President Bush Thanks Americans in Wednesday Acceptance Speech (Text)

The White House ^ | November 3, 2004 | George W. Bush

[OESY]

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 3, 2004

President Bush Thanks Americans in Wed. Acceptance Speech
Remarks by the President in Acceptance Speech
The Ronald Reagan Building
Washington, D.C.



3:08 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. We had a long night -- and a great night. (Applause.) The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered an historic victory. (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. (Applause.)

There are many people to thank, and my family comes first. (Applause.) Laura is the love of my life. (Applause.) I'm glad you love her, too. (Laughter.) I want to thank our daughters, who joined their dad for his last campaign. (Applause.) I appreciate the hard work of my sister and my brothers. I especially want to thank my parents for their loving support. (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. (Applause.) The Vice President serves America with wisdom and honor, and I'm proud to serve beside him. (Applause.)

I want to thank my superb campaign team. I want to thank you all for your hard work. (Applause.) I was impressed every day by how hard and how skillful our team was. I want to thank Marc -- Chairman Marc Racicot and -- (applause) -- the Campaign Manager, Ken Mehlman. (Applause.) And the architect, Karl Rove. (Applause.) I want to thank Ed Gillespie for leading our Party so well. (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. (Applause.) And because you did the incredible work, we are celebrating today. (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. (Applause.) Our nation has defended itself, and served the freedom of all mankind. I'm proud to lead such an amazing country, and I'm proud to lead it forward. (Applause.)

Because we have done the hard work, we are entering a season of hope. We'll continue our economic progress. We'll reform our outdated tax code. We'll strengthen the Social Security for the next generation. We'll 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 -- (applause) -- 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. (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. (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. (Applause.)

Let me close with a word to the people of the state of Texas. (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.

The 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. (Applause.)

END 3:18 P.M. EST

[EggsAckley]

The speech was great, and I was in tears of joy.

One thing was odd, though. The President mentioned the names of his campaign team, but he LEFT OUT Karen Hughes. I was stunned. She's brilliant and they are almost like "family."

I'm sure it was an oversight, and I'm sure he's already realized it.

[housedeep]

I LOVE THIS MAN

[Grampa Dave]

It was a great speech, and my trophy bride
who is a toughie with all politicians had tears in her eyes. She has become a real Laura fan since the convention.

[Mo1]

Ping

[Defendingliberty]

He looked tired....

[EggsAckley]

You lucky dude!!

I don't think I've ever seen Laura looking more stunning. And the twins were wiping tears away. It was delicious!

[BARLF]

I don't know why Karen Hughes was not mentioned but I'm sure it was not an oversight.

Perhaps Karen preferred not to be mentioned.

MHO

[EggsAckley]

Hmmmm, I hadn't thought of it that way. Maybe.

[mrplind]

i missed the speech (was in a meeting) but got choked up just reading it ... God I love our Pres.

[CatOwner]

"He looked tired...."

With the weight of the world on his shoulders, fighting vast media and political corruption in this campaign, overcoming the vile hatred spewed by the Left, a potential election quagmire once again (thankfully averted), and winning a high turnout election that most have said that Republicans can't win, do you blame him?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Thanks for the ping! I had to step away from the TV for a long while and missed his speech, but it reads like a really great speech! I'm going to try and see if I can catch it again later on CSPAN.

[Argus]

President Bush deserved this victory. It is a vindication of his courage and steadfastness. I am profoundly relieved that the people did not let him down, that the morale of our military will be preserved, and that the terrorists and their fellow jackals have nothing to celebrate today.

[paulcissa]

"Perhaps Karen preferred not to be mentioned."

I suspect you're probably right. She's a very effective "behind the scenes" person and only comes center when she's asked. When she does come center, there's no mistaking her capability and character.

She's another unsung hero of this campaign, there's many, many more like her.

[Yardstick]

I loved this line:

"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."

Sturdy and honest -- that really grabbed me. I can't think of any two better words for expressing what America is. The economy and simple eloquence of this line is just gorgeous.

"We'll reform our outdated tax code."

And how about this! I look forward to seeing what the President has in mind here.

[OpusatFR]

I love this man. What a great man!

[Huck]

"We'll reform our outdated tax code."

Sure caught my eye.

[SeaBiscuit]

"The speech was great, and I was in tears of joy."

Just how I feel. After being up for over 27 hrs yesterday following the election right here at FR, I went to sleep for a few hrs hoping that I would not wake up to the 2000 fiasco. Thank God it wasn't so, this post was great to see, tears of joy indeed.

[OhMike]

I don't know why Karen Hughes wasn't mentioned. I doubt that it was an oversight, and something tells me she got all the reward she needs with the re-election of the President.

I can tell you this, when Peggy Noonan took a leave from the WSJ to work on the re-election effort, she made it clear that she would keep a low profile. As a speechwriter Ms. Noonan knows that her words should be heard, but her name shouldn't. The message and the messenger are important here, not the writer. Peggy (if I may call her that) understood that so well that she wouldn't even say that she was going to work for the campaign. She just didn't want people to think it is Peggy Noonan speaking when they hear words coming from President Bush.

Here's something Karen Hughes and Peggy Noonan have in common: they are great ladies and great Americans. They no doubt consider it more important for the President to have been re-elected than for them to get any public recognition. They serve the President because they believe in him and know that he serves America.

I'm grateful for all of them.

[EggsAckley]

In spite of being embarrassed by California, there IS one advantage to living here. By midnight it was becoming obvious that W had won, and I went to bed then. Slept like a baby, woke up dancing.

Being at the end of the voting "food chain" CAN have its advanteges!