAISE. BUT AMERICANS WANT
TO KNOW WHERE'S PROOF THAT WE WILL HAVE
BETTER DAYS IN WASHINGTON?
- 51 -
I'LL GIVE YOU 150 REASONS./ THAT'S HOW
MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE EXPECTED TO
LEAVE WASHINGTON THIS YEAR. SOME ARE
TAINTED BY SCANDAL -- THE VOTERS HAVE
BOUNCED THEM THE WAY THEY BOUNCED THEIR OWN
CHECKS. BUT OTHERS ARE GOOD MEMBERS.
REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT. THEY AGREE WITH
ME. THE PLACE JUST DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE.
150 NEW MEMBERS -- FROM BOTH PARTIES --
WILL BE COMING TO WASHINGTON THIS FALL.
EVERY ONE WILL HAVE A FRESH VIEW OF
AMERICA'S FUTURE.
- 52 -
I PLEDGE TODAY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS ELECTION, I WILL MEET
WITH EVERY ONE OF THESE NEW MEMBERS --
BEFORE THEY GET ATTACKED BY THE PAC'S,
OVERWHELMED BY THEIR STAFFS, AND CORNERED BY
A CAMERA CREW. AND I WILL LAY OUT MY CASE -
- OUR CASE -- FOR CHANGE. CHANGE THAT
MATTERS, REAL CHANGE THAT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE. CHANGE THAT IS RIGHT FOR
AMERICA.
YOU SEE, THERE IS A YEARNING IN AMERICA
-- A FEELING THAT / MAYBE / ITS TIME TO GET
BACK TO OUR ROOTS.
- 53 -
SURE WE MUST CHANGE, BUT SOME VALUES ARE
TIMELESS. I BELIEVE IN FAMILIES THAT STICK
TOGETHER,/ AND FATHERS WHO STICK AROUND. //
I HAPPEN TO BELIEVE VERY DEEPLY IN THE WORTH
OF EACH INDIVIDUAL HUMAN BEING, BORN OR
UNBORN // I BELIEVE IN TEACHING OUR KIDS
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT'S WRONG AND
WHAT'S RIGHT, / TEACHING THEM RESPECT FOR
HARD WORK AND TO LOVE THEIR NEIGHBORS./ AND
I BELIEVE THAT AMERICA WILL ALWAYS HAVE A
SPECIAL PLACE IN GOD'S HEART, AS LONG AS HE
HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN OURS. AND MAYBE
THAT'S WHY I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED/ THAT
PATRIOTISM IS NOT JUST ANOTHER POINT OF
VIEW. //
- 54 -
\/\/
THERE ARE TIMES IN EVERY YOUNG PERSON'S
LIFE, WHEN GOD INTRODUCES YOU TO YOURSELF.
I REMEMBER SUCH A TIME. IT WAS BACK MANY
YEARS AGO, / WHEN I STOOD WATCH AT 4 A.M. UP
ON THE BRIDGE OF THE U.S.S. FINBACK. I
WOULD STAND THERE AND LOOK OUT ON THE
BLACKNESS OF THE SKY -- BROKEN ONLY BY THE
SPARKLING STARS ABOVE./ I WOULD THINK ABOUT
FRIENDS I LOST // A COUNTRY I LOVED // AND /
ABOUT A GIRL NAMED BARBARA.// I REMEMBER
THOSE NIGHTS AS CLEARLY AS ANY IN MY LIFE.
- 55 -
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE THINGS FROM UP
THERE THAT OTHER PEOPLE DON'T SEE. YOU CAN
SEE STORM CLOUDS RISE AND THEN DISAPPEAR.
THE FIRST HINT OF THE SUN OVER THE HORIZON -
- AND THE FIRST OUTLINE OF THE SHORE
FARAWAY.
NOW, I KNOW AMERICANS ARE UNEASY TODAY -
- THERE IS ANXIOUS TALK AROUND OUR KITCHEN
TABLES. BUT FROM WHERE I STAND, I SEE NOT
AMERICA'S SUNSET, BUT A SUNRISE.
