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OUR 43rd PRESIDENT OF THESE
UNITED STATE AND THAT CEREMONY,
THE SWEARING IN CEREMONY TAKE
PLACE ABOUT AN HOUR FROM NOW, AT
THE CAPITOL BUILDING AT NOON.
TOM BROKAW HAS JOINED US AS
WELL.
THE COFFE AT THE WHITE HOUSE IS
CONCLUDING RIGHT OW.
PRESIDENT-ELECT GEORGE W. BUSH
AND HIS WIFE LAURA AND PRESIDENT
CLTON AND SENATOR HILLARY
CLINTON HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INSIDE.
>> AS WELL AS THE CHENEYS AND
THE GORES.
AND SIX MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
ALTHOUGH MOS OF THEM HAVE
ALREADY LEFT TO TAKE THEIR PLACE
OUTSIDE THE CAPITOL, WHERE THE
SWEARING IN WILL TAKE PLACE.
SINCE THE FORD WHITEOUSE DAYS.
>>HE CHENEY/CHENEY ISSUE.
>> I SAW SENATOR SIMPSON.
HE SAID, I WAS OUT CAMPAIGNING
WITH CHENEY ALL FALL USING THE
WYOMING PRONUNCIATION.
THAT CAUGHT ME OFF GUARD.
ALL THE TIME I'VE KNOWN HIM IN
WASHINGTON, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
*** CHENEY.
>> I NOTICE THAT PETE WILLIAMS,
WHO USED TO BE *** CHENEY'S
SPOKESPERSON AT THE PENTAGON ALL
OF A SUDDEN WHO IS NOW OUR
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT
ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED CALLING
HIM *** CNEY, SO SOMEONE'S
GOTTEN TO PETE AND SAID, IT'S
CHENEY, NOT CHENEY.
>> WELL, WHEN THE VICE
PRESIDENT-ELECT SAYS THAT'S HOW
THEY PRONOUNCE MY NAME, YOU HAVE
TO GO ALONG WITH IT.
THAT WOULD BE LIKE KATIE COURIC.
>> WE'VE BEEN SAYING IT
INCORRECTLY ALL THESE YEARS.
>> IT'S BEEN DRIVING HIM NUTS.
>> IF YOU WERE IN ANY OTHER HIGH
SCHOOL CLASS IN CASPER, WYOMING,
YOU WOULD SEEM IF YOU FAILED
STANDARDS OF ACHIEVEMENT.
*** CHENEY AND HIS WIFE LYNNE
WERE THE HOMECOMING KING AND
QUEEN, I THINK, IN 1959.
HE WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE
FOOTBALL TEAM.
THEY BOTH HAVE HAD NOTABLE
CCESS, OBVIOUSLY, IN
WASHINGTON.
SHE'S A VERY OUTSPOKEN CAL LAHR
AND CONSERVATIVE.
SEVERE CRITICAL CRITIC OF
POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.
SHE WILL CONTINUE THAT, SHE SAID
DURING THE COURSE OF THIS
ADMINISTRATION.
>> TOM, LET'S TALK ABOUT
METHING THAT IS A LITTLE
PERHAPS ON THE MORE DELICATE
SIDE.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE OCCASIONS
IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHERE YOU
HAVE BASICALLY ALL OF THE
LEADER OF OUR COUNTRY GATHERED
IN ONE PLACE AT ONE TIME AND
THAT PRESENTS A SECITY DILEMMA
BUT, ALSO, THERE IS SOMETHING
THAT TAKES PLACE TODAY AND
ALREADY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WILLIAM COHEN AND HIS WIFE JANET
HAVE BEEN WHISKED AWAY FROM
WASHINGTON TO A LOCATION FAR
AWAY FROM HERE AND WHY DON'T YOU
EXPLAIN ABOUT WHY THAT OCCURS?
>> THERE IS A CONSTITUTIONAL
LINE OF SUCCESS TT EVERYONE
KNOWS IT GOES FROM THE
PRESIDENCY TO THE VICE
PRESIDENCY, THE SPEAKER OF THE
HOUSE DOWN THROUGH THE CABINET.
SO EVEN ON NIGHTS OF THE STATE
OF THE UNION SPEECH, NOT THE
ENTIRE CABINET IS THERE.
THEY TAKE THAT ONE PERSON, MAN
OR WOMAN, IN A SAFE PLACE IN
CASE THERE IS A CATASTROPHIC
EVENT SO WE HAVE A
CONSTITUTIONALLY-MANDATED LEADER
WHO WILL BE ABLE TO ASSUME THE
REINS OF POWER.
THAT IS ONLY PRECAIONARY.
NO ONE IS EXPECTING ANYTHING
LIKE THAT.
>> ALL RIG.
THEY'RE STILL IN THE WHITE HOUSE
STILL ENJOYING CHATTING AWAY
APPARENTLY OR MAYBE THEY DISCUSS
HAVE REALLY GOOD SWEET ROLLS
THERE.
>> YOU KNOW, BILL CLINTON, WHICH
WAS A FORETOLD HIS TIME WHEN HE
ARRIVED FOR HIS COFFEE WITH
GEORGE BUSH -- 27 MINUTES LATE.
THEY ONLY G LATER DURING THE
COURSE OF THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS.
>> KNOWN AS "CLINTON TIME."
THEY'RE COMING OUT.
YOU SEE TIPPER GORE AND RIGHT
BEND -- LET'S SEE.
THERE'S LYNNE CHENEY AND TIPPER
GORE.
A PARTICULARLY BITTERSWEET
MOMENT FOR TIPPER GORE AND AL
GORE, DON'T YOU THINK?
>> THERE'S NOTHING SWEET ABOUT
IT, PROBABLY.
>> THEY WON THE ELECTION, THEY
BELIEVE.
AND BOY, IT WAS A DAY FOR RED
TIES AND BLUE TIES FOR THE
PRESIDENT.
AND ABOUT THE SAME SHADE OF
SUIT.
>> WE HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH FROM AL
GORE OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
>> JUST RETURNED FROM SKIING.
THEY HAD BEEN OUT IN SNOW MASK,
THE WHOLE FAMILY WENT OUT FOR
THAT.
LOOK,T TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE
TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT.
YOU RISK YOUR PERSONAL
REPUTATION.
IT'S AN EXHAUSTING PHYSICAL
PROCEDURE, AS WELL, TO SAY
NOTHING OF THE EMOTION INVOLVED
AND THEN TO GO THROUGH NOT JUST
THE CAMPAIGN BUT 35 DAYS PLUS
AFTERWARD KNOWING IN AL GORE'S
CASE HE WON 500,000 VOTES MORE
IN THE COUNTRY THAN DID THE
INCOMING PRESIDENT AND LOST IN
FLORIDA IN A BITTERLY-CONTESTED
ELECTION THAT HAD TO BE DECIDED
5-4 BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.
THATOULD CAUSE YOU TO WAKE UP
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT A LOT
OF TIMES AND THINK WHAT IF.
WHAT IF IN HIS CASE HE WON HIS
HOME STATE.
>> THERE WE SEE MRS. CLINTON,
SENATOR CLINTON, I HAVE TO GET
USED TO SAY THAT AND FIRST LADY
LAURA BUSH LEAVING THE WHITE
HOUSE.
SENATOR CLINTON WRING LEATHER?
OF COURSE, A LOT OF ATTENTION IS
PAID TO INAUGURAL DRESS, AS YOU
KNOW.
>> THERE'S CHELSEA CLINTON.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE,
KATIE.
>> OH, COME ON.
YOU WERE INTERESTED INHAT,
TOO.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> CHELSEA, A YOUNG LADY WHO
GREW UP OVER THESE LAST EIGHT
YEARS IN FRONT OF OUR EYE.
>> ACTUALLY, AWAY FROM OUR EYES
AS I WALKED TO URA BUSH, SHE
IS USING THE CLINTS AS A ROLE
MODEL TO PROTECT HER DAUGHTERS.
THE CLINTONS ARE TO BE APPLAUDED
AS THEY DID SHIELD CHELSEA AWAY
FROM THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT AND
THE PUBLIC EYE.
>> AND CHELSEA CLINTON HAS MORE
POE FOR A YOUNG WOMAN THAN
ALMOST ANYONE I KNOW, GIVEN WHAT
SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH AS THE
INRMEDIARY ON A COUPLE OF
OCCASIONS BETWEEN HER PARENTS.
HERE COME THE BLUE TIE GUYS.
>> LAST TIME HE WALKS OUT OF THE
WHITE HOUSE AS PRESIDENT.
>> JOHN KENNEDY WAS THE LAST
PRESIDENT TO WEAR A HIGH HAT.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> AND MORNING DRESS.
>>ORT OF.YAPTS YOU HEARD
SOMEBODY SAY GOOD-BYE AND THANK
YOU.
>> AND UNDERSTAND PRESIDENT
CLINTON SPENT MOST OF THE TIME
LAST NIGHT WRITING THANK-YOU
NOTES TO HIS STAFF IN ADDITION
TO WATCHING A MOVIE WITH HIS
FAMILY.
I'D LOVE TO SEE WHAT SOME OF
THOSE NOTES SAID.
>> THAT'S THE NEW LIMOUSINE, BY
THE WAY.
2001 CADILLAC MODEL.
THE TWO MOTOR CADES, MOTORCADES,
PARDON ME, HAVE GOTTEN TO A BE A
LITTLE EXCESSIVE.
24 CARS FOR ONE CANDATE.
>> WHY IS THAT?
BECAUSE OF SECURITY CONCERNS?
>> SURITY CONCERNS AND THEY --
THEY BOTH THE FEDERAL
THORITIES AND LOCAL
MUNICIPALITIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
NEW YORK, THEY SAY IN NEW YORK,
GET MORE THREATS THAN THEY CAN
ALLOW THE PUBLIC TO KNOW SO THE
REALLY DO HAVE TO SURROUND THEM.
IT'S VERY ROOMY IN THE BACK OF
THOSE PRESIDENTIAL LIMOUSINES
AND THEY DO HAVE LOTS OF
COMMUNICATION DEVICES, AS YOU
MIGHT EXPECT.
USA ONE, TAXATION WITHOUT
REPRESENTATION WAS THE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.
>> GEORGE W. BUSH DECIDED
AINST KEEPING THAT LICENSE
PLATE.
>> RIGHT.
