Vice President Al Gore’s concession speech, the nation was simply advised throughout the Jan. 6 listening to, is one value finding out. Here it’s, dated Dec. 13, 2000.
GORE: Good night.
Just moments in the past, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on turning into the forty third president of the United States — and I promised him that I wouldn’t name him again this time.
I provided to fulfill with him as quickly as attainable in order that we are able to begin to heal the divisions of the marketing campaign and the competition by which we simply handed.
Almost a century and a half in the past, Senator Stephen Douglas advised Abraham Lincoln, who had simply defeated him for the presidency, “Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I’m with you, Mr.President, and God bless you.”
Well, in that very same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what stays of partisan rancor should now be put apart, and should God bless his stewardship of this nation.
Neither he nor I anticipated this lengthy and tough street. Certainly, neither of us needed it to occur. Yet it got here, and now it has ended, resolved, because it have to be resolved, by the honored establishments of our democracy.
Over the library of certainly one of our nice regulation colleges is inscribed the motto, “Not under man but under God and law.” That’s the ruling precept of American freedom, the supply of our democratic liberties. I’ve tried to make it my information all through this contest because it has guided America’s deliberations of all of the complicated problems with the previous 5 weeks.
Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be little question,whereas I strongly disagree with the courtroom’s resolution, I settle for it. I settle for the finality of this end result which will likely be ratified subsequent Monday within the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity of the individuals and the power of our democracy, I provide my concession.
I additionally settle for my duty, which I’ll discharge unconditionally, to honor the brand new president-elect and do every little thing attainable to assist him convey Americans collectively in achievement of the good imaginative and prescient that our Declaration of Independence defines and that our Constitution affirms and defends. Let me say how grateful I’m to all those that supported me and supported the trigger for which now we have fought. Tipper and I really feel deep gratitude to Joe and Hadassah Lieberman who introduced ardour and excessive goal to our partnership and opened new doorways, not only for our marketing campaign however for our nation.
This has been a rare election. But in one of many God’sunforeseen paths, this belatedly damaged deadlock can level us all to a brand new frequent floor, for its very closeness can serve to remind us that we’re one individuals with a shared historical past and a shared future.
Indeed, that historical past offers us many examples of contests as hotly debated, as fiercely fought, with their very own challenges to the favored will. Other disputes have dragged on for weeks earlier than reaching decision. And every time, each the victor and the vanquished have accepted the end result peacefully and within the spirit of reconciliation.
So let or not it’s with us.
I do know that a lot of my supporters are upset. I’m too. But our disappointment have to be overcome by our love of nation.
And I say to our fellow members of the world neighborhood, let nobody see this contest as an indication of American weak spot. The power of American democracy is proven most clearly by the difficulties it could overcome.
Here’s a hyperlink to the C-Span video of the speech…
Source: www.bostonherald.com”