CSPAN - Jimmy Carter 1980 Concession Speech Aired: 2024-12-31 Duration: 14:47 [00:00:01] Our wealth can be transferred from the destruction of war abroad to the urgent needs of our people at home. [00:00:09] Watch historic inaugural speeches, Saturdays at 7 p.m. Eastern on American History TV on C-SPAN 2. [00:00:22] Tonight, President-elect Donald Trump gives remarks at his annual New Year's Eve gala. [00:00:27] Watch live coverage from his Mar -a -Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, starting at 8 .15 p .m. Eastern on C -SPAN. [00:00:39] The House will be in order. [00:00:41] This year, C -SPAN celebrates 45 years of covering Congress like no other. [00:00:46] Since 1979, we've been your primary source for Capitol Hill, providing balanced, unfiltered coverage of government. [00:00:53] Taking you to where the policies debated and decided, all with the support of America's cable companies. [00:00:59] C -SPAN, 45 years and counting. [00:01:02] Powered by cable. [00:01:07] More from the C -SPAN archives. [00:01:09] Following his loss to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election, President Jimmy Carter delivered his concession speech in Washington, D.C. [00:01:34] The splendid president of these United States. I promise you. [00:01:59] I promised you four years ago. [00:02:04] That I would never lie to you, so I can't stand here tonight and say it doesn't hurt. [00:02:11] The people of the United States have made their choice, and of course I accept that decision, [00:02:23] but i have to admit not with the same enthusiasm that i accepted the decision four years ago i might say i have a deep appreciation of the system that lets people make the free choice about who will lead them for the next four years. [00:02:52] About an hour ago, I called Governor Reagan in California, and I told him that I congratulated him for a fine victory. [00:03:00] I look forward to working closely with him during the next few weeks. [00:03:04] We'll have a very fine transition period. [00:03:07] I told him I wanted the best one in history, and I then sent him this telegram, and I'll read it to you. [00:03:13] It's now apparent that the American people have chosen you as their next president. [00:03:17] I congratulate you and pledge to you our fullest support and cooperation in bringing about an orderly transition of government in the weeks ahead. [00:03:27] My best wishes are with you and your family as you undertake the responsibilities that lie before you, and I signed it, Jimmy Carter. [00:04:24] Ever have to help shape the destiny of this nation. [00:04:28] In that effort, I've had your faithful support. [00:04:32] In some ways, I've been the most fortunate of all presidents because I've had the daily aid of a wise man and a good man at my side. [00:04:41] At my side, in my judgment, the best vice president anybody ever has. [00:04:42] In my judgment, the best vice president anybody ever had. [00:05:03] I've not achieved all I set out to do. [00:05:06] Perhaps no one ever does. [00:05:09] But we have faced the tough issues. [00:05:12] We've stood for and we've fought for and we have achieved some very important goals for our country. [00:05:18] These efforts will not end with this administration. [00:05:22] The effort must go on. [00:05:24] Nor will the progress that we have made be lost when we leave office. [00:05:30] The great principles that have guided this nation since its very founding will continue to guide America through the challenges of the future. [00:05:38] This has been a long and hard -fought campaign, as you well know. [00:05:42] But we must now come together as a united and a unified people to solve the problems that are still before us, to meet the challenges of a new decade. [00:05:57] And I urge all of you to join in with me in a sincere and fruitful effort to support my successor when he undertakes this great responsibility as president of the greatest nation on earth. [00:06:27] Ours is a special country because our vast economic and military strength give us a special responsibility for seeking solutions to the problems that confront the world. [00:06:39] But our influence will always be greater when we live up to those principles of freedom, of justice, of human rights for all people. [00:06:50] God has been good to me and God has been good to this country and I'm truly thankful. [00:06:56] I'm thankful for having been able to serve you in this capacity. [00:07:00] Thankful for the successes that we have had. [00:07:03] Thankful that to the end you were with me and every good thing that I tried to do. [00:07:09] There's an old Yiddish proverb that I've often thought of in the days and months that I've held this office. [00:07:15] It says simply, "God gives burdens also shoulders." In all the days and months when I have served you and served this country, you've readily given me your shoulders, your faith, and your prayers. [00:07:31] No man could ask any more of his friends. [00:07:35] I've wanted to serve as president because I love this country and because I love the people of this nation. [00:07:47] Finally, let me say that I am disappointed tonight, but I have not lost either