>> SAID --
>>AC McCARTY, PRESIDENT
CLINTON'S GOOD FRIEND SAID WHEN
YOU LEAVE GOVERNMENT, YOUET TO
THE BACKSEAT OF THE CAR AND
EXPECT IT TO START.
PRETTY GOOD LINE.
SOMEBODY TOLD ME AL GORE HAS NOT
DRIVEN A CAR -- I FOUND THIS
HARD TO BELIEVE -- IN MORE THAN
NINE YEARS.
HE HAS NOT DRIVEN A CAR.
>> I ASKED MRS. REAGAN WHEN I
SPENT SOME TIME WITH HER
RECENTLY AT THE REAGAN LIBRARY
IF SHE WAS -- I ASKED HER SOME
QUESTION ABOUT DRIVING TO THE
GROCERY STORE AND LOOKED AT ME
LIKE I WAS OUT OF MY MIND AND
SAID, I DON'T DRIVE.
SAID, OH, I FORGOT.
NOW, IF GEORGE W. BUSH IS
ANYTHING LIKE BILL CLINTON, HE'D
BE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES
ON HIS INAUGURAL ADDRESS RIGHT
NOW BUT SOMETHING TELLS ME HE'S
NOT DOING THAT.
>> THE SCENES OF THE LAPTOP
GLOWING ON HIS WAY TO THE
CAPITOL, THE PERPETUAL COLLEGE
SOPHOMORE DOING THE ■LL-NIGHTER.
>> THE PRESIDENTIAL
PROCRASTINATOR.
GEORGE W. BUSH'S SPEECH IS
REALLY GOING TO BE ON THE SHORT
SIDE.
WHATS IT, 12 OR 13 MINUTES
THEY'RE SAYING NOW?■
>> WELL, AS YOU SEE, THE
MOTORCADE HEADING TO THE U.S.
CAPITOL WHERE THE SWEARING-IN
CEREMONIES WILL OCCUR.
WE'RE GOING TO SAYE'RE OFF THE
CLOCK NOW.
NBC DOESN'T WANT TO PAY US
OVERTIME SO KATIE AND I WILL SAY
GOOD-BYE.
IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TIME FOR YOU
TO TAKE IT OVER.
>> MATT HAS KEPT THE SEAT FOR
YOU.
>> THIS TRANSITION HAS WORKED
OUT NICELY.
>> SEAMLESS.
>> IT IS AND I KNOW YOUR VAST
STAFF WILL BE SORRY TO SEE YOU
GO BUT I'M HAPPY TO INHERIT THEM
BECAUSE THEY TAKE GOOD CARE OF
YOU.
>> GOOD LUCK.
>> HAVE A GOOD DAY.
>> THANK YOU, TOM.
>> WE'LL BE BACK RIGHT AFTER
THIS.
EVERY TWENTY-FOUR HOURS, YOU GET A WHOLE NEW CHANCE...
TO TAKE ON THE WORLD!
GET YOURSELF READY WITH CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST.
DELICIOUS.
WITH 21 VITAMINS AND MINERALS,
ANTHE ENERGY YOU NEED.
CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST. FROM NESTLE.
SPEECH.
THAT'S THE WAY THE COUNTRY IS.
THEMERICAN PEOPLE WILL ACCEPT
HIM AND EMBRACE HIM.
>> I HERD MR. CHENEY SAID THERE
ARE A LOT OF HOT SPOTS AROUND
THE WORLD THAT THISED MANAGERS
HA GOT TO GET ON TO QUICKLY.
WHALS'S THE FIRST ORDER OF
BUSINESS.
>> I THINK IT WILL BE TO TRY TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE FACING IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
I WANT TO SAY THAT THE CLINTON
FOREIGN POLICY TEAM HAS BEEN
TERRIFIC.
SANDY BERGER AND MADELEINE
ALBRIGHT AND SECRETARY COHEN
HAVE BEEN FANTASTIC.
WE THINK WE'RE OFF TO A GOOD
START BUT WILL LOOK HARD AT
PLACES LIKE THE MIDDLE EAST AND
E WHAT WE'RE SEEING.
>> CONSIDER CONSIDER, I KNOW YOU
HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOUR SEAT.
THANKS.
TOM, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE WEST
DE OF THE CAPITOL, EVERYBODY
IS DRESSED IN THIS VIP AREA IN
THESE PONCHOS THEY'VE HANDED OUT
AND WOMEN ARE TALNG ABOUT
WHETHER THEY LOOK STUPID OR NOT.
THAT'S BEEN THE BIG TALK.
YOU HAVE ALL THE CHIEF JUSTICES
UP HERE, LEADERS OF THE SENATE.
NOW COMING UP VICE PRESIDENT AND
MRS. QUAYLE.
ALL TIGHTLY SCRIPTED AND TIGHTLY
ORCHESTRATED UP HERE AND YOU'LL
SEE IT ALL AS THEY COME DOWN
HERE.
BACK TO YOU.
>> THANKS VERY MUCH, MARIA.
THAT WOULD BE A CONCERN FOR THE
MEN AND WOM ALIKE.
THEY SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON A
NEW WARDROBE, GET THE JUST THE
RIGHT DRESS AND HAVE THIS
WEATHER AND HAVE TO PUT PLASTIC
SHEETING OVER IT ALLS THEY
CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO
THE CAPITOL, THE PRESIDENTIAL
MOTORCADE CARRYING THE TWO FIRST
FAMILIES AND THE TWO VICE
ESIDENTIAL FAMILIES, WE SHOULD
TELL YOU THERE WAS SOME TALK
THEY MAY HAVE TOOVE THIS
INSIDE.
THEY DID THAT IN '85, YOU'LL
RECALL FOR THE SECOND
INAUGURATION OF RONALD REAGAN
WHEN IT WAS BITTERLY COLD.
WINDCHIL OF 20 DEGREES BELOW
ZERO.
BUT THEY ARE CONFIDENT THEY'LL
BE ABLE TO KEEP THIS OUTSIDE
TODAY AND NO DOUBTTHERE WILL
BE LOTS OF METAPHORS ABOUT
GLOOMY SKIES BUT THE PROMISE OF
A SUNNIER DAY TOMORW.
LET'S GO TO ANDREA MITCHELL WITH
ONE OF THE INVITED VISITORS.
RG RG, THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK.
>> I'M HERE WITH THE MAYOR, WHO
DO YOU HAVE ANY SECOND THOUGHTS?
HILLARY CLINTON IS GOING TO BE
AS SENATOR CLINTON SITTING UP
THERE?
>> NO, I'M CONNT WITH THE
DECISION I MADE.
I HAVE ANOTHER YEAR AS MAYOR OF
NEW YORK CITY.
I HAD THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO GO
THROUGH MY TREATMENT FOR
PROSTATE CANCER, WHICH WILL BE
OVER WITH IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS
AND I'LL BE BACK TO NORMAL.
I'M ALADY THERE.
>> YOU HAD THE LAST TREATMENT
THE OTHER DAY, YOU TOLD ME.
>> I HAD SEEDS, RADIATION AND
HORMONE THERAPY FOR NINE MONTHS.
THAT WILL LAST IN MY SYSTEM
ANOTHER TWO OR THREE MONTH
I'M HOPEFUL WE LICKED IT AND
CURED IT.
>> YOU'LL BE LEAVING AFTER YOUR
O TERMS AND YOU CAN RELATE TO
THE WAY BILL CLINTON IS PROBABLY
FEELING GIVING UP POWER TODAY.
>> YEAH, I WAS THINKING ABOUT
M LAST NIGHT WHEN I CAME IN
ABOU 11:00 AT NIGHT.
WE WALKED PAST THE WHITE HOUSE,
TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND THINKING,
IT MUST BE A SAD NIGHT, NO
MATTER WHAT.
BUT IN A CERTAIN WAY, IT IS EAST
INJURE AS IT WILL BE FOR ME.
YOUEREN'T VOTED OUT OF OFFICE.
YOU'RE LEAVING ON YOUR OWN POWER
AND BY OPERATION OF PAUSE.
I THINK AUALLY THAT'S A LITTLE
EAST INJURE THAN VOTED OUT OF
OFFICE.
>> RUDY GIULIANI, THANKS VERY
MUCH.
LOTS OF LUCK TO YOU.
>> HAVE A HAPPY DAY.
>> BACK TO YOU, TOM.
>> THANK YOU.
IT HAS BEEN A TUMULTOUS FINAL
HOURS FOR BILL CLINTON.
HE MADE A SPEECH TO T NATION
THURSDAY NIGHT AND STRUCK A DEAL
WITH THE INDEPENDENT PROSECUTOR
IN WHICH HE'LL LOSE HIS LAW
LICENSE FOR FIVE YEARS AND PAY A
FINE ANDE ACKNOWLEDGED HE
WILLFULLY MISLED THE PEOPLE WHO
WERE QUESTIONING HIM IN THE
PAULA JONES CASE AND THEN
OVERNIGHT HE ISSUED ANOTHER 100
PARDONS INCLUDING ONE TO HIS
BROTHER, FORMER HOUSING
SECRETARY HENRY CISNEROS AND
SUSAN McDOUGAL, A PRINCIPAL
FIGURE IN THE WHITEWATER CASE,
NO PARDONS FOR MICHAEL MILKEN,
THE JUNK BOND KING O LEONARD
PELL TEAR SERVING A LIFE
SENTENCE FOR THE *** OF TWO
FBI AGENTS IN THE FAMOUS OR
INFAMOUS WOUNDED KNEE INCIDENT.
NOW, LET'S GO DOWN TO NBC'S
DAVID GREGORY WHO HAS BEEN
COVERING THE GEORGE BUSH
CAMPAIGN FROM THE BEGINNING AND,
DAVID, WE DO EXPECT THIS TO BE A
SHORT SPEECH.
WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE TONE?
>> WELL, IT'S CERTAINLY GOING TO
BE A TONE OF UNITY, A CALL FOR
UNITY.
WE BOTH KNOW THIS NEW PRESIDENT
TO BE A PLAIN-SPOKEN FELLOW, AS
HE LIKES TO SAY.
THE SPEECH IS GOING TO BE
RELATIVELY SHORT.
HE SAID NO MORE THAN 13 MINUTES.
LET ME SHARE SOME OF THE
EX-SPERPTS WITH YOU.
HE'LL PROMISE TO MAKE A NEW
COMMITMENT TO THE FULFILL THE
PROMISE OF THE NATURE THROUGH A
CIVILITY, COURAGE, COMPASSION
AND CHARACTER.
