President bill clinton delivered his victory speech in the top 1996 election on the steps of the old state house in arkansas, he celebrated his first president ial win four years earlier. He defeated bob dole in the 1996 race. My fellow americans, think you for being here. Just four years from now, more we will enter a new century and cree challenge, unlimited possibility. Weve got a bridge to build and im ready if you are. Today the American People have spoken. Soft they have affirmed our course. Theyve told us to go forward. Americas told everyone of us, democrats, republicans, and independents lead him clear, its time to put politics aside, join together and get the job done for americas future in the last four years, weve made remarkable progress. But in our schools, our families, our workplaces and our communities, our journey isnt done. My fellow americans, weve got work to do and that is with this election was all about. I want to say to all of you here and to all the American People, no words can convey the gratitude i feel tonight, for the honor that has been given to me. Its an honor that belongs to many. First my family. My wonderful wife of 21 years. Who from the day i first met her began teaching me that it does take a village to raise our children and build our future. To our daughter chelsea for her understanding the work we have done together. Today, i went down to the train station, to vote in the last election in what ill be able to ballot and which ive done every year since she was born. I took chelsea to the ballot with me. And as we looked at the ballot together, and discuss the issues there, i thank god that i was born in america. I think the members of my wonderful family that, here my wonderful mother in law, and all the others, and i think my beloved mother smiling up there and said i never had a doubt. I always knew it would be this way. I think the friends of my lifetime. There are people who have stood with me through thick and thin who started with me in senior high school. In college and all the years since. Friends who knew me and knew my dreams and stood as a powerful force against those who sought to stop americas progress of personal destruction. Thank you my friends. Thanks for what you did for america. I think the people of my beloved native state. I wouldnt be anywhere else in the world tonight. In front of this wonderful old capital that has seen so much of my life and our states history, i thank you for staying with me for so long, for never giving, up for always knowing that we could do better. I think the finest Vice President our country has ever seen. [applause] because, knit because of al gore, we have a stronger and more secure relationship with the democratic russian, we are exploring the wonders of new technologies for the benefit of america. We are preparing our environment and we have reinvented the American Government so it does more with less, its at legacy unique in history of this republic. I think temper for her friendship, for her crusades on behalf of our children and Mental Health of the American People, and for always standing alongside us with her family and her children. I think the members of our administration. The cabinet members. The members of the white house staff. [applause] i think all those who are part of the Permanent Service to the president at the white house, the medical staff, i think especially my secret Service Detail that has been so challenged by a president determined not to be isolated from the American People. [applause] i think the members of our campaign, staff all those who have served in this election. The work youve done. I think the leaders of our party in the congress, state houses. I think all those who stood for what we believe in in the selections today, those who won and those who didnt, you did a service for america by raising the things that we believe, thank you all and i wish you godspeed i want to thank the employees of the nations government. Theyve had to do a remarkable job. Weve reduced the size of our government to its smallest point since president kennedy served, and yet theyve continued to serve the People Better year in and year out. They had to do in the face of enormous challenges and outright hatred for momentary periods. They had to live with the horror of oklahoma city, and the difficulties that came along the way. But the people who serve us deserve our thanks, and i think them. [applause] i think those who served in this administration and our cars, who are no longer here tonight, and one i must thank, my friend and brother, ron brand, youre looking down on us. I know you are smiling as well. On a purely personal note, i must thank my pastor, who prayed with me before i came out here tonight. And all the ministers and people of god who have prayed for me and with me over these last four years. There were a few especially and they know who they are, who came to the white house time after time in good times and bad. When the temps were bad they reminded me that in his flesh so he wouldnt become exhausted in his own eyes. That certainly wasnt a problem for me in bad times. When the times were good they reminded me that humility is always in order in the presidency for in this life we see through a glass and we cant know the whole truth of our circumstances are the modus of those who possess. I think them all for bringing me closer to god, and to the eternal wisdom with that which the president cannot serve. I would like to say, a special word of thanks to senator dole, and i ask you to join me in applause for his lifetime of service to the united states. [applause] and i think jack kemp for his service to america, and his devotion to the proposition that this is a country in which everyone shall have a chance to live free and equal, and have a chance at success. Let me say, i had a good visit with senator dole not too long before he went up to speak. I thanked him for his love of our country. For his years of service. Applauded the campaign that he fought so bravely to the very last minute. I think for the work he did together to advance the common cause of america and on behalf of all americans, i wish him well, and godspeed. Four years ago, on these very steps, we set forth on a journey to change the course of the journey of America Forever and keep the American Dream alive for everyone willing to work for it. Freedom and prosperity. To come together as one American Community. The time was one of widespread frustration and doubt about our economic and social problems. About our ability to deal with the vast sweeps change that was all around us. The scope and piece of those changes were threatening, and our values seemed to be under attack on all sides. But together, you and i vow to turn our country around with a strategy to meet our challenges and protect our values. Opportunity for all. Responsibility from all. A American Community of all americans. We have worked hard. To end the politics of who is to blame. And instead ask what are we going to do to make america better. Tonight we proclaim that the vital American Center is alive and well. Its a Common Ground upon which we have made our progress. Today our economy is stronger. Our streets are safer. Our environment is cleaner. The world is more secure and think god the nation is more united. To all the men and women across this country who have created our jobs, tuck our children, patrolled ever streets, and kept america safe throughout our world, i say americas success is your success. This victory zero victory. