I hope， I hope， nobody in this great hall tonight， or in our beloved country has to go through tomorrow without a vision. I hope no one ever tries to raise a child without a vision. I hope nobody ever starts a business or plants a crop in the ground without a vision. For where there is no vision， the people perish.
One of the reasons we have so many children in so much trouble in so many places in this nation is because they have seen so little opportunity， so little responsibility， so little loving， caring community， that they literally cannot imagine the life we are calling them to lead.
And so I say again： Where there is no vision， America will perish.
What is the vision of our New Covenant？
An America with millions of new jobs and dozens of new industries， moving confidently toward the 21st century.
An America that says to entrepreneurs and businesspeople： We will give you more incentives and more opportunity than ever before to develop the skills of your workers and to create American jobs and American wealth in the new global economy. But you must do your part， you must be responsible. American companies must act like American companies again， exporting products， not jobs.
That's what this New Covenant is all about.
An America in which the doors of colleges are thrown open once again to the sons and daughters of stenographers and steelworkers. We will say： Everybody can borrow money to go to college. But you must do your part. You must pay it back， from your paychecks or， better yet， by going back home and serving your communities.
Just think of it. Think of it. Millions of energetic young men and women serving their country by policing the streets or teaching the children or caring for the sick. Or working with the elderly and people with disabilities. Or helping young people to stay off drugs and out of gangs， giving us all a sense of new hope and limitless possibilities.
That's what this New Covenant is all about.
An America in which health care is a right， not a privilege， in which we say to all of our people： “Your government has the courage finally to take on the health care profiteers and make health care affordable for every family.” But， you must do your part. Preventive care， prenatal care， childhood immunization—saving lives， saving money， saving families from heartbreak.
That's what the New Covenant is all about.
An America in which middle-class incomes， not middle-class taxes， are going up.An America， yes， in which the wealthiest few， those making over $200，000 a year， are asked to pay their fair share.An America in which the rich are not soaked， but the middle class is not drowned， either.Responsibility starts at the top.
That's what the New Covenant is all about.
An America where we end welfare as we know it. We will say to those on welfare： You will have， and you deserve， the opportunity， through training and education， through child care and medical coverage， to liberate yourself. But then， when you can， you must work， because welfare should be a second chance， not a way of life.
That's what the New Covenant is all about.
An America with the world's strongest defense， ready and willing to use force when necessary.
An America at the forefront of the global effort to preserve and protect our common environment and promoting global growth.
An America that champions the cause of freedom and democracy from Eastern Europe to Southern Africa and in our own hemispheres， in Haiti and Cuba.
The end of the Cold War permits us to reduce defense spending while still maintaining the strongest defense in the world， but we must plow back every dollar of defense cuts into building American jobs right here at home. I know well that the world needs a strong America， but we have learned that strength begins at home.
But the New Covenant is about more than opportunities and responsibilities for you and your families. It's also about our common community.
Tonight every one of you knows deep in your heart that we are too divided. It is time to heal America.
And so we must say to every American： Look beyond the stereotypes that blind us. We need each other—all of us—we need each other. We don't have a person to waste， and yet for too long politicians have told the most of us that are doing all right that what's really wrong with America is the rest of us—them.Them， the minorities. Them， the liberals. Them， the poor. Them， the homeless. Them， the people with disabilities. Them， the gays.
We've gotten to where we've nearly them'ed ourselves to death. Them， and them， and them.But， this is America. There is no them. There is only us.One nation， under God， indivisible， with liberty and justice for all.
That， that， is our Pledge of Allegiance， and that's what the New Covenant is all about.
How do I know we can come together and make change happen？ Because I have seen it in my own state. In Arkansas， we are working together， and we are making progress. No， there's no Arkansas Miracle， but there are a lot of miraculous people. And because of them， our schools are better， our wages are higher， our factories are busier， our water is cleaner and our budget is balanced. We're moving ahead.
I wish I could say the same thing about America under the incumbent President. He took the richest country in the world and brought it down.
In the end， my fellow Americans， this New Covenant simply asks us all to be Americans again—old-fashioned Americans for a new time. Opportunity， responsibility， community.
When we pull together， America will pull ahead. Throughout the whole history of this country， we have seen， time and time and time again， when we are united we are unstoppable.
We can seize this moment， make it exciting and energizing and heroic to be American again. We can renew our faith in each other and in ourselves. We can restore our sense of unity and community.
As the Scripture says， “our eyes have not yet seen， nor our ears heard， nor minds imagined” what we can build.
But I can't do this alone. No President can. We must do it together. It won't be easy， and it won't be quick. We didn't get into this mess overnight， and we won't get out of it overnight. But we can do it—with commitment， creativity， diversity and drive.
We can do it. We can do it.
We can do it. We can do it. We can do it.
We can do it. We can do it. We can do it.
I want every person in this hall and every person in this land to reach out and join us in a great new adventure， to chart a bold new future.
As a teenager， I heard John Kennedy's summons to citizenship. And then， as a student at Georgetown， I head that call clarified by a professor name Carol Quigley， who said to us that America was the greatest Nation in history because our people had always believed in two things—that tomorrow can be better than today and that every one of us has a personal moral responsibility to make it so.
