Facing the future: Bush takes on tough issues in second term

Current Events, Jan 14, 2005

Washington, D.C.--At noon on January 20, George W. Bush will raise his right hand, place his left hand on a Bible, and make one of the most important promises of his life: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

With those words, he will officially begin his second term as the 43rd president of the United States. Then he will follow in the footsteps of a long line of U.S. presidents: He will deliver a speech outlining his plan for the next four years, parade along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of thousands of cheering Americans, and enjoy a night of inaugural balls. (See Time Trip.)

Bush's celebration comes after almost a year of contentious campaigning against Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. The race was so highly contested that about 120 million people, or 59.5 percent of the voting age population, voted. That's the highest voter turnout since 1968.

Bush won 51 percent of the popular vote, with 3.5 million more votes than Kerry. He was projected to win 286 electoral votes. A candidate must win at least 270 electoral votes to become president. (See page 4 for results by state.)

In his victory speech, Bush said, "I am humbled by the trust and confidence of my fellow citizens. With that trust comes a duty to serve all Americans, and I will do my best to fulfill that duty every day."

Building Support

One of Bush's first duties will be to unite a country divided by the factious election. At the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., Bush addressed part of his victory remarks to Kerry's supporters. "A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."

Even if Kerry's supporters don't come around, Bush will have Congress on his side. Republicans increased their majority in the Senate and the House of Representatives in November's election, making it easier for Bush to win legislative approval for his initiatives.

There will also be new faces in Bush's Cabinet. Shortly after Bush's victory, at least eight members of the president's administration, including Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary of State Colin Powell, announced their resignations, as is common for two-term presidencies. Bush plans to fill his new Cabinet with longtime supporters, including national security adviser Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state.

Bush's To-Do List

The Bush administration is going to be busy over the next four years. Here are some of the top items on Bush's agenda:

Iraq: Bush led the nation into the war in Iraq in March 2003, after reports that the Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, was harboring weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were found, but Bush declared the war a victory after troops toppled Saddam. U.S. soldiers have stayed in Iraq to stabilize and help rebuild the country. The task has been more difficult than many expected. More than 1,100 U.S. soldiers and nearly 100,000 Iraqis have died since the war began. Bush is confident that Iraq's first democratic elections, set for January 30, will quell violent insurgents.

Middle East: After Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death on November 11, Bush vowed to use his second term to help resolve the conflict between the Israeli Jews and the Palestinians. Though Israel and the United States are strong allies, Bush has pledged to help create an independent Palestinian state that can coexist peacefully with Israel.

Economy: With the U.S. deficit at $413 billion--the biggest in history--Bush has vowed to halve the debt by 2009 by cutting federal spending and making permanent the sweeping tax cuts he introduced during his first term. Bush says the tax cuts have pumped more than $2.35 trillion into the economy.

Social Security: Bush has also promised to reform Social Security, a government program that provides retirement insurance, disability benefits, and unemployment compensation to Americans. Social Security funding is taken out of workers' paychecks. Bush plans to change the system by letting younger workers put money from their paychecks that would normally go toward Social Security into personal investment accounts. Critics say the controversial plan could cost up to $2 trillion.

Legacy in the Works?

Despite Bush's ambitious agenda, some people say his biggest challenge will be uniting the country.

"I think the president will do well to remember that 49 percent of the American people didn't vote for him," Democratic strategist Sascha Burns told FOX News. "I hope he will try to reconcile this country. It would be the best thing he could do as president, and it would be a good thing for his legacy."

Get Talking

Ask students: When does President George W. Bush's second term start? What are the biggest issues he faces? Which problems do you think he should address first? Why?