Ending the 2000 Presidential Election

Abstract

In an effort to bring closure to the 2000 presidential election, Al Gore and George W. Bush adapted the traditional themes of victory and concession speeches to the extraordinary circumstances of the 2000 campaign. They amplified the more salient of the traditional themes—declaring victory or defeat, calling for national unity, and praising American democracy. The unconventional election result required the speakers to make artful reinterpretations of the theme on American democracy. At the same time, the speakers truncated the remaining traditional themes for victory and concession speeches—affirming the candidate's campaign, assuming a postcampaign role, and thanking supporters. Both speeches included religious references in a greater degree than has normally been the case in such addresses. In addition, the candidates created settings for their speeches that served their political and rhetorical purposes.