That， that， kind of future entered my life the night our daughter， Chelsea， was born. As I stood in the delivery room， I was overcome with the thought that God had given me a blessing my own father never knew—the chance to hold my child in my arms.
Somewhere at this very moment a child is being born in America. Let it be our cause to give that child a happy home， a healthy family and a hopeful future. Let it be our cause to see that that child has a chance to live to the fullest of her God-given capacities.
Let it be our cause to see that child grow up strong and secure， braced by her challenges but never struggling alone， with family and friends and a faith that in America， no one is left out； no one is left behind.
Let it be， let it be， our cause that when this child is able， she gives something back to her children， her community and her country. Let it be our cause that we give this child a country that is coming together， not coming apart， a country of boundless hopes and endless dreams， a country once again lifts its people and inspires the world. Let that be our cause our commitment and our New Covenant.
My fellow Americans， I end tonight where it all began for me—I still believe in a place called Hope.
God bless you， and God Bless America.
1992年7月16日，纽约
尊敬的得克萨斯州州长安·理查兹、主席布朗以及纽约市长狄更斯，我们热情的东道主、我的代表伙伴们、我的美国同胞们、我为之骄傲的阿尔·戈尔：
戈尔说今晚他来到这里，是因为在电视直播之前他总是要做些“热身运动”。而我今年参加总统竞选有一个而且只有一个原因：我希望回到这里，完成我四年前没有完成的演讲。
昨天晚上马里奥·柯默教给我们真正的提名演说要怎样写，他也清楚我们为什么要在新阶段中调整政府的方向。今晚我要跟你们谈谈我对于未来的希望，我对于美国人民的信念，以及我对于我们共同建设国家的憧憬。
我要向在竞选活动中我的杰出的同事们致敬：汤姆·哈金、鲍勃·克里、道·怀德、杰里·布郎和保罗·桑贾斯。
在我们搭建的工作平台上的那句话表明了一切：美国所能采取的政策——最重要的家庭政策、城市政策、劳工政策、少数民族政策以及外交政策，这些必然是促使那带来更多高技术高报酬的就业机会的自由经济进一步扩展的政策。
因此，以所有那些劳作纳税、养育子女、奉公守法的人民，还有那些被我们遗忘的中产阶级、努力工作的美国人的名义，我很荣幸地接受美国总统候选人的提名。
我是中产阶级的产儿，当我成为美国总统，你们将不再被遗忘。
我们相逢在一个特殊的历史时刻，冷战已经结束，苏维埃已经崩溃，我们的价值观自由、民主、人权、自由竞争——已取得全球性的胜利。然而，就在我们于海外赢得冷战的同时，我们却输掉了在国内创造平等的经济机会和争取社会正义的战役。
既然我们已经改变了世界，是时候让我们改变美国了。
我要告诉那些贪婪的和捍卫现状的人们：你们的时代已经成为过去，现在是改变美国的时代！
今天晚上，我的数以千万计的美国同胞没有工作，数千万的人们为越来越低的工资付出更多的努力。我们的现任总统说，失业率总是在经济开始复苏前有小幅度的上升，但是在真正复苏前失业人数只需要再多一个人就行了，而那个人就是您，总统先生！
这次选举就是要把权力交还给你们，就是让政府作为你们的后盾，就是要把人民放在第一位。
你们知道这些我在全国各地都说过。无论何时，只要我这么说总有人靠近我，就像本周在曼哈顿东区亨利街住宅区的一次市镇选民大会上一个年轻人所做的那样。他说：“那些听起来不错，比尔。但是你是一个政客，我为什么要相信你呢？
今晚，我要尽可能坦率地告诉你们，我是谁，我信仰什么，我要把美国引向何方。