THAT LAST ONE, OF COURSE, A
DIRECT SHOT AT THE OUTGOING
PRESIDENT, CLINTON.
HE WILL SAY "I WILL LIVE AND
LEAD BY THESE PRINCIPLES AND
LATER ON HE SAYS IN WHAT WILL NO
DOUBT BE AN ATTEMPT TO INSPIRE
THE NATION, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE
TUMULTOUS ELECTION CYCLE AND
POST-ELECTION CYCLE, "WHAT YOU
DO IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANYTHING
GOVERNMENT DOES."
HE WILL CALL ON THE COUNTRY.
HE'LL SAY, I'LL ASK YOU TO BE
CITIZENS, CITIZENS NOT
SPECTATORS, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS
BUILDING COMMUNITIES OF SERVICE
AND A NATION OF CHARACTER.
CERTAINLY THEMES WE'VE HEARD
THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN, TOM AND
CERTAINLY HE'LL STICK TO THOSE
PRINCIPLES.
BACK TO YOU.
>> YEAH.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NBC'S DAVID GREGORY.
LET'S GO TO JOHN SEIGENTHALER
WHO IS THERE FOR THE ARRIVAL OF
THE PRESIDENTIAL MOTORCADE.
JOHN?
>> T LIMOUSINES HAVE JUST
PULLED UP IN FRONT OF THE
CAPITOL.
AS WE'VE BEEN TALKING THROUGHOUT
THIS IS VERY TIGHT SECURITY FOR
THIS EVENT.
THE LARGEST LAW ENFORCEMENT
PRESENCE EVER FOR AN
INAUGURATION IN THIS COUNTRY.
THERE, THE LIMOUSINE WITH T
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE PRESIDENT-ELECT IS
PULLING UP TO THE CAPITOL.
THIS IS THE SAME SPOT WHERE WE
SAW FORMER PRESIDENT CARTER
ARRIVE A LITTL WHILE AGO AND
FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH, ALONG
WITH HIS WIFE BARBARA AND THE
GRANDCHILDREN, BARBARA AND
JENN
WE CAN ONLY IGINE WHAT
CONVERSATION HAS BEEN GOING ON
INSIDE THAT LIMOUSINE, AS THEY
MADE THEIR WAY, AS YOU SAID,
ATELY WAY UP THE AVENUE, UP TO
THE CAPITOL.
TOM?
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS VERY MUCH,
JOHN SEIGENTHALER THERE NOW.
GETTING OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL
MOTORCADE.
THERE IS A HOLDING ROOM THERE IN
THE CAPITOL WALL LIBRARY AND
THEY'LL BE IN THERE FOR A TIME.
THEN THERE IS A RITUAL THAT DOES
PLAY OUT AS PEOPLE ARE
INTRODUCED AND BROUGHT ONTO THE
WEST SIDE OF THE CAPITOL.
THAT WAS THE IDEA OF MICHAEL
DEAVER WHO WAS A PRINCIPAL
ADVISER TO PRESIDENT RONALD
REAGAN LOOKING WEST, THE MAN WHO
HAD COME FROM THE WEST AND GIVES
YOU THE PANORAMA MUCH THE
NATION'S SKL WITH THE MALL
SPREAD OUT BEFORE YOU.
THESE ARE THE KEEPERS OF THE
CAPITOL FROM THE SENATAND THE
HOUSE SIDE.
THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE SYSTEM
WORK THERE ON A DAILY BASIS.
AND THAT IS SOME OF THE CROWD
THAT HAS BEEN ASSEMBLED.
THESE, BOB DOLE, THE FORMER
SENATOR AND ALSO THE FORMER
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITH HIS
WIFE, LIDDY,HO MAY, IN FACT,
BE NAMED TO A CABINET POST,
WHICH WOULD BE THE U.N.
AMBASSADORSHIP.
THERE' BEEN SOME DISCUSSION
ABOUT THAT, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT
BEEN ROLVED YET.
>> SENATOR DOLE IS SEEN IN THE
LOBBY OF A HOTEL, TOM,
PRACTICING THE OATH OF OFFICE
JUST IN CASE HE WAS NEEDED.
HASN'T LOST HIS HUMOR.
>> NO.
NO.
THERE IS VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE,
WHO WAS IN THIS LONG BITTERLY
CONTESTED ELEION AGAINST
GEORGE W. BUSH.
THREE BABY BOOMERS AND THEN ***
CHENEY, WHO IS THE SENIOR MEMBER
OF THE TEAM.
HE WAS BORN DURING THE WAR AND
JEB BUSH, THE GOVERNOR OF
FLORIDA, A MAN WHO WAS IN ALL
THE INTERSECTIONS OF THE
DISPED ELECTION THERE, AS
WELL.
HE HAD ORIGINALLY THOUGHT -- HAD
BEEN THOUGHT TO BE THE BEST HOPE
IN THE BUSH FAMILY TO BECOME THE
PRESIDENT BUT HE LOST HIS FIRST
RUN FOROVERNOR IN FLORIDA TO
LAWTON CHILES AND HIS BROTHER
WON IN TEXAS UNEXPECTEDLY
AGAINST AN RICHARDS SO HE GOT TO
BE THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDE
AND JEB HAD THE DAUNTING TASK OF
TRYING TO DELIVER FLORIDA.
THAT'S HIS SON NEXT TO HIM WHO
IS NOW A LAW STUDENT AND A MAJOR
HEARTTHROB IN THIS COUNTRY.
>> GEORGE P.
>> GEORGE P.
WELL, LOOK AT THAT, THE GOVERNOR
AND THE BROTHER OF THE NEW
PRESIDENT-ELECT IS LIKE EVERY
OTHER TOURIST.
HE HAS HIS THROW-AWAY CAMERA.
>> TAKING A KODAK MOMENT.
>> RIGHT.
MARIA SHRIVER, ARE YOU STILL
DOWN THERE?
>> BACK INTO THE BACK BUT I'M
STILL HERE AND CAN STILL SEE
EVERYTHING.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE ALL
THE BUSH FAMILY MEMBERS, WHICH
IS KIND OF INTERESTING, THEY'RE
ALL TAKING PICTURES OF
THEMSELVES RIGHT UP AS CLOSE TO
THE PODIUM AS THEY CAN, THEY
CAN'T EVEN GET THAT CLOSE.
YOU CAN GET A SENSE THIS IS VERY
MUCH OF A FAMILY EVENT.
THEY'RE GROUPING OFFOUSINS
TOGETHER TAKING PICTURES.
EVERYBODY HAS INSTA MATICS.
YOU SEE A LOT OF SCHMOOZING
GOING ON UP BETWEEN PEOPLE WHO
ARE CABINET DESIGNEES AND
LEADERS OF THE SENATE AND HSE
SO WHILE EVERYBODY STANDS HERE
IN THE RAIN WAITING, THERE IS A
LOT OF POLITICKING AND A LOT OF
BACK-SLAPPING GOING ON UP HERE.
TOM?
>> THANK YOU, MARIA.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A WEATHERMAN AND
NO BETTER ONE THAN AL ROKER WHO
WILL NOT ONLY TELL US WHAT THE
FORECAST IS BUT GREETING SOME.
PEOPLE, AS WELL.
AL, WILL WE GET THROUGH THIS
WITHOUT SNOW?
>> WELL, I CERTAINLY THINK, TOM,
WE'LL GET THROUGH THE INAUGURAL
CEREMONY WITHOUT SNOW AND EVEN
MORE IMPORTANT WITHOUT A LOT
OF RAIN.
WE HAVE SOME LIGHT DRIZZLE RHT
NOW AND THAT'S ABOUT THE WORST
OF IT.
I THINK WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT
IS MAYBE SOME HEAVIER RAIN MIXED
WITH SLEET, JUST ABOUT THE TIME
THE PARADE STARTS, AND BY AROUND
4:00, 5:00, I THINK IT WILL
START TO CHANGE OVER TO SOME
SNOW.
THE INTERESTING THING, BACK IN
THE ORIGINAL INAUGURAL WAS MARCH
4th.
THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL DATE.
BUT THEY -- BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT
WHAT THE HECK, IT TAKES ABOUT
FOUR MONTHS OR SO TO GET THE
WORD ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY.
BUT THEN THEY HAVE DECIDED AFTER
FDR'S FIRST INAUGURAL TO MOVE IT
TO JANUARY 20th AND THE
INTERESTING THING, THE FIRST
TIME THEY DID THAT IN JANUARY
th, 1937, IT WAS THE RAINIEST
INAUGURAL EVER.
THEY HAD ABOUT TWO INCHES OF
RAIN, A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 35.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE GOT ABOUT 36
DEGREES OUT.
WITH A WINDCHILL OF ABOUT 20.
SO IT'S KIND OF INTERESTINTHAT
WE ARE LOOK AT WEATHER VERY MUCH
LIKE WHAT THEY HAD ON THAT FIRST
INAUGURAL DAY BACK IN 1937, TOM.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AL
ROKER.
YOU'LL SEE SOME TEXANS LATE ARE
ON WITH RAIN COVERS FOR THEIR
COWBOY HS.
THEY BROUGHT THEIR BOOTS AND
HATS.
THIS IS GOING TO BE A TEXAS
MOMENT AND A GREATER TEXAS
FLAVOR DURING THE NEXT FOUR
YEARS AT LEAST.
NBC'S LISA MYERS IS ON CAPITOL
HILL.
THERE ARE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
WELL, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT
FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER
TALKING WITH THE INCOMING
SECRETARY OF STATE, COLIN
POWELL.
JIMMY CARTER HAS BEEN A MODEL
EXPRESS WORKING IN NOT JUST THE
THIRD WAR BUT IN THE FOURTH AND
FIFTH WORLD AND USING HIS CARTER
CENTER FOR THE RESOLUTION OF
CONFLICT.
THE TWO MEN REALLY DID SAVE
PRESIDENT CLINTON A LOT OF GRIEF
WHEN THEY WENT TO HAITI AND MADE
A DEAL BEFORE THE 82nd AIRBORNE
HAD TO ARRIVE IN WHAT WAS GOING
TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME.
JENNA BUSH ON YOUR LEFT, ONE OF
THE TWINS AND BARBARA O YOUR
RIGHT.
I THINK WORKED THAT ALL OUT.
