BUSH ACCEPTS REPUBLICAN
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION   

As the 2000 Republican National Convention came to a close August 3 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Texas Governor George W. Bush accepted the party's presidential nomination, saying he is eager to start on the work ahead and he believed "America is ready for a new beginning."

The sports arena was packed with delegates, party members and their guests who were ready for his remarks, and a smiling, confident Bush was ready for them. His 38-minute speech took 52 minutes to deliver because of prolonged periods of applause.

At the conclusion, as members of Bush's family joined him on the platform and the audience cheered non-stop, there was a 15-minute demonstration featuring red, white and blue balloons and confetti cascading from the rafters, loud music and explosions of multicolored indoor fireworks.

Bush first entered the arena at the conclusion of a video about his family and life in Midland, Texas. Basking in the glow of applause, he began his speech talking about his family -- his wife, and daughters, and mother -- and referred to his father, former President George H.W. Bush, as "the most decent man I have ever known." He added, "And Dad, I want you to know how proud I am to be your son."

With millions of Americans watching on national television, Bush used the occasion to try to convince voters that he is prepared for the presidency. Earlier public opinion polls showed that the public views him as more compassionate than presumed Democratic nominee Vice President Al Gore, but they also showed that Gore is believed to be the more knowledgeable candidate.

Considered the most important address of his political life to date, Bush began working along with his aides on the first of numerous drafts nearly two months ago.

He spelled out what he saw as problems in America and said what he would do to remedy them. Bush said Gore considers his proposals to be "risky schemes."

Incorporating humor into his remarks, the Texas governor said "If my opponent had been there at the moon launch, it would have been a 'risky rocket scheme.' If he'd been there when Edison was testing the light bulb, it would have been a 'risky anti-candle scheme.' And if he'd been there when the Internet was invented, well -- I understand he actually was there for that."

Bush said that when he is president, "We will seize this moment of American promise. We will confront the hard issues -- threats to our national security, threats to our health and retirement security -- before the challenges of our time become crises for our children."

Noting that President Bill Clinton has talents, charm and skill, Bush said that "instead of seizing this moment, the Clinton-Gore administration has squandered it." He faulted the administration for its stands on education, the military, Social Security and health care.

"They had their chance. They have not led. We will," the Republican nominee told the cheering delegates.

Bush noted that there is a wall within America. "On one side are wealth and technology, education and ambition. On the other side of the wall are poverty and prison, addiction and despair," he said.

The wall must be torn down, he said, but "big government is not the answer." He said the alternative is to put conservative values and ideas into the fight for justice and opportunity. "This is what I mean by compassionate conservatism. And on this ground we will govern our nation," Bush added.

"The world needs America's strength and leadership, and America's armed forces need better equipment, better training and better pay," he said. "We will give our military the means to keep the peace, and we will give it one thing more -- a commander-in-chief who respects our men and women in uniform, and a commander-in-chief who earns their respect."

Bush said a generation shaped by Vietnam "must remember the lessons of Vietnam." When America uses force in the world, "the cause must be just, the goal must be clear and the victory must be overwhelming," he added.

The nominee also said he will work to reduce nuclear weapons and nuclear tension in the world and at the earliest possible date to deploy missile defenses to guard against attack and blackmail. Now is the time, Bush said, "not to defend outdated treaties, but to defend the American people."

Bush closed his acceptance speech quoting Texas artist Tom Lea, who said he lives on the east side of the mountain and can see the day that is coming, not on the west side to see the day that is gone. "Americans live on the sunrise side of the mountain. The night is passing and we are ready for the day to come," Bush said.

On August 2, former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney accepted the nomination of cheering delegates to the Republican National Convention to be their vice presidential candidate, with a pledge to work with Texas Governor George W. Bush to make a fresh start in Washington and "change the tone of our politics."

In the first speech delivered at the Philadelphia convention that mentioned Democratic President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore by name, Cheney said "The wheel has turned and it is time for them to go. George W. Bush will repair what has been damaged."

Entering the convention hall to the musical strains of "God Bless the U.S.A.," Cheney, who does not have the reputation of being a dynamic speaker, was forceful and determined in his address, according to observers. He was interrupted numerous times with cheers and shouts of his name.

Cheney, who was in the private sector when Bush selected him to be his running mate, accused Clinton and Gore of doing nothing to help children or save the Social Security system, and of depleting U.S. military power. "Those days are ending," he said.

As defense secretary, Cheney served Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush. "I have seen our military at its finest, with the best equipment, the best training and the best leadership," Cheney said. "I'm proud of them. I have had the responsibility for their well-being. And I can promise them now, help is on the way."

Cheney earlier served as a member of Congress from Wyoming and as White House chief of staff. He hadn't been planning on a return to public office, he said, but told his audience he was now glad to have been given the opportunity "to serve beside a man who has the courage, and the vision, and the goodness, to be a great president."

He said that Bush will "show us that national leaders can be true to their word, and that they can get things done by reaching across the partisan aisle and working with political opponents in good faith and common purpose."

Cheney was introduced at the convention by his wife, Lynne, a former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, who said her husband not only has an impressive resume but is also a fabulous father to their daughters. He will be "a very, very good vice president," she said.