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The text of Elizabeth Dole's speech,
withdrawing from the presidential race, as transcribed by the Federal Document
Clearing House, in Washington D.C. on October 20, 1999.
ELIZABETH DOLE: Thank you. Oh, my. thank
you.
Well, good morning everyone, and thank
you for coming.
Nine months ago, I embarked upon a very
personal exploration, one designed to help me decide whether to seek my
party's presidential nomination.
Wherever I've traveled I've found audiences
hungry for a different kind of leadership. One that looks beyond focus groups
and tracking polls to what is timeless and decent and true.
At the same time, I sensed a longing for
community and a desire on the part of grassroots Americans to be part of
something bigger than themselves.
More than 30 years ago, as a young woman
from Salisbury, North Carolina, I harbored similar feelings. Determined
to be part of the events of my time, I embraced the idea of public service
as a noble calling. It was to help rekindle in others my own sense of youthful
idealism that I left the American Red Cross last January.
In the months since, much has been made
of the symbolism of my candidacy. I've been all but overwhelmed by woman
of all ages who have invested me with their hopes and their dreams, and
who have contributed generously of their time, talent and resources.
But along with the symbolism, there was
also substance: The substance of ideas, and the challenge to overcome conventional
or dangerous thinking.
To those who question American involvement
in the world, I've repeatedly said that where our national interests and
national values intersect, we must never be afraid to lead.
In the aftermath of the Cold War, I've
argued for a relationship with Russia that's based on reformist policies
rather than personalities. In an era when weapons of mass destruction include
computer viruses as well as North Korean Missiles, I've insisted on making
technology our friend as well as our protector. That means proceeding with
construction of a missile defense system.
Closer to home, it means realizing the
promise of the Internet, while denying it to pornographers and others who
would deaden the souls of our young people.
I'm proud of having offered an early comprehensive
plan to address the farm crisis; and of insisting that our children be protected
from merchants of death, whether they sell dope on a street corner or a
sawed-off shotgun over the counter; higher teacher pay for better performance;
a return of discipline to the classroom with a zero tolerance policy for
disruptive students; reestablishment of parental control in the schools.
These are just some of the educational reforms for which I have contended.
Of course, running for president is an
education in itself. At times I felt as if there were two entirely separate
campaigns underway. Outside the Beltway, real people by the thousands turned
out to discuss their schools and health care, tax cuts, and the state of
our defenses.
In the real America, it's more important
to raise issues than to raise campaign funds.
I've tried to run a nontraditional campaign
rather than a traditional one, bringing countless first time voters into
the political process, as we have sought, together, to make history.
It's confusing to many Americans who are
part of my huge crowds and share my enthusiasm that this is not a measure
of success. But this is not all that I've learned. I've learned that the
current political calendar and election laws favor those who get an early
start, and can tap into huge private fortunes, or who have a preexisting
network of political supporters.
Steve Forbes has unlimited resources. Gov.
Bush has raised over $60 million and has about $40 million on hand. Both
are starting to run TV ads next week.
Already, I've attended over 70 fund-raising
events. My schedule through early December would have taken me to a total
of 108 fund-raising events across America. Even then, these rivals would
enjoy a 75- or 80-to-1 cash advantage. Perhaps I could handle 2-to-1 or
even 10-to-1, but not 80-to-1.
I hope to compensate by attracting new
people to the political process, by emphasizing experience and advocating
substantive issues. But important as these things may be, the bottom line
remains money.
In fact, it's a kind of Catch-22. Inadequate
funding limits the number of staff at headquarters and in key states, it
restricts your ability to communicate with voters. It places a ceiling on
travel and travel staff. Over time it becomes nearly impossible to sustain
an effective campaign. Wherever you go, you find yourself answering questions
not so much about guns in the classroom, or China in the World Trade Organization,
but money in the bank and ads on the airways.
All my life I've been accustomed to challenging
the odds, but the first obligation of any candidate is to be honest: honest
with herself and honest with her supporters.
Last Sunday, the five-hour flight from
Seattle, gave me an opportunity to do some hard thinking. I thought about
the rumor I had had to answer for two weeks that I was dropping out, and
the damage it had done to my fund-raising.
I thought a lot if there was any other
avenue not yet explored for raising money. When I arrived home, I told Bob
that, this time, the odds are overwhelming. It would be futile to continue,
and he reluctantly agreed.
Any other decision would be less than honest
to an outstanding campaign team led by the very able Tom Daffron and backed
by thousands of volunteers and donors whose enthusiasm gave us a powerful
grassroots presence despite our limited resources.
I can never fully convey my gratitude to
each of you, or to the endless stream of young people, many of you who had
turned away from public service but were eager to apply your energies and
idealism on my behalf.
God has blessed me in so many ways. Those
blessings have included friends like Earl Cox and Margaret Kluttz, who led
the 18-month draft Dole movement, as well as my outstanding national finance
chair, Bonnie McElveen Hunter.
Throughout, I've been able to count on
my dear family and especially my precious husband who urged me ... He urged
me to share my vision of a better America in the new millennium.
In the words of the poet, we shall not
cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive
where we started and know the place for the first time.
Today marks the latest but by no means
the last chapter in a story of service that began many years ago. The road
ahead beckons. To my friends I say take heart. We will meet again, and often,
in the unending struggle to realize America's promise as a land whose greatness
lies not in the power of her government, but in the freedom of her people.
At the beginning of this remarkable century,
Theodore Roosevelt challenged his fellow citizens to accept their obligations
as freedom's champion and defender. As I leave the race, never were words
more apt than Teddy Roosevelt's tribute to the man or woman in the arena.
Far better it is to dare mighty things,
to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take
rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much because
they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
God willing, there are many arenas in which
to fight, many ways to contribute. So while I may not be a candidate for
the presidency in 2000, I'm a long way from the twilight.
Thank you all. One more sentence. Thank
you all, everyone here, for your friendship, your encouragement, and above
all, your willingness to dare mighty things.
God bless each and every one of you and
God bless America. Thank you for joining me this morning.
DOLE: First, as far as an endorsement,
this is my day to share with you what my decision has been just in the last
few hours. And so now I'll take some time to really think it all through.
Secondly, I've been running for president and running to win, so I've really
not considered the vice presidency. So, I have no comments on that. I've
been focused on running to win. So we'll leave it right there.
Q: About women, do you think woman should
... what do you say to women who may feel discouraged by your pulling out
of the race at this time when we have so few women running?
DOLE: No, I think that in terms of women
and their views of my withdrawing from the race right now ...I think what
we've done is pave the way for the person who will be the first woman president.
And I'm just delighted at what has happened because I feel like we've really
made a great contribution.
Now, as I look at the huge crowds that
just last week were turning out in Iowa, they continue to be there, the
enthusiasm, the excitement, people who've been disengaged, almost totally
disconnected from politics who are enthusiastic again. The women who, traditionally,
we're told by the Center for Responsive Politics, give about 23 percent
of the gifts $200 and above. And politics -- though they raised lots of
money for humanitarian causes and civic causes, not so much in politics;
only 23 percent. Fifty percent of my donors last quarter were women; 50
percent.
And I think, clearly, woman have gotten
very ... you know, it's almost as if when you're talking to an audience
and you're trying to share your leadership, you want to inspire people ...
it's almost as if you see some women sit up a little straighter because
you're trying to empower them to understand that they can do it, they can
really make a difference. And I sense that all across America.
And I'm going to continue to speak out
and to help to get women and young people, especially, more involved in
the political process, absolutely.
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