JENNA HAD AN EMERGENC■
APPENDECTOMY AT CHRISTMASTIME
AND THE FORMER PRESIDENT, POPPY
WAS HE'S CALLED IN THE FAMILY.
WHAT A MOMENT.
>> I HAD A CHANCE TO ASK FORMER
PRESIDENT BUSH LAST NIGHT HOW
MUST IT FEEL TO HAVE HIS SON
BECOME THE PRESIDENT AND TOM,
HIS EYES JUST MOISTENED.
HE COULDN'T ANSWER.
HE IS JUST SO OVERWHELMED WITH
EMOTIO
IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE.
>> HE'S HAD A HIP REPLACEMENT
SURGERY SO HE DOES HAVE A SMALL
LIMP.
HE'S GETTING AROUND.■
AN OLD PARTY GIVEN TO HIM BY JIM
BAKER, WHO WAS SUCH A PIVOTAL
ROLE IN THE ELECTION.
>> DON EVANS IN THE RED SCARF
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH, HIS
CLOSEST FRIEND, SECRETARY OF
COMMERCE.
>> BEHIND MRS. POWELL IS PAUL
O'NEILL, THE NEW TREASURY
SECRETARY.
THERE IN THE RAIN GEAR THAT HAS
BEEN HANDED OUT.
LET'S GO TO NBC'S LISA MYERS
NOW.
LISA, TELL US ABOUT THE
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS.
>> WELL, THERE'S AN INTERESTING
DYNAMIC GOING ON AMONG MANY
DEMOCRATS TODAY, TOM.
THAT IS USUALLY WHEN YOU SET UP
A LIVE CAMERA ON A DAY LIKE THIS
YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE POLITICIANS
AWAY WITH YOUR UMBRELLA BUT
TODAY A NUMBER OF MEMBERS OF THE
BLACK CAUCUS ARE BOYCOTTING THIS
ALTOGETHER.
THEY SAY THEY DON'T CONSIDER
BUSH A LEGITIMATE PRESIDENT THAT
THIS IS FRANKLY IS NOT THEIR
PARTY.
BUT EVEN MANY DEMOCRATS WHO ARE
HERE TODAY ARE CHOOSING NOT TO
BE INTERVIEWED.
AND PRIVATELY, THEY TELL YOU,
THEY SEE THIS AS A LOSE/LOSE
SITUATION.
ON ONE HAND THEY'RE EXPECTED TO
BE GRACIOUS.
BACK TO YOU, TOM.
>> THANK YOU, LISA.
WE ARE SEEING THE BUSH DAUGHTERS
NOW COME DOWN THE STEPS AND
BEING WELCOMED ON TO THE VIP
PLATFORM.
JENNA, THE ONE THAT YOU SEE
THERE, IS A STUDENT AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND HER
SISTER, BARBARA IS A STUDENT.
THAT'S LIDDYOLE GIVING A KISS
TO BARBARA BUSH, A STUDENT AT
YA UNIVERSITY.
THEY ARE SAID TO BE DISTINCTLY
DIFFERENT.
ONE LIKES A GOOD TIME MORE THAN
THE OTHER AND THE OTHER ONE IS A
LITTLE MORE STUDOUS AND I'M NOT
EVEN GOING TO GIVE AWAY THE
SECRETS AS TO WHICH IS WHICH.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN THE
PROTECTION RIGHT NOW.
THEY DO DESERVE TO AS NORMAL A
LIFE AS THEY POSSIBLY CAN HAVE.
JIM BAKER THERE WITH THE RED
SCARF JUST BEHIND HIS LONGTIME
FRIEND, GEORGE BUSH SENIOR,
HERBERT WALKER BUSH.
PRESIDENT AND MRS. CLINTON MADE
AN APPEAL TO THE PRESS CORPS
WHICH HAS BEEN LARGELY HONORED
THAT CHELSEA SHOULD BE ABLE TO
GO TO STANFORD AND HE A LIFE
WITHOUT THE CONSTANT INTRUSION
OF CAMERAS AND BY AND LARGE THAT
HAS BEEN HONORED.
AND FOR THE BUSH FAMILY, IT'S
WORKED OUT PRETTY WELL, TOO.
GOVERNOR BUSH TOLD ME LAST WEEK
THE ONE THING THAT WORRIES HIM
MOST OF ALL IS THAT THE GIRLS
ARE DISAPPOINTED THAT HE RAN
BECAUSE THEY THINK IT'S GOING TO
CHANGE THEIR LIVES.
OBVIOUSLY, THEY'RE GOING TO LOVE
THIS MOMENT TODAY.
BUT CAN THEY GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT
SECRET SERCE AGENTS?
NO.
WILL THEY ALWAYS BE KNOWN AS THE
DAUGHTERS OF THE PRESIDENT?
YES.
AND THEY'LL WONDER ABOUT FRIENDS
AND BOYFRIENDS AND WHAT THEIR
INTERESTS ARE.
WHAT MOTIVATESHEM.
>> TOM, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
PLANNED ON E-MAILING HIS
DAUGHTERS ON A DAILY BASIS.
NOW HE HAS SAID THAT HE CANNOT
E-MAIL.
HE IS GING UP HIS E-MAIL
BECAUSE HE FOUND OUT THAT EVERY
NOTE HE MADE, EVERY MESSAGE HE
RECEIVED WOULD BE PART OF THE
PUBLIC RECORD.
EVEN TO HIS DAUGHTERS.
WHICH DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT.
>> NO, AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE
TALKED TO COLIN POWELL ABOUT
THAT.
NO LONGER KEEPS A DIARY.
HE'S BEEN IN THE COCKPIT OF
HISTORY.
BECAUSE HE KEPT SOME NOTES WHEN
HE WAS AT THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT
CHIE ON AN AIRPLANE DEAL, HE
SPENT THE NEXT YEAR AND A HALF
IN COURT OR BEING DEPOSED.
HE JUST DOESN'T KEEP A NOTE
ANYMORE.
DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN JOINS US
NOW.
SHE IS OUR PRESIDENTIAL
HISTORIAN.
NOT JUST ON STAFF HERE BUT, OF
COURSE, TO AMERICA AND DORIS,
THERE IS SOMETNG THAT IS QUITE
SAD ABOUT THAT AS WE WATCH
SENATOHILLARY CLINTON COME NOW
WITH TIPPER GORE.
THAT PEOPLE CAN'T KEEP NOTES OR
A RECORD ANYMORE WITHOUT
THINKING IT'S GOING TO BE IN
"THE NATIONAL ENQUIRER" IN 48
HOURS.
>> IT'S DISAS TROUS, NOT ONLY
SAD.
WHEN I GO BACK AND LOOK AT
LINCOLN, I HAVE DIARIES OF THEIR
CHILDREN AND HUSBANDS AND WIVES,
THOUSANDS OF LETTERS THEY WROTE
TO ONE ANOTHER.
AUGUST OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SAVED.
WE KNOW MORE ABOUT LINCOLN'S
ADMINISTRATION THAN WE'LL KNOW
ABOUT THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION.
I SAY KEEP THE DIERY.
PUT DID I A CHROS ET
SEPARATELY.
DON'T LET THEM KNOW.
>> WE OUGHT TO HAVE LEGISLATION,
FRANKLY.
>> YES.
THERE OUGHT TO BE A PRITE LIFE
PROTECTED.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE SACRED
THAN THE WORDS YOU WRITE TO
YOURSELF.
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT
FROM HISTORY.
>> OR NOTE BEING I BELIE TO
E-MAIL YOUR OWN DAUGHTERS.
SOMETHIN HAS GONE AMUCK.
>> COMMON SENSE DICTATES, LET'S
DO SOMETHING RIGHT NOW.
>> SPEAKS OF DAUGHTERS --
>> SPEAKING OF DAUGHTERS,
THERE'S CHELSEA CLINTON.
AS WE HAVE BEEN SAYIN
THROUGHOUT THE MORNING,
UNUSUALLY POISED FOR A YOUNG
WOMAN OF HER AGE, AND WHAT SHE
HAS BEEN THROUGH WITH THE PUBLIC
DIFFICULTIES OF HER FATHER,
ESPECIALLY.
SPEANG WITH THE CARTER FAMILY.
MARIA SHRIVER DOWN THERE ON THE
STAGE, IT'S BEGINNING TO FILL UP
MARIA, SO WE'RE CLOSE TO THAT
MOMENT WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN
TO SEE THE NEW PRESIDENT.
>> WE AREERY CLOSE TO THAT
MOMENT AND THAT WILL BE TIGHTLY
SCRIPTED, AS WELL.
MRS. CLINTON, SENATOR CLINTON
WILL BE COMING IN WITH MRS. GORE
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND VICE
PRESIDENT GORE.
WE SHOULD MENTION THAT CHIEF
JUST TICK REHNQUIST WILL BE
GIVING THE OATH OF OFFICE TO
PRESIDENT-ELECT BUSH AND ALSO IS
THE SAME JUSTICE THAT GAVE THE
OATH OF OFFICE TO HIS FATHER,
ANOTHER LITTLE THING FOR TRIVIA
EXPERTS IS FRANKLIN GRAHAM,
REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM'S SON WILL
DO THE INVOCATION.
COMING DOWN HERE, I BELIEVE, IS
MRS. SENATOR CLINTON AND
MRS. GORE, WHO I BELIEVE ARE
COMING HERE.
ALL EYES ARE NOW TOWARDS THAT
DOOR AS PEOPLE COME DOWN THE
LAST FEW VIP GUESTS COME DOWN
HERE, DOWN THESE STEPS, COME
THROUGH THE CAPITOL OUT HERE
ONTO THE WEST SIDE.
SENATOR CLINTON AND MRS. GORE,
OBVIOUSLY, A VERY EMOTIONAL DAY
FOR BOTH OF THEM, AS THEY BEGIN
THEIR NEW LIVES.
AFTER TODAY, THAT IS.
>> MARIA, LET'S JUST PAUSE FOR A
MOMENT AND WATCH THIS.
LET OUR AUDIENCE ABSORB THIS
MOMENT.
AND COLLECT THEIR OWN THOUGHTS
AS WE SEE LYNNE CHENEY AND LAURA
BUSH.
DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN, THERE IS A
KIND OF POPULOUS MAJESTYBOUT
ALL OF THIS.
