From: By Lee Siew Hua
EMail: bookwormz_99@yahoo.com
Famous last and first words
By Lee Siew Hua US CORRESPONDENT
LOOKING BACK
WASHINGTON - United States Vice-President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush understood that the moment was bigger than either of them.
So victor and vanquished spoke like statesmen to move the nation beyond the rancour of the race.
Their speeches occupied fleeting minutes - after 35 days of indecision, over a year of campaigning and, for Mr Gore, a lifetime of dreams.
Yet those few minutes offered finality, reconciliation and new purpose for America.
What do their speeches say about the two men, one on the road to power and the other to possible obscurity?
Defining moment Gore: He conceded. It was unclear at first if he would say the C-word and mutter instead that he lost. But there was no ambiguity as he said: 'I offer my concession.'
Bush: He was transformed into the President-elect, one who was sincere in uniting the US: 'I was not elected to serve one party, but to serve one nation.' Themes Gore: Healing, national reconciliation. Disagreement but acceptance of the US Supreme Court decision. Intention to fight for Americans.
Bush: Also healing, national reconciliation. His future agenda. Tone Gore: Gracious, statesmanlike, personable, sincere, moving. Plus a note of regret and a moment when he took on again the mantle and mantra of a principled fighter.
Bush: Conciliatory, purposeful, similarly gracious. Symbolism Gore: He projected himself as the gracious loser. Bush: He signalled his seriousness about bipartisanship when he was introduced by Mr Pete Laney, the Texas Democratic House Speaker.
He also rose to speak from the Democratic side of the House. Humour Gore: Opened his speech with a one-liner when he disclosed he had called Mr Bush and quipped: 'I promised I wouldn't call him back this time.' On election night, he called Mr Bush to concede and called him later to retract the concession.
Bush: Spoke soberly, without overt signs of his quick wit. Length of speech Gore: Seven minutes
Bush: Nine minutes Hello, world Gore: Told the world that the botched election was not a sign of weakness. He said: 'And I say to our fellow members of the world community, let no one see this contest as a sign of America's weakness. The strength of American democracy is shown most clearly through the difficulties it can overcome.'
Bush: Looked ahead to his agenda, saying: '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.' What was unspoken Gore: 'I'll be back.' His promise to continue fighting for the people, and his speech, may be a precursor to Campaign 2004.
Bush: 'I won.' There was no metaphorical whoop of victory, under the circumstances. He accepted the presidency subtly. One last look at the campaign Gore: He revived his campaign theme of fighting for the people.
Bush: He reiterated the themes he had campaigned on education, the elderly and tax cuts. Public response Gore: Americans were generous in their evaluation of the loser.
Bush: In contrast, they were more watchful and had higher expectations of the winner. The puzzle Gore: Why couldn't he hit such high notes in his campaign?
Bush: Why didn't he delay his speech by a day to avoid being overshadowed by the man he vanquished? Who was more presidential? Gore: Ironical that he looked and sounded most presidential just as he bowed out of the presidential race.
Bush: He spoke with new authority, but was overshadowed by Mr Gore's magnanimity and elegant speech. What's next? Gore: Still a mystery, even to himself. He said: 'I don't know the answer to that one yet - I'll spend time in Tennessee and mend some fences, literally and figuratively.'
Bush: On the road to Washington and the most powerful office in the world.