10/20/1999
Remarks by
Elizabeth Dole at October 20th Press Conference Announcing Withdrawal from
Presidential Race
--Notes Outpouring of Support by
Women and Political Newcomers--
St. Regis Hotel
Washington, D.C.
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 have 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 have 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 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 women of all ages who have invested me
with their hopes and 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 have repeatedly said that where our national
interests and our national values intersect, we must never be afraid to
lead.
In the aftermath of the Cold War, I have argued for a relationship with
Russia that is based on reformist policies, not 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 am 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
have 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 non-traditional campaign rather than a traditional
one, bringing countless first time voters into the political process as we
seek together to make history. It’s confusing to many Americans – who are
part of my huge crowds and share the enthusiasm that this is not a measure
of success.
This is not all that I have learned. I have 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 pre-existing network
of political supporters. Steve Forbes has unlimited resources. Governor
Bush has raised over $60 million, and has about $40 million on hand. Both
are starting to run TV ads next week.
Already I have attended over 70 fundraising events. My schedule through
early December would have taken me to a total of 108 fundraising 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 10 to 1, but not 80 to 1!
I hoped 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 air waves.
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, a five hour flight from Seattle
gave me an opportunity to do some hard thinking. I thought about the rumor
I’d had to answer for two weeks that I was dropping out and the damage it
had done to my fundraising. 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 have been able to count on my dear family
and especially my precious husband, who 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 for your friendship, your
encouragement, and above all, your willingness to dare mighty things.
Bless you, and may God bless America.
[Prepared Text. Spoken Remarks May Differ.]
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