[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 50 (Monday, December 18, 2000)]
[Pages 3077-3078]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on the Resolution of the 2000 Presidential Election and an 
Exchange With Reporters in North Aylesbury, United Kingdom

December 14, 2000

    The President. Good morning. Last night President-elect Bush and 
Vice President Gore showed what is best about America. In this election, 
the American people were closely divided. The outcome was decided by a 
Supreme Court that was closely divided. But the essential unity of our 
Nation was reflected in the words and values of those who fought this 
great contest. I was proud of both men.
    I pledged to President-elect Bush my efforts and the best efforts of 
every member of our administration for a smooth and successful 
transition.
    I want to say I am profoundly grateful to Vice President Gore for 8 
extraordinary years of partnership. Without his leadership, we could not 
have made the progress or reached the prosperity we now enjoy and pass 
on to the next administration.
    I am also profoundly grateful to him for putting into words last 
night the feelings of all of us who disagreed with the Supreme Court's 
decision, but accepted it. And as he said, all of us have a 
responsibility to support President-elect Bush and to unite our country 
in the search for common ground.
    I wish President-elect Bush well. Like him, I came to Washington as 
a Governor, eager to work with both Republicans and Democrats. 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.
    I thank the Members of Congress from both parties who have pledged 
to work with the President-elect. They have also pledged to elect 
commonsense bipartisan election reforms so that the votes of all 
citizens can be easily cast and easily counted in future elections.
    Finally, I want to thank the American people for their patience, 
passion, and patriotism throughout this extended election season. In the 
days of service left to me, I will do all I can to finish our remaining 
work with Congress and to help President-elect Bush get off to a good 
start.
    As I've said so many times over the last year, our country has never 
before enjoyed so much peace and prosperity with so few internal crises 
and so little external threat. We have the opportunity to build the 
future of our dreams for our children, and every one of us has an 
obligation to work together to achieve it.
    Thank you very much.
    Q. Mr. President, what do say to Democrats who want to run on the 
election issue in 2 years? Do you think that's a way to take back the 
House?
    The President. Well, I think, first of all, the election 2 years 
from now is difficult to predict, and it will take whatever shape it

[[Page 3078]]

does. But for right now, we're in a period where we've had an election, 
but we haven't had the inauguration. We have to ensure a smooth and 
constructive transition, and all of us should ensure that we do our part 
to give the President-elect his chance to do this job. And I would 
hope--and I believe that my fellow Democrats would be willing to do 
that, and I hope they will. I hope they will set a good example by 
getting off to a good start and trying to unite the country.
    Two years from now, what I hope will happen is that the honest 
differences that remain between the two parties will be the subject of a 
wholesome, vigorous, constructive debate but that we will be moving 
further and further away from rancor. That, I think, is actually good 
for our party, because I think people do agree with us on the issues--on 
so many of the vital issues of the day.
    But I don't think that now is the time to do anything other than 
follow Vice President Gore's lead. He spoke for all of us last night, 
and he did it eloquently and well. And President-elect Bush responded 
with generosity in kind, I thought, in his remarks. And I think we ought 
to use this opportunity to let the country come together and try to get 
the new administration off to a good start.
    Thank you.
    Q. Mr. President, will your successor continue the special 
relationship you've enjoyed with Britain, do you hope?
    The President. I can't imagine anybody who wouldn't do that. I think 
he will, yes. Thank you.

 Note:  The President spoke at 9:49 a.m. outside Chequers, the country 
estate of Prime Minister Tony Blair.