time and he understood what sacrifice he was making and went along with a number of legislative initiatives that he knew were going to be costly to his base, and it was with great sadness and regret that he was defeated by a new generation, by the baby boomers bill clinton and al gore and it was really a passing of the torch. he was the last world war ii veteran, you know, that served in that war to be elected president of the united states. i do remember a moment in june of 1992 at a white house press conference and a reporter from ""usa today"" got up and said mr. president, why do you want a second term? he said, you know, bar and i were sitting at breakfast this morning and wondering the same thing and i guess, i'm paraphrasing, my mother always told me finish what you start.