And when we reached across party lines to forge a vital center, America was stronger at home and abroad. The American people, however divided they were in this election, overwhelmingly want us to build on that vital center, without rancor or personal attack. Governor Bush started his first full day as President-elect at a morning church service in Austin. The American people have divided responsibility for leadership right down the middle. We must govern from the middle, or we will not be able to govern at all.
Genuine compromise means having a true give and take.
A short time later, the former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee returned to his seat in the U.S. Senate and addressed his colleagues. Governor Bush and Secretary Cheney are in my prayers, as I know they are in the prayers of all Americans as they begin now to assume to awesome responsibilities that go with leadership of this great country. In the strong words and soft voices they both used last night, Vice President Gore and Governor Bush raised us all up and pointed us toward the reconciliation that our history expects and that our national interest now requires. As they both noted last night, this is the closest election we've ever experienced, with the vote for President essentially ending in a tie, the Senate split 50-50, and the House nearly even as well. That puts a special burden not just on Governor Bush, but on all of us here in congress to work on a bipartisan basis and in a cooperative spirit.