我从未见过我父亲。在我出生前三个月，他驾车从芝加哥赶往阿肯色州去看望我妈妈，一路上下着雨，他在车祸中丧生。
从那以后，妈妈不得不独自抚养我们。我们同外祖父外祖母住在一起，同时她又必须回到路易斯安那学习护理。直到今天我依然清晰地记得我三岁时所看到的情景：妈妈跪在站台上，一边哭着一边把我交给坐在开往阿肯色列车上的外祖母。
妈妈忍受痛苦，因为她知道只有做出牺牲才能给我更好的生活。是妈妈教育了我，她教我懂得家庭、勤奋工作和牺牲的真谛。她镇定地承受一次又一次灾难的打击，她领着全家——我弟弟和我共同渡过艰苦的岁月。
当我还是个孩子的时候，我每天都看着她上下班，那个时候对一个母亲来说上班真是不容易。我长大成年了，我看着她与乳腺癌斗争，她又教给我什么是勇气，她总是要我去奋斗。
这就是为什么，我要争取创造高薪就业的机会，这样就可以让家长有能力去抚养他们的孩子。
这就是为什么，我会确保每一位美国人都会获得医保，那样就可以保住我母亲的性命，也能够让女性的健康与男性同样受到关注。
这就是为什么，我要确保美国的每位女性都要受到尊重和拥有尊严，不管她们是操持家务、外出工作，还是身兼二任。
你们想知道我的战斗精神从何而来吗？这一切都源自我的妈妈。谢谢你，妈妈。我爱你！
每当我想起全体美国人的机会平等，我就想起我的外祖父。他在霍普小镇经营一家乡村杂货店。那时还没有政府救济券，所以他的客户不管他们是白人或黑人，只要他们努力工作尽其所能，即使没有钱也没有关系，他总是给他们食物，他只是随便记上一笔。遇到此类情况，我也是这样做。
当我长到能够看到柜台以上时，我已从他那里学会如何去尊重那些通常被人们蔑视的人。
我外祖父只有普通高中一年级的教育水平，然而在那家乡村杂货店里，他教给我更多的是上帝所传达的平等，而不是乔治敦大学教授眼中的平等；他教给我更多的是每个人内在的价值，而不是牛津大学里那些哲学家的价值；他教给我更多的是在法律下的平等公正，而不仅仅是耶鲁法学院里法学家眼里的公正。
如果你们想知道，我承诺不分种族要把全体人民团结起来的热情从何而来。这一切全都源自我的外祖父。
从另一个人身上我也获益良多。有这么一个人，她勤奋工作逾20年来帮助我们的孩子们；她牺牲大量的时间以确保我们的学校不会误人子弟；她用一年时间走遍全国，倾听、学习、研究，出席家庭教师协会、学校董事会以及市政厅的有关会议，推出了得到各地区验证的学校改革的一揽子计划。同时她在律师界奠定了良好的事业基础，她又是一位了不起的充满爱心的母亲。
那个人就是我妻子。
希拉里教会我，她教会我所有的孩子都能学习，我们每个人都有义务帮助他们。
因此，如果你们想知道为什么我如此关心我们的孩子们，我们的未来，这一切都源自希拉里。我爱你。
坦白地说，我对那些向我们宣讲家庭价值的华盛顿的政客们感到厌倦。我们的家庭是有价值的，但不是我们政府的价值标准。
我想拥有这样一个美国，在那里家庭的价值体现在我们的行动中，而不只是停留在我们的演说里。我想拥有这样一个美国，能够包容每一个家庭——每一个传统的大家庭，每一个双亲或单亲的家庭，每一个收养的家庭，所有这些家庭。
对我们国家中那些选择放弃他们的孩子，忽视对孩子抚养义务的父亲们，我想说几句话：担负起抚养孩子的义务来，否则我们将强迫你们这样做。因为政府不能抚养孩子，而父母却能，你们责无旁贷。
今晚，我要告诉美国的每一个孩子——那些失去父亲或母亲正在长大成人的孩子——我了解你们的感受，你们也是独一无二的。
你们对美国很重要。你们不能听任别人告诉你们，说什么你们不能成为你们所希望成就的那种人。如果别的政治家让你们觉得你们不属于他们的家庭，来吧，成为我们之中的一员。
过去12年的所有错误中最让我愤怒的莫过于我们的政府将我们所珍视的价值观抛弃，而我们的政治家却把它们挂在嘴上喋喋不休，我厌恶这些。
我从小就相信美国梦应该建立于努力工作必有回报的基石之上。我们看到的却是华盛顿那帮家伙把这一道德信条抛诸脑后。
太久了，那些奉公守法保持信仰的人得到的是不公正的待遇，那些投机取巧弄虚作假的人却往往占尽好处。
人们工作得比以往更辛苦，他们陪伴孩子的时间比以往更少了。以往参加家庭教师协会或少年棒球联合会的时间被挤占，取而代之的是夜间和周末的加班。他们的收入不断下降，他们的税负持续上升，而医疗保健、住宅和教育的开支更是涨上了天。
与此同时，越来越多优秀的人正在陷入贫困，尽管他们每周工作40个小时。
人民呼唤改革，但政府却挡在道上，它已经被特权阶层的私利所劫持。它忘了站在这里真正为政府“埋单”的人们。我们必须超越华盛顿僵化的政见，给人民一个他们应得的政府，一个为他们服务的政府。
作为一位总统，应该是推动进步的强大力量。但直到今天，我才体会到林肯总统的感受。内战期间当麦克莱将军不愿进攻时，林肯问他：“如果你不用你的军队，你能借给我吗？”同样地我说，乔治·布什，如果你不用你的权力来帮助美国，站到旁边去，让我来吧！
我们的国家正在落后，总统的经济理论证明是错误的。自从罗纳尔多·里根和布什执政以来，我们的工资收入已从世界第一滑落到第十三。
四年前，总统候选人布什说：“美国是一个特殊的地方，不是在联合国的名册处于阿尔巴尼亚和津巴布韦之间的随随便便的一个什么国家。”今天，在现任总统布什的领导下，我们的经济已然可悲地落到了德国和斯里兰卡之间。
对绝大多数美国人而言，总统先生，比起之前你的政府执政以来，生活少了仁爱，少了温暖。
听听他们的呼声，在这些方面多做努力！