- 56 -
THE WORLD CHANGES FOR WHICH WE'VE
SACRIFICED FOR A GENERATION, HAVE FINALLY
COME TO PASS -- AND WITH THEM A RARE AND
UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY -- TO PASS THE
SWEET CUP OF PROSPERITY AROUND OUR AMERICAN
TABLE.
- 57 -
ARE WE UP TO IT? I KNOW WE ARE. AS I
TRAVEL OUR LAND, I MEET VETERANS WHO ONCE
WORKED THE TURRETS OF A TANK, AND CAN NOW
MASTER THE KEYBOARDS OF A HIGH-TECH ECONOMY.
I SEE TEACHERS, BLESSED WITH THE INCREDIBLE
AMERICAN CAPACITY FOR INNOVATION, / WHO ARE
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN A NEW WAY TO LEARN --
FOR A NEW CENTURY./ I MEET PARENTS, SOME
WORKING TWO JOBS WITH HECTIC SCHEDULES, WHO
STILL FIND NEW WAYS TO TEACH OLD VALUES TO
STEADY THEIR KIDS IN A TURBULENT WORLD.
- 58 -
I TAKE HEART/ FROM WHAT IS HAPPENING IN
AMERICA, / NOT FROM THOSE WHO PROFESS A NEW
PASSION FOR GOVERNMENT, BUT FROM THOSE WITH
AN OLD AND ENDURING FAITH IN HUMAN
POTENTIAL. THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
GENIUS OF AMERICA IS OUR CAPACITY FOR
REBIRTH AND RENEWAL./ AMERICA IS THE LAND
WHERE THE SUN IS ALWAYS PEEKING OVER THE
HORIZON.
- 59 -
TONIGHT I APPEAL TO THAT UNYIELDING,
UNDYING, / UNDENIABLE/ AMERICAN SPIRIT. I
ASK YOU TO CONSIDER -- NOW THAT THE ENTIRE
WORLD IS MOVING OUR WAY, WHY WOULD WE WANT
TO GO BACK THEIR WAY? I ASK NOT JUST FOR
YOUR SUPPORT FOR MY AGENDA, BUT FOR YOUR
COMMITMENT TO RENEW AND REBUILD OUR NATION -
- BY SHAKING UP THE ONE INSTITUTION THAT HAS
WITHSTOOD CHANGE FOR OVER FOUR DECADES.
*
JOIN ME IN ROLLING AWAY THE ROADBLOCK AT
THE OTHER END OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, SO
THAT IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, WE WILL MATCH
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OUTSIDE, BY BUILDING A
STRONGER, SAFER, MORE SECURE AMERICA INSIDE.
- 60 -
FORTY-FOUR YEARS AGO -- IN ANOTHER AGE
OF UNCERTAINTY -- A DIFFERENT PRESIDENT
EMBARKED ON A SIMILAR MISSION. HIS NAME WAS
HARRY S. TRUMAN.
AS HE STOOD BEFORE HIS PARTY TO ACCEPT
THEIR NOMINATION, HARRY TRUMAN KNEW THE
FREEDOM I KNOW THIS EVENING -- THE FREEDOM
TO TALK ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT FOR AMERICA, AND
LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY.
HARRY TRUMAN SAID, "THIS IS MORE THAN A
POLITICAL CALL TO ARMS. GIVE ME YOUR HELP,
NOT TO WIN VOTES ALONE, BUT TO WIN THIS NEW
CRUSADE AND KEEP AMERICA SAFE AND SECURE FOR
ITS OWN PEOPLE.
- 61 -
TONIGHT I SAY TO YOU -- JOIN ME IN OUR
NEW CRUSADE -- TO REAP THE REWARDS OF OUR
GLOBAL VICTORY -- TO WIN THE PEACE -- SO
THAT WE MAY MAKE AMERICA SAFER AND STRONGER
-- FOR ALL OUR PEOPLE.
GOD BLESS YOU, AND GOD BLESS THE UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA.
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