THESE AMERICANS WHO SOME FROM
ALL WALKS OF LIFE, SOME FROM
ARKANSAS, SOME FROM WYOMING,
SOME FROM TEXA SOME FROM
TENNESSEE, GATHER TOGETHER ON
THIS DAY SURROUNDED BY THE
PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE
HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE, IN THE
CAPITOL, WHICH IS AFTER ALL THE
PEOPLE'S HOUSE, TO MAKE THE
TRANSFER OF POWER TO THE WHITE
HOUSE.
>> NO QUESTION.
>> WE DO IT IN A RITUAL THAT HAS
BEEN WORKED OUT OVER MANY, MANY
YEARS.
IT STAYS THE SAME.
WE HAVE A FIXED DATE, THE 20th
AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION.
IT'S QUITE REASSURING.
>> OH, I THINK THERE'S NO
ESTION.
ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHEN YOU
FEEL THE PAST A YOU FEEL THE
PRESENT AND THE FUTURE AND
PEOPLE KNOW THAT GEORGE
WASHINGTON USED THE SAME BIBLE
THAT THESE PEOPLE WILL BE USING
TODAY.
THINK OF THAT.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST AN AMAZING
THING.
THE FIRST TIME IT REALLY BECAME
A PEOPLE'S CEREMONY WAS WANT
DREW JACKSON WHEN EVERYBODY
FLOATED IN TENNESSEE EVEN
OVERRUNNING THE WHITE HOUSE WHEN
THERE WAS SO MUCH DRINKING GOING
ON THEY HAD TO THROW THE KEGS
OUTSIDE.
EXCEPT FOR THAT MOMENT, IT'S
GREAT IT'S A PEOPLE'S CEREMONY.
>> RECEIVE SOME ADVANCED
DEGREES.
LAURA BUSH HAS A MASTER'S DEGRE
A MASTER OF SCIENCE AND LYNNE
CHENEY HAS A PhD IN ENGLISH
LITERATURE FROM THE UNIVERSITY
OF COLORADO, I THINK.
>> FIRST TIME ALL THE
CAIDATE'S WIVES HAVE ADVANCED
DEGREES.
FIRST LADIES WILL BE MUCH MORE
ACTIVE FORCES.
I THINK HILLARY CLINTON WILL BE
A BEACON FOR THE FUTURE RATHER
THAN SOME ECCENTRIC PERSON AS
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT WAS.
NO WAY OF KEEPING THESE LADIES
DOWN AND I THINK IT'S GREAT.
>> SHISH THAT LOTT PASSING I
FRONT OF LAURA BUSH NOW.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT LAURA BUSH,
TOM, YOU CAN ONLY THINK HOW MANY
TIMES SHE'S BEEN ASKED WHEN YOU
FIRST MET GEORGE W. BUSH, DID
YOU EVER DREAM HE'D BE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES AND SHE
SAYS, NO.
>> NEITHER DID MEMBERS OF THIS
FAMILY OR HIS COLLEAGUE
CLASSMATES OR HIS PREP SCHOOL
CLASSMATES . BY HIS OWN
DESCRIPTION AND THEIRS A WELL
PRETTY MUCH A HEART HARDY GUY
WHO DID DRIFT THROUGH THE FIRST
YEARS OF HIS LIFE UNTIL HE GOT
SOMEBJECTIVES AS THE OWNER OF
THE TEXAS RANGERS, OBVIOUSLY AND
THEN GOT INTO POLITICS, RUNNING
FIRST FOR CONGRESS AND LOSING
AND THEN RUNNING FOR THE
GOVERNORSHIP.
>> IT'S INTERESTING, EVEN THE
OTHER SON JOHN QUINCY ADAMS SAID
I'D RATHER CLEAN FILTH OFF THE
STREET THAN GO INTO POLITICS.
HIS FATHER SAID IF YOU DON'T,
IT'LL BE LAZINESS.
I DON'T THINK THIS GUY FELT THE
SAME PRESSURE.
IT EVENTUALLY CAME TO HIM.
HE DIDN'T FEEL IT FROM THE TIME
HE WAS A KID.
>> HIS DAD IS CALLING HIM
QUINCY.
>> YES, I DID NOTICE.
>> NOW, T OUTGOING
ADMINISTRATION.
THE GAGLE OF PHOTOGRAPHERS THAT
WILL FOLLOW THE NEW PRESIDENT
EVERYWHERE, DIANA WALKER THERE
IN THE LEAD FROM "TIME" MAGAZINE
A WASHINGTON RESIDENT, ONE OF
THE BEST PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS IN
THIS TOWN AND THE SECRET SERVICE
AGENTS AND OTHER ATTENDANTS FROM
CAPITOL HILL, CHRIS DODD
TRAILING THE PRESIDENT AND VICE
PRESIDENT WITH RICHARD GEPHARDT
WHO IS THE DEMOCRATIC LEADER IN
THE HOUSE.
WE CAN ONLY WONDER WHAT AL GORE
MUST BE THINKING AS HE WALKS
DOWN THERE NOW AS THE OGOING
VICE PRESIDENT.
AFTER THIS LONG AND DIFFICULT
CAMPAIGN THAT HE RAN AGAINST
GEORGE W. BUSH KNOWING THAT HE
DID GET MORE POPULAR VOTES, BUT
NOT ENOUGH ELECTORAL COLLEGE
VOTES TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT.
WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS
GOING TO DO NOR DO WE KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT PRESIDENT CLINTON
IS GOING TO DO ONCE THEY LEAVE
OFFICE.
>> NOT MUCH SMALL TALK BETWEEN
THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
TOM.
BOTH LOOKING STRAIGHT AHEAD.
DIFFICULT WALK FOR AL GORE.
>> ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE THAT
HE'S THINKINGOUR YEARS FROM
NOW MAYBE IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT
KIND OF WALK JUST AS IT WAS
EIGHT YEARS BEFORE.
>> THETHER THOUGHT YOU COULD
HAVE IS THAT E., GOD, DO I HAVE
TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN, SO
EXHAUSTING, START TWO YEARS FROM
NOW, GO OUT AND ORGANIZE ACROSS
THE COUNTRY, RAISE THE MONEY,
GET EVERYBODY IN PLACE.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY YOU'R A
LOSER ONCE AND COME AFTER HIM A
DIFFERENT WAY.
LET'S JUST WATCH THEM SOME IN
HERE FOR A MOMENT AND LET OUR
DIENCE ABSORB THIS MOMENT.
THEY'VE SLIPPED ON TOPCOATS.
TIPPER WITH HER CAMERA OUT.
SHE TOOK IT VERY HARD, THIS LOSS
NOT UXPECTEDLY.
QUITE BITTER.
THE VICE PRESIDENT WAS
OPTIMISTIC TO THE VERY END.
HE HONESTLY THOUGHT THAT HE WAS
GOING TO WIN EITHER IN THE
COURTS OR BY COUNT IN FLORIDA.
AND BECOME THE PRESIDENT.
HE WAS DEEPLY IMMERSED IN THE
PROCESS.
THAT'S AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB,
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
RIGHT THERE.
TWO MEMBERS.
>> THE MAN WHO DEFEATED GEORGE
BUSH FOR PRESIDENT IN 1992 AND
NOW THE INAUGURATION OF HIS SON,
WHO DEFEATED BILL CLINTON'S
HAND-PICKED VICE PRESIDENT.
WHAT'S GOING ON THROUGH THEIR
MINES?
*** CHENEY WHO WILL BE TURNING
60 YEARS OLD IN A MATTER OF 10
DAYS.
>> I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THAT
BIRTHDAY.
>> VERY YOUNG.
>> AND EVEN IF YOU'RE VICE
PRESIDENT, IT'S NOT FUN.
I THINK *** CHENEY PVED TO BE
AN ENORMOUS ASSET FOR GEORGE W.
BUSH BOTH DURING THE CAMPAIGN
AND ESPECIALLY IN THE
POST-ELECTION PERIOD.
THE COUNTRY SAW HIM IN THAT
DEBATE AGAINST JOE LIEBERMAN AND
THEY WERE DEEPLY IMPRESSED BY
HIS JUDGMENT AND HIS CALMNESS
AND HIS ABILITY TO ARTICULATE
POSITIONS.
HE HAS SERVED IN THE HIGHEST
POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT SHORT OF
THE PRESIDENCY, DEFENSE
SECRETARY, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF
STAFF, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FOR
TEN YEARS, A CONSERVATIVE VOTING
RECORD, TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT A
MAN WHO IS HIGHLY REGARDED
AGAINST PARTY LINES HERE FOR HIS
JUDGMENT.
ON BIG ISSUES.
>> THE OFFICE OF THE VE
PRESIDENCY JUST SEEMS TO BE
ACCUMULATING POWER WITH EACH NEW
PRESIDENT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK
ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN
SEG THE COUNTRY OR IN HIGHER
OFFICE SHOULD WANT TO HAVE NOW
COMPARED TO THE PAST WHEN IT WAS
SEEN LIKE A GRAVEYARD.
IT IS TOTALLY TRANSFORMED FROM
WHAT IT ONCE WAS.
>> A LITTLE NERVE-RACKING
EXPERIENCE.
>> LADY BIRD JOHNSON IS THERE,
AS WELL.
AS PART OF THE --
>> OH, ISN'T THAT AMAZING.
MRS. WOODROW WILSON WAS AT JOHN
KENNEDY INAUGURATION.
>> MRS. BUSH, LAURA BUSH, HAS
SAID SHE RLLY ADMIRES HER AS
ONE OF THE FIRST LADIES SHE
THINKS HIGHLY OF.
ANOTHER TEXAN.
>> SHE HAD GRACE AND CLASS.
AN EXTRAORDINARY FIRST LADY.
>> *** CHENEY FOLLOWED BY
REPUBLICAN LEADERS *** ARMEY
AND TRENT LOTT.
WELL, NOW THEY'RE CHATTING A
LITTLE BIT.
YOU KNOW, HARRY TRUMAN WAS NOT
TOLD BY FDR ABOUT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF THE ATOMIC BOMB.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?
THEN FDR DIED AND GUESS WHO HAD
TO MAKE THE DECISION TO DROP IT?
>> HE COULDN'T FACE HIS OWN
ILLNESS AND HIS OWN POTENTIAL
DEATH AND DIDN'T WHAT PTS TO
THINK ABOUT IT.
GIVING THAT INFORMATION TO HIS
SUCCESSIONER SEEMED TOO HARD BUT
IT LEFT HIM TOTALLY BEREFT BUT
HE MADE THE DECISION WITHOUT
EVER LOOKING BACK.
