In a pair of perfectly scripted, made-for-television speeches, president-elect George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore brought their epic and conflict-ridden election to a close last night with talk of reconciliation and national unity.
Far from the election-night rallies and cheering supporters who usually form the backdrop for victory speeches, Bush spoke from the floor of the Texas House of Representatives, a site, he said, of bipartisan cooperation.
Expressing empathy for the vice president and commending him for a lifetime of public service, Bush called for an end to the partisan wrangling that characterized the campaign and its aftermath.
"We must put politics behind us and work together to make the promise of America available for every one of our citizens," he said. "I was not elected to serve one party, but to serve one nation."
Bush's remarks followed his opponent's concession speech by about one hour. In a cheerfully conciliatory tone, Gore asked the nation to put aside partisan rancor and unite behind the new president. "May God bless his stewardship of this country," Gore said.
Threaded through Gore's concession, however, was his displeasure with the courtroom conclusion to the bitter five-week battle that followed Election Day.
"While I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it," he said. "I accept the finality of this outcome."
Later, in a subtle nod to still-uncounted Florida votes, he referenced "those who feel their voices have not been heard," declaring, "I heard you, and I will not forget."
Watching the speeches in the Frist Campus Center, Ed Voles '02 said he did not hear strong conciliation in Gore's speech.
"It was sort of an appeasement, but was still laden with attacks on the Supreme Court decision and Bush," said the Florida Republican who overnight-mailed his absentee ballot so he would not miss the deadline. Of the cost of sending his vote, he joked, "It was the best $20 I ever spent."
Dozens of students gathered at Frist to watch as the election's outcome was finalized.
Kelly Frank '02, also a Bush supporter, called Gore's speech "very classy," and said she thought people would follow his example and seek consensus.
Political figures and pundits seemed to do just that, at least for the night, as members of both parties reacted to the speeches with rosy optimism and camaraderie.
University politics professor Fred Greenstein said, "They showed perferct pitch. Gore, who was obviously hurting, nevertheless was very manly about it . . . It was also the sort of speech that is consistent with saving you r political career."
"Bush did much better than he often does," Greenstein continued. "He almost looked hypnotized, as if he had been abducted or something in some of those early speeches. So I think this suggests a move to a presidency which will be more attentive to public communication than his father's was."
Some students, too, spoke positively of candidates they did not support in the election. "I think Al Gore ended his attempt to be president rather eloquently," said Peter Iles '03, noting the importance of the vice president's call for national unity.
"We voted for Nader, so we don't really care," Iles added.
Not all students, however, were so pleased. "I thought it was awful," Janice Tam '03 said of the Bush speech. "It's one of those moments you're proud to be a Canadian."
Dennis Dugan '03 mentioned the shadow cast on Bush's presidency by its controversial beginning. "It's a shame that he's going to be tainted from day one," Dugan said. "He's going to start his administration with two strikes against him."
And for some Princetonians, there was something missing in last night's anti-climactic, staged ending to a hard-fought battle: a Princetonian.
"Where's Bill Bradley when you need him?" asked Josh Fien-Helfman '02, who voted for Gore. "This is a sad day."
The Associated Press and 'Prince' Senior Writer Sophia Hollander contributed to this report.
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