love. [00:08:13] Thank you very much. [00:08:43] 2024 was a momentous year for C-SPAN. [00:08:46] From continuing our decades -old tradition of providing gavel -to -gavel coverage of the House and Senate, conferences, to landmark Supreme Court cases, and to a historic presidential election, including both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions. [00:09:03] Here's a look back on the year as we prepare for what's expected to be an action-packed 2025. [00:09:09] What kind of crack do you normally smoke, Mr. Biden? [00:09:12] Let me start again. [00:09:13] My name is Jason DeFord, but to most I am known as Jelly Roll. [00:09:16] My name is Brett Favre. [00:09:17] I appreciate the opportunity to be here. [00:09:19] My name is Michael Phelps. [00:09:20] My name is Sho Chiu, and I am the CEO of TikTok. [00:09:23] Have you apologized to the victims? [00:09:25] No. [00:09:27] Would you like to do so now? [00:09:28] They're here, you're on national television. [00:09:31] Would you like now to apologize to the victims? [00:09:33] Tonight, all eyes are on Iowa. [00:09:36] I am today suspending my campaign. [00:09:38] The New Hampshire primary. [00:09:40] But the time has now come to suspend my campaign. [00:09:43] The events were shameful, criminal, violent, all of those things, but did not qualify as insurrection. [00:09:48] This will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate. [00:09:54] Isn't how old we are? [00:09:56] It's how old our ID is. [00:09:58] It's one of the reasons why this program is so valuable, because it does bring people together. [00:10:01] Without presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, there can be no presidency as we know it. [00:10:07] The Republican -led House will not be jammed or forced into passing a foreign aid bill. [00:10:11] I think providing lethal aid to Ukraine right now is critically important. [00:10:15] On this vote, the ayes are 311 and the nays are 112. [00:10:18] The bill is passed. [00:10:20] Declaring the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives to be vacant. [00:10:26] The yeas are 359, the nays are 43, with seven answering present. [00:10:31] Hopefully this is the end of the personality politics. [00:10:35] Tonight, this event is being televised live on C -SPAN. [00:10:38] For the next 90 minutes, we are going to be live from a brand new exhibition. [00:10:42] Welcome to the National Book Festival. [00:10:44] What's so great about C-SPAN is that you hit every side. [00:10:51] This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. [00:10:54] The real verdict is going to be November 5th. [00:10:58] We'd be well served to remember the long and cherished tradition we have in this country of settling our political differences at the ballot box. [00:11:11] Today's decision almost certainly means that there are virtually no limits on what a president can do. [00:11:16] Look, if we finally beat Medicare. [00:11:22] It was a bad night. [00:11:23] They're trying to push me out on the race. [00:11:24] I'm staying in the race! [00:11:26] Take a look at what happened. [00:11:36] I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics. [00:11:40] The most significant operational failure of the Secret Service in decades. [00:11:46] I proudly accept your nomination for President of the United States. [00:12:00] I've decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation. [00:12:09] Just over a hundred days before an election, Democrat party bosses forced Joe Biden off the ballot. [00:12:16] There's the right to protest. [00:12:17] But not the right to cause chaos. [00:12:19] No place in America for anti -Semitism. [00:12:22] Give us the tools faster, and we'll finish the job faster. [00:12:26] We are here tonight to officially... [00:12:36] And you know what that... [00:12:40] A C-SPAN don't play. [00:12:41] Wait a minute, I'm talking now. [00:12:43] If you don't mind, please. [00:12:45] Does that sound familiar? [00:12:48] She went out, never touched by a human hand. [00:12:55] Certainly falls into the general definition of fascist. [00:12:59] That's a good looking group. [00:13:00] Hello everybody. [00:13:01] There's literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. [00:13:06] Yeah. [00:13:06] I think it's called Puerto Rico. [00:13:12] Thanks for being with us on election night. [00:13:18] Look what happened. [00:13:19] This will truly be the golden age of America. [00:13:25] The outcome of this election is not what we wanted. [00:13:28] House Democrats have fallen a few seats short. [00:13:31] We are going to raise an America First banner above this place. [00:13:35] The American people have spoken. [00:13:37] It's a new day in the United States Senate, and it's a new day in America. [00:13:39] Politics is tough, and it's, in many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate it very much. [00:13:49] A transition that's so smooth, it'll be as smooth as it can get, and I very much appreciate that, Jim. [00:13:55] You're welcome. [00:13:57] Thank you all. [00:14:40] President Jimmy Carter spoke about the 1980 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and condemned the actions as a threat to world peace.