r. Chairman, delegates, and my fellow citizens ... I accept your nomination. Thank you for this honor. Together, we will renew America's purpose.
Our founders first defined that purpose here in Philadelphia. ... Ben Franklin was here. Thomas Jefferson. And, of course, George Washington - or, as his friends called him, ''George W.''
I am proud to have Dick Cheney at my side. He is a man of integrity and sound judgment, who has proven that public service can be noble service. America will be proud to have a leader of such character to succeed Al Gore as vice president of the United States. I am grateful for John McCain and the other candidates who sought this nomination. Their convictions strengthen our party.
... Little more than a decade ago, the Cold War thawed and, with the leadership of Presidents Reagan and Bush, that wall came down. But instead of seizing this moment, the Clinton-Gore administration has squandered it. We have seen a steady erosion of American power and an unsteady exercise of American influence. ... This administration had its moment. They had their chance. They have not led. We will.
To seniors in this country ... you earned your benefits, you made your plans, and President George W. Bush will keep the promise of Social Security ... no changes, no reductions, no way. Our opponents will say otherwise. This is their last, parting ploy, and don't believe a word of it.
Now is the time for Republicans and Democrats to end the politics of fear and save Social Security, together.
For younger workers, we will give you the option - your choice - to put a part of your payroll taxes into sound, responsible investments. ... Now is the time to give American workers security and independence that no politician can ever take away.
... At the earliest possible date, my administration will deploy missile defenses to guard against attack and blackmail. Now is the time, not to defend outdated treaties, but to defend the American people.
A time of prosperity is a test of vision. And our nation today needs vision. That is a fact ... or as my opponent might call it, a ''risky truth scheme.'' Every one of the proposals I've talked about tonight, he has called a ''risky scheme,'' over and over again. ... 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.
In Midland, Texas, where I grew up, the town motto was ''the sky is the limit'' ... and we believed it. ... That background may lack the polish of Washington. Then again, I don't have a lot of things that come with Washington. I don't have enemies to fight. And I have no stake in the bitter arguments of the last few years. I want to change the tone of Washington to one of civility and respect.
... A couple of years ago, I visited a juvenile jail in Marlin, Texas, and talked with a group of young inmates. They were angry, wary kids. All had committed grown-up crimes. Yet when I looked in their eyes, I realized some of them were still little boys. Toward the end of conversation, one young man, about 15, raised his hand and asked a haunting question. ... ''What do you think of me?''
He seemed to be asking, like many Americans who struggle ... ''Is there hope for me? Do I have a chance?'' And, frankly ... ''Do you, a white man in a suit, really care what happens to me?'' A small voice, but it speaks for so many. Single moms struggling to feed the kids and pay the rent. Immigrants starting a hard life in a new world. ... If that boy in Marlin believes he is trapped and worthless and hopeless - if he believes his life has no value, then other lives have no value to him - and we are all diminished.
... I will lead our nation toward a culture that values life - the life of the elderly and the sick, the life of the young, and the life of the unborn. I know good people disagree on this issue, but surely we can agree on ways to value life by promoting adoption and parental notification, and when Congress sends me a bill against partial-birth abortion, I will sign it into law.
... Our nation's leaders are responsible ... to confront problems, not pass them on to others. And to lead this nation to a responsibility era, a president himself must be responsible. And so, when I put my hand on the Bible, I will swear to not only uphold the laws of our land, I will swear to uphold the honor and dignity of the office to which I have been elected, so help me God.
... We are now the party of ideas and innovation ... the party of idealism and inclusion. The party of a simple and powerful hope ... My fellow citizens, we can begin again. After all of the shouting, and all of the scandal. After all of the bitterness and broken faith. We can begin again. The wait has been long, but it won't be long now.
