The following speech was named the Kentucky winner in a national contest, sponsored by the PBS Democracy Project in the fall of 1996, in which high school students were asked to write an inaugural address for the next U.S. president.

Fellow Americans:

For over two hundred years our great nation has withstood many obstacles that have tested the very foundations it was built upon. The union has survived a civil war that stole the lives of 620,000 of our own, two world wars that challenged democracy, and an economic collapse that tried the American spirit by leaving one in four unemployed. In today's world we have been faced with other problems and you have entrusted me with the challenge of solving them. I accept your challenge.

As I lead this nation into the twenty-first century, I seek to bring the rebirth of America. During this American Renaissance, our nation will be safer, more economically stable, and better educated, so we can reassert the greatness of the United States of America. This is the dream our forefathers envisioned, this is the dream I envision, and this is the dream that will become reality in the next four years. As Americans, we are guaranteed the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yet too many of our neighborhoods are filled with crime, our liberties have been blurred by injustice, and the happiness of our families is taken by poverty. This is not the American dream.

In order for the dreams of this nation to be realized, everyone must receive a quality education. I undertake leadership of a country in a modern world in which success is largely determined by education. Our children must be provided with the best schooling possible, and every graduate will have the opportunity to continue their education. I will accomplish this goal by setting aside funds to renovate and upgrade the technology of every deserving school and by appropriating loans for two years of higher education. In this way, every child in the United States of America can use their talents and motivation to achieve the American dream, and use their success to repay their loans with community service. A more educated country will result in competition on the world market and America will again be a technological leader.

There is a nightmare that has steadily risen to unacceptable heights, causing citizens to live in fear and to scorn our justice system. Under my administration, I will not let crime interfere with the dreams of this nation. I will not allow dangerous felons to be prematurely returned to the neighborhoods to endanger our citizens; they will pay their debt to society. Next, I will increase the number of law enforcement officers patrolling our cities and towns to protect us and remove criminals from the community. All Americans dream of a safe society and we will proceed in that direction during the next four years.

The most encompassing issue of our dreams is the social welfare state. The complexity of contemporary American society creates several problems that result in the inability of some citizens to care for themselves. It is the responsibility of government to defend its people against social hardships. In my presidency, I vow to uphold the right of equality of opportunity for every citizen. Every American deserves medical care, a nutritious diet, and adequate shelter. Yet six million citizens are living below the poverty level. Too many young children are suffering from malnutrition. Too many are living in substandard government housing, and too many have no home at all. It is my goal to bring these necessities, which we so often take for granted, to all Americans. I also plan to reform the wasteful spending in this respect by creating a special task force to ensure government support is being used by only those who need it. Every American will have the opportunity to prosper in this world.

I dedicate to you, the citizens of the United States of America, the most productive four years of my life. I promise you my honor, my trustworthiness, and my commitment to ensuring those rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. However, being only one man, it is inconceivable to make the dream a reality alone.

Attaining the goals I see for the future requires a joint effort among all Americans. Echoing the words of William Hazlitt, "The way to success is to be more anxious about obtaining it than deserving it."

We all must cooperate to make America better. Within society, we are constantly devising ways to contrast ourselves with others. We see ourselves as Democratic or Republican, rich or poor, or as members of a particular ethnic background. Too often, however, these differences overshadow the attribute we all share -- we are all Americans with Almighty God as our supreme provider. So I implore you with all sincerity, cast down your differences and allow our common threads to radiate beyond the darkness of our problems. On that illuminated horizon that seemed so distant only four years before now looms a better America. In a dynamic society such as ours, there comes a time in history in which a comprehensive reinvigoration is necessary to maintain the foundations of its livelihood. Approaching the twenty-first century, I have recognized the urgency of the matter. Yet I am not alone in this conviction. You the people have shown your desire for improvement by choosing me to serve your needs for government.

This wonderful endeavor on which I embark will test the strength and integrity of the United States. If the past serves as any indication of what the future will hold, I am optimistic about the second millennium. Under His watchful eye we will overcome all obstacles to the fifty states. The dream will not be realized immediately, but it is my intention to begin the process. God bless America!