Bret Beyer: Unity is in our name: What Americans want to hear from the 2024 presidential election winner

As the presidential election cycle lengthens, election night occurs in an atmosphere of fatigue and relief. If you ask people how they feel on the eve of an election, the answer you'll probably get is, “I just want the election to be over.” We don't know if the winners will be announced on November 5th or later. But ultimately, a winner will be chosen, and whether Donald J. Trump or Kamala Harris steps up to the winner's podium, their words will set the tone for days and years to come.

Whoever is standing there, what do the American people want to hear? As someone who has been an avid student of the amazing history of our great country, I can tell you that they want to hear a message of unity, not division.

Our nation's 41st president, George Herbert Walker Bush, was not known for his soaring speeches. But on the night of November 8, 1988, after he was elected president, he made an eloquent statement as he transitioned from campaigning to governing. He said: “Campaigns are about differences of opinion and we are divided by our differences, but elections are decisions and decisions pave the way for harmony and peace.”

I was struck by how the ability to distinguish between the divisive nature of the campaign and the pragmatic unity required by governance perfectly describes the democratic process first implemented by the Founders. . President Bush said he knows people are suffering from battle scars, but he hopes we can work together to move forward in the national interest.

No matter how divisive the campaign, calls for unity are a common theme in election night speeches.

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On November 5, 1952, Dwight Eisenhower learned that he had won the election and began making his way to a banquet hall where his supporters were gathering. He had just replied to a kind concession telegram from his opponent, Adlai Stevenson. Once in the ballroom, Eisenhower read his response to his supporters. “Thank you for your gracious and generous message. Recognizing the intensity of the challenges that lie ahead, I hope that good men and women of both parties forget the political conflicts they have overcome and focus on a single purpose. I believe they will do so, aiming for a better future that is clearly needed.” ” Eisenhower then warned his audience that the only way to succeed in the presidency was for the people to come together. “Let's come together for a better future for America, our children, and our grandchildren.”

Three Days in January: Dwight Eisenhower's Last Mission was released in 2017.

Not all incoming presidents will be so excited about victory that they will reach out to the other side, but most will. Perhaps the most dramatic case was Abraham Lincoln's reelection in 1864, when the country was at war. The war showed no signs of slowing down, and the future was uncertain. Unity seemed impossible.

President Lincoln told the audience that the longstanding question of whether the nation could remain strong enough to survive in the worst of emergencies was now even more urgent. . He said the election “proved that a people's government can maintain national elections even in the midst of a major civil war. Until now, the world had no idea that this was possible. This also shows how healthy “It shows that this is an election.” How strong we still are. ''Lincoln asked his supporters to show goodwill to their opponents and expressed hope for the survival of a united nation. The war ended the following year.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the 16th president of the United States, served as president during the Civil War from 1861-1865.

Even after the war, unity was not easy, and the years following Lincoln's assassination were turbulent. In 1868, Republicans turned to war hero General Ulysses S. Grant, believing he could unite the nation. Although Grant was a reluctant candidate, he was clear about his mission. His written acceptance of the nomination included a line that would serve as his presidential rallying cry: “Let there be peace.”

To Save the Republic: Ulysses S. Grant, the Fragile Union, and the Crisis of 1876

Jerry Seinfeld criticizes New York children's school for offering classes to 'needy' students the day after election break

There were other controversial times as well. Late on the night of November 6, 1968, when Richard Nixon stood before his supporters and declared victory over Vice President Hubert Humphrey, the Vietnam War was at its climax and a large crowd of anti-war demonstrators filled the streets. The election was bitter and many believed the foundations of democracy were at risk.

Questions arose whether unity would be possible again. But that night, Nixon spoke about unity. He said he saw a lot of campaign signs on the trail. “Some of them were unfriendly, and some were very friendly. But what touched me the most was when, at the end of a long day of whistleblowing, a small It was someone I saw on the street. I could barely see it in the dusk, but I saw a teenager holding up a sign that said, “Let's gather together.” And uniting the American people will be a major initial goal of this administration. This will be an open government, open to new ideas, open to men and women of both parties, and open to critics as well as critics. people who support us. ”

Conciliatory attitudes by the winners are important, but so are offers of support by the losers. Even in defeat, many presidential candidates stand on the podium, dejected by defeat but holding their heads up in accordance with democratic principles. Some still inspire us.

On November 4, 1936, Alf Landon wrote to Franklin Roosevelt: “The people have spoken.” “All Americans will accept the verdict and work for the common cause of our nation's interests. That is the spirit of democracy.”

In 1948, Thomas Dewey may have been shocked by his defeat, as at one point during the vote counting the media had reported him as the winner, but he conceded to Harry Truman with these generous words: . To ensure a successful administration, I urge all Americans to unite in supporting all efforts to keep our country strong and free and to establish peace in the world. ”

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And Walter Mondale, after his humiliating landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan in 1984, spoke some truly moving words about us as a nation, articulating the essence of America: “Tonight. Even the American people chose their choices peacefully, with dignity and dignity, in their city halls, in their homes, in their homes, in their libraries, and in their libraries. I would have rather won, but tonight we rejoice in our democracy, we rejoice in the freedom of our nation, and we accept their judgment. Thank you to the American people for listening.”

In his 1984 election night speech, President Reagan spoke of a higher calling shared by the people and candidates alike. “Here in America, the people are in charge,” he said. “And that's exactly why we're here tonight. Victory in this election is about you and the principles you stand for: the wisdom and courage of patriots more than 200 years ago.” They showed us the path to freedom and the hope that will make our country special in the world. ”

Presidents Reagan, President Ford, President Carter, and President Nixon. (Photo courtesy of HUM Images/Universal Images Group, Getty Images)

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On the eve of the 2024 election, it has special meaning to remind us of who we are and who we will become. On July 4, 2026, roughly halfway through the next President's term, we will celebrate America's 250th anniversary and the day our nation's founding document, the Declaration of Independence, was signed.

It was the beginning of the United States. Our name stands for unity.

Bret Baier is a New York Times bestselling author of five presidential biographies. Click here to access Brett Baier Books.

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