>> EXACTLY THE SAME EXPRESS
GEORGE W. BUSH HAD WALKING OUT
ON STAGE FOR THE DEBATES.
HE WAS INTO A ZONE, IT SEEMS.
TIME TO BE SERIOUS AND -- THERE
WILL BE NO MORE SERIOUS MOMENT
IN HIS LIFETIME THAN 17 MINUTES
FROM NOW.
>> HE BRINGS HIS ATHLETIC
DEMEANOR TO THESE OCCASIONS, TIM
IT SEEMS.
HE GETS UP TO THE PHYSICAL
MOMENT, THE CONFIDENCE AND
STRIDE AND BODY LANGUAGE HE
GIVES OFF AND HAVING GROWN UP IN
THAT FAMILY, OBVIOUSLY, HE'S
BEEN THROUGH BIG OCCASIONS
BEFORE, WHICH HELPS SOME, TOO.
>> IF SOMETHING -- IT'S
SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LEARN,
DORIS, HOW DO YOU CARRY YOURSELF
AS A PRESIDENT?
EVERYONE IS WATCHING YOU.
>> YOU CAN'T SLOUCH AT A MOMENT
LIKE THIS.
YOU BROUGHT UP IN THE FAMILY
SINCE HE'S BEEN LITTLE, HE'S
BEEN LEARNING HOW TO SHAKE
HANDS.
HE'S WATCHED THE KENNEDY FAMILY
SO IT'S INGROWN IN THE BLOOD.
>> WHEN I■ ASKED MRS. BUSH, WHEN
SHE SAID, MR. PRESIDENT-ELECT,
YOU HAVE TO PICK UP YOU SOCKS.
THINGS HAVEN'T CHANGED?
NO, SHE SAID, I STILL HAVE TO
TELL HIM TO SIT UP AND H
QUICKLY SAT UP.
>> OH, WOW.
>> Announcer: LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
OF THE UNITED STATES, GEORGE
WALKER BUSH.
ACCOMPANIED BY SENATE MITCH
McCONNELL, SENATOR CHRISTOPHER
DODD, SPEAKER JAY DENNIS
HASTERT.
SENATOR TRENT LOTT,
REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD ARMEY.
REESENTATIVE RICHARD GEPHARDT,
JIM ZIGLER, BILL LINGGOOD
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS AND TAMARA
SOMERVILLE, JOINT CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE FOR INAUGURAL
CEREMONIES.
♪♪
>> LAST-MINUTE ADVIC
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE
1961, TOM, WHERE A FATHER HAS
BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS HIS SON
TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE, JOSEPH
KENNEDY AND JOHN KENNEDY.
>> OH, JAY AND THERE'S A GREAT
STORY WHEN JOHN KENNEDY WAS
COMING DOWN THE IUGURAL PARADE
AND SAW HIS FATHER IN THE
REVIEWG STAND, HE SAW HIS
FATHER TIP THE HAT TO HIM.
U NIS SAID SHE ALMOST FAINTED
WHEN SHE SAW THAT.
JOHN KENNEDY STOOD UP AND TIPPED
HIS HAT TO HIS THAT.
WHAT FEELING THERE MUST BE.
NO WAY WE CAN UNDERESTIMATE WHAT
GEORGE BUSH SENIOR MUST BE
FEELENING.
>> I REMEMBER JOSEPH KENNEDY
SAYING, I DON'T REMEMBER PANG
FOR A LDSLIDE.
>> THE 54th INAUGURATION OF THE
PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
TODAY, WE HONOR THE PAST AND
COMMEMORATING TWO CENTURIES O
INAUGURATIONS IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.
AS WELL, WE EMBRACE THE FUTURE.
THIS DAY MARKING THE FIRST
INAUGURATION OF THE 21st CENTURY
AND THE NEW MILLENNIUM.
AMERICA HAS NOW SPENT FOUR
CENTURIES.
HE PROMISE STILL SHINING BRIGHT
THE BEGINNING AND PRESENT LINKED
BY TIMELESS IDEAS AND FAITH.
THE ENDURING STRENGTH OF OUR
CONSTITUTION, WHICH BRINGS US TO
THE WEST FRONT OF THE CAPITOL
TODAY, ATTEMPTS TO THE WISDOM OF
AMERICA'S FOUNDERS.
AND THE HEROISM OF GENERATIONS
OF AMERICANS WHO FOUGHT WARS AND
TOILED IN PEACE TO PRESERVE THIS
LEGACY OF LIBERTY.
IN BECOMING THE 43rd PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES, GEORGE W.
BUSH WILL ASSUME THE SACRED
TRUST AS GARDEN OF OUR
CONSTITUTION.
*** CHENEY WILL BE SWORN IN OUR
OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT.
WITNESSED BY THE CONGRESS,
SUPREME COURT, GOVERNORS AND■
PRESIDENTS PAST, THE CURRENT
PRESIDENT WILL STAND BY AS THE
NEW PRESIDENT PEACEFULLY TAKES
FICE.
THIS IS A TRIUMPH OF OUR
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, A CEREMONY
BEFITTING A GREAT NATION.
IN HIS FATHER'S STEAD, THE
REVEREND FRANKLIN GRAHAM IS WITH
US TODAY TO LEAD THE NATION IN
PRAYER.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE INVOCATION.
REVEREND GRAHAM.
>> LET US PRAY.
BLESSED ARE YOU, OH LORD, OUR
GOD, YOURS, OH GOD IS THE
GREATNESS AND THE POWER AND THE
FLORIE AND THE MAJESTY AND THE
SPLENDOR.
FOR EVERYTHING IN HEAVEN AND
EARTH IS YOURS.
YOURS, OH, LD, IS THE KINGDOM.
YOUR EXALTED IS HEAD OVERLL.
WEALTH AND HONOR COME FROM YOU.
YOU ARE THE RULER OF ALL THINGS.
IN YR HANDS ARE STRENGTH AND
POWER TO EXALT AND TO GIVE
STRENGTH TO ALL.
AS PRESIDENT LINCOLN ONCE SAID,
"WE HAVE BEEN THE RECIPIENTS OF
THE CHOICEST BOUNTIES OF HEAVEN.
WE HAVE BEEN PRESERVED THESE
MANY YEARS IN PEACE AND
PROSPERITY.
WE HAVE GROWN IN NUMBERS WEALTH
AND POWER AS NO OTHER NATION AS
EVER GROWN BUT WE HAVE FORGOTTEN
GOD.
IT BEHOOVES US TO HUMBLE
OURSELVES BEFORE THE OFFENDED
POWERS TO CONFESS OUR NATIONAL
SINS AND TO PRAY FORLEMENCY
AND FORGIVENESS.
OH, LORD, AS WE COME TOGETHER ON
THIS HISTORIC AND SOLEMN
OCCASION TO INAUGURATE ONCE
AGAIN A PRESIDENT AND VICE
PRESIDENT, TEACH US AFRESH THAT
POWER, WISDOM ANDOL VAGS COME
ONLY FROM YOUR HAND.
WE PRAY, OH, LORD, FOR
PRESIDENT-ELECT GEORGE W. BUSH
AND VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT RICHARD
B. CHENEY TO WHOM YOU HAVE
ENTRUSTED LEADERSHIP OF THIS
NATION AT THIS MOMENT IN
HISTORY.
WE PRAY THAT YOU'LL HELP THEM
BRING OUR COUNTRY TOGETHER SO
THAT WE MAY RISE UP PARTISAN
POLITICS AND SEEK THE LARGER
SION OF YOUR WILL FOR OUR
NATION.
USE THEM TO BRING RECONCILIATION
BETWEEN THE RACES, HEALING TO
POLITICAL WOUNDS, THAT WE MAY
TRULY BECOME ONE NATION UNDER
GOD.
GIVE OUR NEW PRESIDE AND ALL
WHO ADVISE HIM CALMNESS IN THE
FACE OF SRMS.
ENCOURAGEMENT IN THE FACE OF
FRUSTRATION AND HUMILITY IN THE
FACE OF SUCCESS.
GIVE THEM THE WISDOM TO KNOW AND
TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND THE
COURAGE TO SAY NO TO ALL THAT IS
CONTRARY TO YOUR STATUTES OF
HOLY LAW.
LORD, WE PRAY FOR THEIR FAMILIES
AND ESPECIALLY TIR WIVES,
LAURA BUSH AND LYNNE CHENEY,
THAT THEY MAY SENSE YOUR
PRESENCE AND KNOW YOUR LOVE.
TODAY, WE ENTRUST TO YOU,
PRESIDENT AND SENATOR CLINTON
AND VICE PRESIDENT AND MRS. GORE
LEAD THEM AS THEY JOURNEY
THROUGH NEW DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY
TO SERVE OTHERS.
NOW, OH, LORD, WE DEDICATE THIS
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL CEREMONY
TO YOU.
MAY THIS BE THE BEGINNING OF A
NEW DAWN F AMERICA AS WE
HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE YOU AND
ACKNOWLEDGE YOU ALONE AS OUR
LORD, OUR SAVIOR AND OUR
REDEEMER.
WE PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF THE
FATHER AND OF THE SON, THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST AND OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT, AMEN.
>> THANK YOU, REVEREND GRAHAM.
IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO
INODUCE THE DuPONT MANUAL
CAREER OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.
♪♪
♪♪
♪ OH BEAUTIFUL
FOR SPACIOUS SKIES ♪
♪ FOR AMBER WAVES
OF GRAIN ♪
♪ FOR PURPLE MOUNTAINS' MAJESTY
ABOVE THE FRUITED PLAIN ♪
♪ AMERICA
AMERICA ♪
♪ GOD SHED HIS GRACE
ON THEE ♪
♪ AND CROWN THY GOOD
WITH BROTHERHOOD ♪
♪ FROM SEA
TO SHINING SEA ♪
♪♪
♪ O BEAUTIFUL
ACROSS THE SEA ♪
♪♪
♪ AMERICA
AMERICA ♪
♪ GOD SHED HIS GRACE
THEE ♪
♪ AND CROWN THY GOOD
WITH BROTHERHOOD ♪
♪ FROM SEA
TO SHINING SEA ♪
♪ AMERICA
AMERICA ♪
♪ AMERICA ♪♪
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> IOW CALL ON SENATOR
CHRISTOPHER J. DODD OF
CONNECTICUT TO INTRODUCE THE
CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> THANK YOU, SENATOR McCONNELL.
