Bush sworn in as US President

WASHINGTON - George W. Bush took the oath of office yesterday as the 43rd President of the United States and pledged to work for "a single nation of justice and opportunity," after one of the most contentious elections in history.

As a light drizzle fell on the west front of the Capitol, Bush swore the same 35-word oath of office every other President has taken - including his father, former President George Bush, 12 years ago.

In his first address to the nation as its new leader, he did not specifically mention his bitter battle with Democrat Al Gore that ended after the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in his favour.

But Bush clearly had healing national wounds in mind.

He noted in his 15-minute inaugural speech that some doubted America's promise - "even the justice" - so much that sometimes "it seems we share a continent, but not a country."

"We do not accept this and will not allow it," Bush said. "Our unity, our union, is the serious work of leaders and citizens in every generation.

"And this is my solemn pledge: I will work to build a single nation of justice and opportunity."

Bush got a warm hug from his father after his swearing-in to become only the second son of a President to follow his parent to the White House - and the first since John Quincy Adams in 1825.

Bush thanked Gore, who was sitting nearby on the inaugural platform, for "a contest conducted with spirit and ended with grace" and then pledged to the nation his commitment to "civility, courage, compassion and character."

"Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment," he said.

"It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos. And this commitment, if we keep it, is a way to share accomplishment."

With his swearing-in, Republicans control the White House and both Houses of Congress for the first time in 48 years.

The control of the Senate, however, is tenuous. Democrats and Republicans are split 50-50, but Vice-President Dick Cheney has the power to break tie votes.

Even with Government control and all the good cheer of the day, Bush will have his work cut out for him, with many in the country still upset about his narrow victory.

A Reuters/Zogby poll showed him with a 42 per cent approval rating compared with 58 per cent for outgoing President Bill Clinton.

Some of those angry about the election mingled in the crowd of celebrants to protest at Bush's inauguration, holding up signs like "Hail to the thief" to support their belief the election was stopped before all votes were counted.

Later, as Bush's car slowly wound down the 16 blocks from Congress to the White House, protest signs were interspersed among the thousands of well-wishers.

Security was the tightest of any inauguration. Groups protesting against a wide range of issues were trying to muster the largest demonstration since the Vietnam War debate raged at the second swearing-in of Richard Nixon in 1973. Police said there were nine arrests.

Rain let up in time for Cheney to take the vice-presidential oath of office. Bush stepped up next and put his hand on a Bible used at the first inauguration of George Washington in 1789 and repeated the constitutionally required oath of office.

The oath was administered by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, one of the five Supreme Court justices who voted in Bush's favour to end the ballot-counting in Florida and thereby assure victory over Gore.

- REUTERS

Herald Online feature: Election aftermath

Full text of President Bush's inaugural address

Map: final results across the USA

Bush-Cheney transition website