By Jonathan D. Salant
Associated Press Writer
Saturday, January 20, 2001
Vice President Gore won more votes than any other presidential candidate last November, but he was just a spectator Saturday as George W. Bush was sworn in as the nation's 43rd president.
A somber Gore looked on as Chief Justice William Rehnquist administered the oath of office to Bush, whose victory was not assured until the Supreme Court ended a recount of votes in Florida more than a month after Election Day.
Gore sat through the ceremony showing little emotion, a half smile on his face. He shook hands with Bush and new Vice President Dick Cheney after they were sworn in.
As he left the Capitol, he said, "I thought it was good. I'm fine."
Earlier, Gore and his wife, Tipper, greeted Cheney and wife Lynne as they arrived at the Capitol for the inaugural ceremonies. As Gore then took his place on the podium, he chatted with the new president's father, former President Bush.
The presidential race remained in doubt for more than a month after the election. Gore finally conceded Dec. 13, after a divided Supreme Court halted a recount of Florida votes. Bush was awarded the state's 25 electoral votes, which gave him 271, just enough to win the presidency.
Gore won the popular vote by nearly 540,000 votes out of more than 100 million cast, according to a count of the final state tallies by The Associated Press.
It marked the first time since Republican Benjamin Harrison ousted Democratic incumbent Grover Cleveland in 1888 that the loser of the popular vote won an Electoral College majority. Cleveland recaptured the White House in 1892, the only man in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms as president.
As Gore ponders his next move – which could include preparing for another presidential run four years from now – he will initially occupy the same Arlington, Va., house he lived in before becoming vice president in 1993. The vice president's advisers said the Gores won't leave the area until their son, Albert Gore III, finishes his senior year of high school. Gore also is expected to hit the lecture circuit.
He will get a government pension worth an estimated $95,000 annually, according to the National Taxpayers Union, a private group that supports lower government spending.
