‘Never tire, never falter, never fail’

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush defended his two terms in a farewell address to the nation last night, claiming a series of successes at home and abroad. Reaching back to the Sept. 11 attacks, when the public rallied behind him, Bush declared the United States will "never tire, never falter and never fail."

Leaving office with the highest disapproval rating since Richard Nixon, Bush said, "You may not agree with some of the tough decisions I have made, but I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions."

Bush, upbeat and appearing relaxed, called the inauguration of Barack Obama, the first black president, a "moment of hope and pride" for America.

"Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose history reflects the enduring promise of our land," he said.

Bush's presidency began with the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil and ends with the worst economic collapse in three generations.

"Facing the prospect of a financial collapse, we took decisive measures to safeguard our economy," he said. "These are very tough times for hardworking families, but the toll would be far worse if we had not acted. All Americans are in this together. And together, with determination and hard work, we will restore our economy to the path of growth."

An audience of about 200 listened to the speech. They included about 45 people chosen for their personal stories, a practice normally reserved for a State of the Union address.

"Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks," Bush said. "And there are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right."

Bush said he leaves with a "thankful heart." He expressed gratitude to his family. "Above all, I thank the American people for the trust you have given me," Bush said.

That trust resulted in a 90 percent after Sept. 11, but he's leaving office as a new Gallup Poll puts it at 34 percent.

Bush highlighted his administration's efforts to equip the nation with new tools to monitor terrorists, freeze their finances and foil their plots. But he also acknowledged some of his controversial policies, including the terrorist surveillance program and harsh interrogation of suspected terrorists.

"There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions, but there can be little debate about the results," said Bush, who also reiterated his belief that spreading freedom offers an alternative to extremism.

Bush didn't waver in his certainty about the war in Afghanistan or U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

"Afghanistan has gone from a nation where the Taliban harbored al-Qaida and stoned women in the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school," he said. "Iraq has gone from a brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy of America to an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and a friend of the United States."

Bush said he has presided over higher standards in public schools, a new Medicare prescription drug benefit, lower income taxes and the appointment of two Supreme Court justices.