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Now my fellow americans, last century lies before us. It will be a time full of opportunity for people to live out their dreams at any in human history, we have committed this night to continue our journey to doing the hard work that will build our bridge to the 24 century. To give the young people here and those all across america at the american they deserve, and their children, and their childrens children. But we have work to do. We have work to do to keep our economy growing steady and strong. By balancing the budget while we honor our duties to our families, our, parents are children. And our ability to pass to our children weve work to do to give all of our children the gift of an education. To make sure that ityearold can read, every 12yearold can log on to the internet and yes every single 18yearold in this country was willing to work for it can have a college education. We have work to do to make the permanent underclass in this country he think of the past. To lift our fellow citizens who are poor off of the dependency of welfare and the pride of work we have work to strengthen our families, to help our paired succeed at home and at work, to keep our children safe from harm in their schools, their streets, their homes and communities to clean up our environment so that our children grew up next to perks, not. Poison to tell him that drugs are wrong and illegal and they can kill them. To teach them right from wrong. My fellow americans, i will do all that i can to advance these causes. But all of our citizens must do their part to continue the upsurge of personal responsibility, that in the last four years has brought cramped an alltime low, we hope we do that . We must do it together. We must make our democracy stronger by reenacting real, Bipartisan Campaign finance reform. Talk is no longer enough. We must act and act now. And the American People will be watching the leaders of both parties to see who is willing not to talk, but to act. I am willing to act. And i ask others to join me. And we must keep america, the world in this nation, finishing the Unfinished Business of a cold war. Beating the new threats of security through terrorism in the purple of fruition of dangerous weapons and seizing these values of peace and democracy and prosperity. Every american here tonight and every american who can hear the sound of my force can take pride in the fact that in the last few years for the first time in all of human history, the majority of human beings living on this club live in democracies where the people rule. [applause] the challenges we face, they arent democratic or republican challenges. Their american challenges. But we know from the budget battles of the last two years, and from the remarkable success at the last few weeks of this congress is the lesson that we have learned for the last 2020 years what we have achieved as americans, we have achieved by working together so let me say to the leaders of my democratic party, and the leaders of the republican party, its time to put country ahead of party. We dont yet know the final outcome of the Congressional Elections but we know this. The races are close. The American People have been closely divided. Congress, whatever happens, will be closely divided. They are sending us a message. Work together. Meet our challenges. Put aside the politics of division and built americas community together. [applause] on this beautiful night, when we have shared so much music and so much joy and summit laughter and so much pride, it is hard for me to believe that it was 23 years ago when i first began to go to the people of arkansas to ask for their support. The most lasting and important thing that i have learned in all of those 23 fleeting years is this. When we are divided we defeat ourselves. But when we join our hands and build our families and our communities and our country, america always winds. But we need to do is to the work of america, the way we seek to do the work of raising our children, and doing our work and supporting a religious institutions and community institutions. If we would simply be americans that way we seem to be living there is no stopping america. Our best days are still ahead. And so, i say when we look into our hearts, and simply ask whats right for the American People and the future of our children. When we set aside our differences and build on our shared values, faith, family, work. When we roll up our sleeves and Work Together america always winds. My fellow americans, america is going to keep winning these next four years. Let me say that i for by deepest known, there is no person in america who has been given more gifts than i have. Theres no person in America Today feels more humble in the face of this victory than i do. 50 years ago when i was born in the summer storm, to a wooded mother, in a small town, in the southwest part of our state, it was unimaginable somebody like me could have ever become president of the greatest country in human history. It has been for me a remarkable journey. Not free of failure but full of adventure, and wonder, and grace. I have worked hard to serve but i didnt get here on my own. Every step on the, wait for these last 23 years and long before, there was a teacher, doctor, neighbor, parent, friend, wife, daughter who always had time to care and give me instruction and encouragement, and who never gave up. I got here tonight my fellow americans because america gave me a chance. That is what all the children of america deserve. Our people have to give them the tools to give them not a guarantee, but that real chance to live up to their god given potential. And i ask you to join me in that commitment. Every chance child deserves the great chance that i was giving. So i say, let us resolve to run our country the way we run our lives. Whether you are the party of Thomas Jefferson or the party of abraham lincoln. Whether youre independent or unaffiliated, remember we belong to the greatest nation in history, to much with us much has been given and ma is still expected we must rise to the challenge of building the bridge in the 24 century. Tonight is a night for joined up for us here, but all americans. For the 53rd time in history, our people have made a quiet and deliberatenessish. And theyve come together with their powerful voice and expressed there will. Tonight we express the miracle of america. And tonight we greet the dawn and begin our work and you. Im more grateful than i can say. You have given me a opportunity and responsibility, the comes to few people. I will do my best, and together we will build that bridge for the 21st century. Thank you. Good night god bless america. Thank you