Gore Yields the White House: The Bush Victory Confirmed
Gore stood at the podium for four minutes and twelve seconds. Thirty-six days after election night, after Florida recounts and Supreme Court arguments, after leading the popular vote by 543,895 votes, he ended it. "Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him." The Court had ruled 5-4 to stop the recount with Bush ahead by 537 Florida votes—one vote per precinct. Gore urged unity, quoted his father on bitter defeats, never mentioned the popular vote margin. And that was it. The closest presidential race in 124 years decided by 0.009% in one state. Democracy held. But hanging chads, butterfly ballots, and "Brooks Brothers riot" entered the permanent vocabulary of American elections gone sideways.
December 13, 2000
26 years ago
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