PRESIDENT ANDENATOR CLINTON,
VICE PRESIDENT AND MRS. GORE,
PRESIDENT-ELECT AND MRS. BUSH
AND FELLOW CITIZENS, THE VICE
PRESIDENT-ELECT WILL NOW TAKE
THE OATH OF OFFICE.
HIS WIFE, LYNNEE AND THEIR
DAUGHTERS ELIZABETH AND MY
CHENEY WILL HOLE THE FAMILY
BIBLE.
I HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE
TO NOW PRESENT THE CHIEF JUSTICE
OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT, THE HONORABLE WILLIAM
HOBBS REHNQUIST TO ADMINISTER
THE TH OF OFFICE TO THE VICE
PRESIDENT-ELECT RICHARD BRUCE
CHENEY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> MR. CHENEY, A YOU READY TO
TAKE THE OATH?
>> I AM.
>> PLEASE RAID YOUR RIGHT HAND
AND REPEAT AFTER SHE.
I RICHARD BRUCE CHENEY DO SOME
LEMLY SWEAR.
>> I RICHARD BRUCE CHENEY WILL
SOLEMNNY SWEAR.
>> THAT I SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> THAT I WILL SUPPORT AND
DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
ITED STATES.
>> AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN
AND DOMESTIC.
>> AGAINST ALL ENEMY FOREIGN AND
DOMESTIC.
I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH AND
ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
>> THAT I BEAR TRUE FAITH AND
ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME.
>> WITHOUT ANY MENTAL REST SEVGS
FOR PURPOSE OF EVASION.
>> WITHOUT ANY MENTAL REST SEVGS
FOR PURMS OF EVASION.
>> I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY
DISCHARGE.
>> I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY
DISCHARGE.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE ON
WHICH I'M ABOUT TO ENTER.
>> THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE ON
WHICH I'M ABOUT TO ENTER.
>> SO HELP ME GOD.
>> SO HELP ME GOD.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WE HAVE A NEW PRESIDENT IN
WAITING.
RICHARD BRUCE CHENEY SHAKING
HANDS WITH THE OUTGOING VICE
PRESIDENT, AL GORE.
HE FLUNKED OUT OF YALE TWICE,
WENT BK, WORKED AS A POWER
LINEMAN FOR A YEAR AND ENDED UP
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING,
DID GRADUATE WORK AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WCONSIN AND CAME
HERE AND BECAME A WONDER KID,
ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.
>> YOU KNOW, WATCHING HIM KISS
HIS WIFE, WHEN GARFIELD KISSED
HIS MOTHER, THE PRESS THOUGHT IT
WAS LACKING IN DIGNITY
NOW THEY ALL CASE.
>> THE ARMY BAND WILL NOW
PERFORM "AN AMERICAN MEDLEY."
♪ MY COUNTRY
'TIS OF THEE ♪
SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY
OF THEE I SING ♪
♪ LAND WHERE MY FATHERS DIED
LAND OF THE PILGRIMS' PRIDE
FROM EVERYOUNTAINSIDE
LET FREEDOM RING ♪♪
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA
LAND THAT I LOVE ♪
♪ STAND BESIDE HER
AND GUIDE HER ♪
♪ THROUGH THE NIGHT
WITH THE LIGHT
FROM ABOVE ♪
♪ FROM THE MOUNTAINS
TO THE PRAIRIES
TO THE OCEANS
WHITE WITH FOAM ♪
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA
MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪
♪ GOD BLESS AMERICA
MY HOME SWEET HOME ♪♪
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> IT IS NOW MY HIGH HONORO
AGAIN PRESENT THE CHIEF JUSTICE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WHO WILL
ADMINISTER THE PRESIDENTIAL OATH
OF OFFICE.
EVERYONE, PLEASE, STAND.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
>> GOVERNOR, ARE YOU READY TO
TAKE THE OATH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHTAND
AND REPEAT AFTER ME, I, GEORGE
WALKER BUSH DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
>> I GEORGE WALKER BUSH DO
SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
>> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES.
>> THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES.
>> AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY
ABILITY.
>> AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY
ABILITY.
>> PRESERVE PROTECT AND DEFEND
TH CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> PRESERVE, PROTECT AND DEFEND
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES.
>> SO HELP ME GOD.
>> SO HELP ME GOD.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
♪♪
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> 21-GUN SALE, THE OUTGOING
PRESIDENT AND THE NEW PRESIDENT,
MAN, HE VANQUISHED IN A LONG,
DIFFICULT CAMPAIGN, AL GORE,
SENATOR DODD.
THE NEW OF THE UNITED STATES,
GEORGE WALKER BUSH, WITH HIS
FATHER, SECOND TIME I AMERICAN
HISTORY, AND HE IS OBVIOUSLY,
VERY MOVED BY THIS HISTORIC
MOMENT AND DEEPLY PERSONAL
MOMENT IN HIS LIFE.
HE SAID LAST WEEK HE WOULD TRY
TO STAY FOCUSED AND NOT LOOK AT
HIS PARENTS, BUT WHEN HE
EMBRACED HIS FATHER,
UNDERSTANDABLY, IT WAS A MOMENT
IN WHICH HE DESERVED TO BE AS
EMOTIONAL AS HE OBVIOUSLY IS.
>> JOHN ADAMS WAS 90 YEARS OLD
WHEN HIS SON BECAME PRESIDENT.
HE SAID NOTHING MADE HIM MORE
BLISSFULLY HAPPY, SO INTEN, HE
COULDN'T EXPRESS HIS FEELINGS.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MR. BUSH
IS THINKING.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE
PRESIDENT OF THENITED STATES,
GEORGE W. BUSH.
[ CHEERS AND ALAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU ALL.
CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST,
PRESIDENT CARTER PRESIDENT
BUSH --
[ APPLSE ]
-- PRESIDENT CLINTON,■
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND MY
FELLOW CITIZENS, THE PEACEFUL
TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY IS RARE IN
HISTORY, YET COMMON IN OUR
COUNTRY.
WITH A SIMPLE OATH WE AFFIRM OLD
TRADITIONS AND MAKE NEW
BEGINNINGS.
AS I BEGAN, I THANK PSIDENT
CLINTON FOR HIS SERVICE T OUR
NATION.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND I THANK VICE PRESIDENT GE
FOR A CONTEST CONDUCTED WITH
SPIRIT AND ENDED WITH GRACE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED TO
STAND HERE WHERE SO MANY OF
AMERICA'S LEADERS HAVE COME
BEFORE ME AND SO MANY WILL
FOLLOW.
WE HAVE A PLACE, A OF US, IN A
LONG STORY, A STORY WE CONTINUE,
BUT WHOSE END WE WILL NOT SEE.
IT IS A STORY OF A NEW WORLD
THAT BECAME A FRIEND A
LIBERATOR OF THE OLD, THE STORY
OF A SLAVE HOLDING SOCIETY THAT
BECAME A SERVANT OF FREEDOM.
THE STORY OF A POWER THAT WENT
INTO THE WORLD TO PROTECT, BUT
NOT POSSESS, TO DEFEND BUT NOT
TO CONQUER.
IT IS THE AMERICAN STORY, A
STORY OF FLAWED AND FALLABLE
PEOPLE, UNITED ACROSS THE
GENERATIONS BY GRAND AND
ENDURING IDEALS.
THE GRANDEST OF THESE IDEALS IS
AN UNFOLDINGMERICAN PROMISE
THAT EVERYONE BELONGS, THA
EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE, THAT
NO INSIGNIFICANT PERSON WAS EVER
BORN.
AMERICANS ARE CALLED TO ENACT
THIS PROMISE IN OUR LIVES AND IN
OUR LAWS.
AND THOUGH OUR NATION HAS
SOMETIMES HALTED AND SOMETES
DELAYED, WE MUST FOLLOW NO OTHER
COURSE.
THROUGH MUCH OF THE LAST CENTURY
AMERICA'S FAITH IN FREEDOM AND
DEMOCRACY WAS A ROCK IN A RAGING
SEA.
NOW IT IS A SEED UPON THE WIND,
TAKING ROOT IN MANY NATIONS.
OUR DEMOCRAC FAITH IS MORE
THAN THE CREED OF OUR COUNTRY.
IT IS THE UNBORN HOPE OF OUR
HUMANITY AND IDEAL WE CARRY, BUT
DO NOT OWN, A TRUST WE BEAR AND
PASS ALONG.
AND EVEN AFTEREARLY 225 YEARS,
WE HAVE A LONG WAY YET TO
TRAVEL.
WHILE MANY OF OUR CITIZENS
PROSPER, OTHERS DOUBT THE
PROMISE, EVEN THE JUSTICE, OF
OUR OWN COUNTRY.
THE AMBITIONS OF SOME AMERICANS
ARE LIMITED BY FAILING SCHOOLS
AND HIDDEN PREJUDICE AND THE
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEIR BIRTH,
AND SOMETIMES OUR DIFFERENCES
RUN SO DEEP IT SEEMS WE SHARE A
CON CONTINUENT BUT NOT A
COUNTRY.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS AND WE
WILL NOT ALLOWT.
OUR UNITY, OUR UNION IS A
SERIOUS WORK OF LEADERS AND
CITIZENS AND EVERY GENERATION
AND THIS IS MY SOLEMN PLEDGE, I
WILL WORK TO BUILD A SINGLE
NATION OF JUSTICE AND
OPPORTUNITY.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I KNOW THIS IS IN OUR REACH,
BECAUSE WE ARE GUIDED BY A POWER
LARGER THAN OURSELVES WHO
CREATES US EQUAL IN HIS IMAGE.
WE WE ARE CONFIDENT IN
PRINCIPLES THAT UNITE AND LEAD
US ONWARD.
AMERICA HAS NEVER BEEN UNITED BY
ABLOOD OR BIRTH OR SL.
WE ARE BOUND BY IDEALS THAT MOVE
US BEYOND O BACKGROUNDS, LIFT
US ABOVE OUR INTERESTS AND TEACH
US WHAT IT MEANS TO BE CITIZENS.
EVERY CHILD MUST BE TAUGHT THESE
PRINCIPLES.
EVERY CITIZEN MUST UPHOLD THEM.
