WASHINGTON -- After a disputed election, George W. Bush was sworn in as the 43rd president of the United States on Saturday and, in his inaugural address, called upon the nation to commit itself to "civility, courage, compassion and character."
Restoring his family to power after eight years of Democratic reign, the 54-year-old former Texas governor was sworn in at 12:02 p.m. in a ceremony rife with reminders of the hotly contested political race.
Over 300,000 spectators inundated the rain-soaked Mall to witness the first inauguration of the millennium, displaying the entire gamut of political sentiment.
As Republican loyalists waved "God Bless President Bush" signs, perturbed Democrats countered GOP euphoria by toting "Hail to the Thief" placards. When the new presidential team was introduced after both Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney took the oath of office, roaring cheers and whoops mixed with boos from some members of the crowd.
Cognizant of deep political rifts following what some viewed as a dubious victory, Bush focused his 14-minute speech around the concepts of national unity and patriotism.
"Sometimes it seems we share a continent but not a country," he stated, describing how the burgeoning of bipartisanship must be a collaborative effort.
Indeed, he exhorted all Americans to "become citizens, not spectators" in order to "seek a common good beyond [their] comfort."
For his own part, Bush promised to both "work to build a single nation of justice and opportunity" as well as "to bring the values of our history to the care of our times."
Despite good intentions and an eloquent delivery, however, protesters carrying signs saying, "W Stands for Wasted Vote" would not let him forget that he is one of the few presidents in history to win the election but not the popular vote.
In the face of such opposition, Bush's speech reflected a desire to rally the country behind him. Although all three branches of government " executive, legislative and judicial " are now securely under Republican control, he avoided reference to controversial partisan issues and was careful to stick to the four-pronged list of principles he announced at the outset of the speech.
He was the first to honor his commitment to civility by thanking former Vice President Al Gore for a contest "conducted with spirit" and "ended with grace."
He manifested the religious undertones of his address in his encouragement of compassion, when he assured the soggy onlookers that "when we see that wounded traveler on the road to Jericho, we will not pass to the other side."
In his call for character, Bush stated that "our public interest depends on private character," an interesting comment in light of chronologically salient moral scandal caused by former President Bill Clinton.
The new President's eyes welled up with tears as made the sacred promise to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States," grazing his fingers across the same Bible that both George Washington and another George Bush had used on the same occasion.
Such deep emotion comes as no surprise in light of the fact that Bush was surrounded by key characters in his own recent political drama.
Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, who swore him in, had been part of the five to four majority whose decision on contested votes in Florida had won him the election.
By taking the oath of office, Bush avenged his father's loss to Clinton eight years ago and became part of the second father-son presidential duo in American history.
Although aware that the next four years will test his political skill, the new president ended his speech on an optimistic and spiritual note -- "An angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm."