AND EVERY IMMIGRANT, BY
EMBRACING THESE IDEALS MAKES OUR
COUNTRY MORE, NOT LESS,
AMERICAN.
TODAY --
[ APPLAUSE ]
TODAY WE AFFIRM A NEW COMMITMENT
TO LIVE OUR OUR NATION'S PROMISE
THROUGH CIVILITY, COURAGE,
COMPASSION AND CHARACTER.
AMERICA AT ITS BEST MATCHES A
COMMITMENT TO PRINCIPLE WITH A
CONCERN FOR CIVILITY.
A CIVIL SOCIETY DANDS FROM
EACH OF US, GOOD WILL AND
RESPECT, FAIR DEALING AND
FORGIVENESS.
SOME SEEM TO BELIEVE THAT OUR
POLITICS CAN AFFORD TO BE PETTY
BECAUSE IN A TIME OF PEACE, THE
STAKES OF OUR DEBATES APPEAR
SMALL, BUT THE STAKES FOR
AMERICA ARE NEVER SMALL.
IF OUR COUNTRY DOES NOT LEADHE
CAUSE OF FREEDOM, IT WILL NOT BE
LED.
IT WE DO NOT TURN THE HEARTS OF
CHILDREN TOWARD KNOWLEDGE AND
CHARACTER, WE WILL LOSE THEIR
GIFTS AND UNDERMINE THEIR
IDEALISM.
IF WE PERMIT OUR ECOMY TO
DRIFT AND DECLINE, THE
VULNERABLE WILL SUFFE MOST.
WE MUST LIVE UP TO THE CALLING
WE SHARE, CIVILITY IS NOT A
TACTIC OR A STIMENT.
IT IS THE DETERMINED CHOICE OF
TRUST OVER CYNICISM, OF
COMMUNITY OVER CHAOS.
AND THIS COMMITMENT, IF WE KEEP
IT, IS A WAY TO SHARE AN
ACCOMPLISHMENT.
AMERICA AT ITS BEST IS ALSO
COURAGEOUS,■@UR NATIONAL COURAGE
HAS BEEN CLEAR IN TIMES OF
DEESSION AND WAR, WHEN
DEFEATING COMN DANGERS DEFINED
OUR COMMON GOOD.
NOW WE MUST CHOOSE IF THE
EXAMPLE OF OUR FATHERS AND
MOTHERS WILL INSPIRE US OR
CONDEMN US.
WE MUST SHOW COURAGE IN A TIME
OF BLESSING, BY CONFRONTING
PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF PASSING THEM
ON TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
TOGETHER WE WILL RECLAIM
AMERICA'S SCHOOLS BEFORE
IGNOREANCE AND APATHY CLAIM
YOUNG LIVES.
WE WILL REFORM SOCIAL SECURITY
AND MEDICARE, SPARING OUR
CHILDREN FROM STRUGGLES WE HAVE
THE POWER TO PREVENT.
AND WE'LL REDUCE TAXES TO COVER
THE MOMENTUM OF OUR ECONOMY AND
REWARD THE EFFORT AND ENTERPRISE
OF WORKING AMERICANS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
WE WILL BUILD OUR DEFENSES
BEYOND CHALLENGE, LESS WEAKNESS
INVITE CHALLENGE.
WE WILL CONFRONT WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION, SO THAT A NEW
CENTURY IS SPARED NEW HORRORS.
THE ENEMIES OFIBERTY IN OUR
COUNTRY SHOULD MAKE NO MISTAKE,
AMERICA REMAINS ENGAETHED IN THE
WORLD BY HISTORY AND BY CHOICE,
SHAPING A BALANCE OF POWER THAT
FAVORS FREEDOM.
WE WILL DEFEND OUR ALLIES AND
OUR INTERESTS.
WE WILL SHOW PURPOSE WITHOUT
ARROGANCE.
WE WILL MEET AGGRESSION AND BAD
FAITH WITH RESOLVE AND STRENGTH.
AND TO ALL NATIONS, WE WILL
SPEAK FOR THE VALUES THAT GAVE
OUR NATION BIRTH.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AMERICA AT ITS BEST IS
COMPASSIONATE.
IN THE EYE ET OF AMERICAN
CONSCIENCE, WE KNOW THAT DEEP
PERSISTENT POVERTY IS UNWORTHY
OF OUR NATION'S PROMISE AND
WHATEVER OUR VIEWS OF ITS CAUSE,
WE CAN AGREE THAT CHILDREN AT
RISK ARE NOT AT FAULT.
ABANDONMENT AND ABUSE ARE NOT
ACTS OF GOD, THE ARE FAILURES
OF LOVE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AND THE PROLIFERATION OF PRISONS
HOWEVER NECESSARY, IS NO
SUBSTITUTE FOR HOPE AND ORDER IN
OUR SOULS.
WHER THERE IS SUFFERING, THERE
IS DUTY.
AMERICANS IN NEED ARE NOT
STRANGERS, THEY ARE CIZENS,
NOT PROBLEMS BUT PRIORITIES.
AND ALL OF US ARE DIMINISHED
WITH ANY ARE HOPELESS.
[ APPLAUSE
GOVERNMENT HAS GREAT
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY AND PUBLIC HEALTH.
FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND COMMON
SCHOOLS.
YET, COMPASSION IS THE WORK OF A
NATION, NOT JUST A GOVERNMENT.
AND SOME NEEDS AND HURTS ARE SO
DEEP THEY WILL ONLY RESPOND TO A
MENTOR'S TOUCH OR A PASTOR'S
PRAYER, CHURCH AND CHARITY,
SYNAGOGUE AND MOSQUE, LEND OUR
COMMUNITIES TIR HUMANTY AND
THEY WILL HAVE AN HONORED PLACE
IN OUR PLANS AND IN OUR LAWS.
[ APPLAUSE ]
MANY IN OUR COUNTRY DO NOT KNOW
THE PAIN OF POVERTY, BUT WE CAN
LISTEN TO THOSE WHO DO.
AND I CAN PLEDGE OUR NATION TO A
GOAL -- WHEN WE SEE THAT WOUNDED
TRAVELER ON THE ROAD TO JERRICO,
WE WILL NOT PASS TO THE OTHER
SIDE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AMERICA AT ITSEST IS A PLACE
WHERE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS
VALUED AND EXPECTED.
ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBILITY IS
NOT A SEARCH FOR SCAPEGOATS, IT
IS A CALL TO CONSCIENCE.
AND THOUGH IT REQUIRES SACRIFICE
IT BRINGS A DEEPER FULFILLMENT.
WE FIND THE FULLNESS OF LIFE NOT
ONLY IN OPTIONS, BUT IN
COMMITMENTS AND WE FIND THAT
CHILDREN AND COMMUNITY ARE THE
COMMITMENTS THAT SET US FREE.
OUR PUBLIC INTEREST DEPENDS ON
PRIVATE CHARACTER, ON CIVIC DUTY
AND FAMILYONDS AND BASIC
FAIRNESS, ON UNCOUNTED URKS
UNHONORED ACTS OF DECENCY, WHICH
GIVE DIRECTION TO OUR FREEDOM.
SOMETIMES IN LIFE, WE'RE CALLED
TO DO GREAT THINGS, BUT AS A
SAINT OF OUR TIMES HAS SAID,
EVERY DAY WE ARE CALLED TO DO
SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE.
THE MOST IMPORTANT TASKS OF A
DEMOCRACY ARE DONE BY EVERYONE.
I WILL LIVE AND LEAD BY THESE
PRINCIPLES TO ADVANCE MY
CONVICTIONS WITH CIVILITY, T
PURSUE THE PUBLIC INTEREST WITH
COAGE, TO SPEAK FOR GREATER
JUSTICE AND COMPASSION, TO CALL
FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND TRY TO
LIVE IT AS WELL.
IN ALL THESE WAYS, I WILL BRING
THE VALUES OF OUR HISTORY TO THE
CARE OF OUR TIMES.
WHAT YOU DO IS AS IMPORTANT
ANYTHING GOVERNMENT DOES.
I ASK YOU TO SEEK A COMMON GOOD
BEYOND YOUR COMFORT, TO DEFEND
NEEDED REFORMS AINST EASY
ATTACKS, TO SERVE YOUR NATION
BEGINNING WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR.
I ASK YOU TO BE CITIZENS,
CITIZENS NOT SPECTATORS,
RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS BUILDING
COMMUNITIES OF SERVICE AND A
NATION OF CHARACTER.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AMERICANS ARE GENEROUS AND
STRONG AND DECENT, NOT BECAUSE
WE BELIEVEN OURSELVES, BUT
BECAUSE WE HOLD BELIEFS BEYOND
OURSELVES.
WHEN THE SPIRIT OF CITIZENSHIP
IS MISSING, NO GOVERNMENT
PROGRAM CAN REPLACE IT.
WHEN THIS SPIRIT ISRESENT, NO
WRONG CAN STAND AGAINST IT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
AFTER THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE WAS SIGNED,
VIRGINIA STATESMAN JOHN PAIGE
WROTE TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, "WE
KNOW THE RACE IS NOT TO THE
SWIFT, NOR THE BATTLE TO THE
STRONG, DO YOU NOT THINK AN
ANGEL RIDES IN THE WHIRLWIND AND
DIRECTS THIS STORM?"
MUCH TIME HAS PASSED SINCE
JEFFERSON ARRIVED FOR HIS
INAUGURATION.
THE YEARS AND CHANGES
ACCUMULATE.
BUT THE THEMES OF THIS DAY HE
WOULD KNOW.
OUR NATION'S GRAND STORY OF
COURAGE AND ITS SIMPLE DREAM OF
DIGNITY, WE ARE NOT THIS STORY'S
AUTHOR WHO FILLS TIME AND
ETERNI WITH HIS PURPOSE.
YET HIS PURPOSE IS ACHIEVED IN
OUR DUTY AND OUR DUTY IS
FULFILLED IN SERVICE TO ONE
ANOTHER.
NEVER TIRING, NEVER YIELDING,
NEVER FINISHING, WE RENEW THAT
PURPOSE TODAY, TO MAKE OUR
COUNTRY MORE JUST AND GENEROUS,
TO AFFIRM THE DIGNITY OF OUR
LIVES AND EVERY LIFE.
THIS WORK CONTINUES, THE SRY
GOES ON.
AND AN ANGEL STILL RIDES IN THE
WHIRLWIND AND DIRECTS THIS
STORM.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS
AMERIC
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]