NEW YORK--Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton yesterday accepted his party's nomination for President of the United States in a speech emphasizing patriotism and family values, attacking President Bush and calling for a "New Covenant" in which government and citizens would join together to "revitalize America."

Clinton's message was targeted at the middle class and middle America. "In the name of all the people who do the work, pay the taxes, raise the kids and play by the rules--of the hard-working Americans who make up our forgotten middle class, I proudly accept your nomination for President of the United States of America," Clinton said.

Earlier in the evening session of the Democratic Convention, Tennessee Sen. Albert A. Gore Jr. '69 accepted his party's nomination for the Vice Presidency.

Clinton made his address a patchwork of old and new ideas drawn from conservative Republicans, liberal Democrats and even Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot, who announced yesterday that he will not run for president. Clinton also asked former Perot supporters to back him in November.

From conservative Republicans, Clinton drew the emphasis on patriotism and family values. It was presidential candidate George Bush who successfully made the Pledge of Allegiance a campaign issue in 1988.

But last night, it was Clinton who recited the words and claimed them for his own campaign.

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," Clinton said. "That is our Pledge of Allegiance and that is what the New Covenant is all about."

Perot and Vice President Dan Quayle have said that the lack of family valuesis a serious problem in America. Last night it wasClinton's turn to offer his thoughts about familyvalues, describing what his mother, grandfather,wife and daughter meant to him.

"I want an America where family values live inour actions, not just in our speeches, an Americathat includes every family," Clinton said.

Clinton's speech in many ways appeared to be asignal that the Democratic party had learned fromits defeats in five of the last six presidentialelections. "There is not a program in governmentfor every problem," he said.

Former President Ronald W. Reagan made welfareabuse a successful campaign issue. Clinton'sacceptance speech called for "an America where weend welfare as we know it...welfare must be asecond chance, not a way of life."

In addition, Clinton and Gore tried to takeover religion from the Republican territory,repeatedly refering to God and scripture.

Clinton also incorporated ideas from his ownparty. From former Massachusetts Sen. Paul E.Tsongas, Clinton borrowed the emphasis on economicrenewal and opportunity. Clinton began the speechby quoting his platform:

"The most important family policy, urbanpolicy, labor policy, minority policy and foreignpolicy America can have is an expanding,entrepreneurial economy of high-wage, high-skilljobs,." he said.

The idea of asking Americans to pitch in andhelp make government work was reminiscent of theinaugural address of John F. Kennedy '40. Clintontold Americans last night, "you must do your part,you must be responsible."

The speech included a pitch for Clinton's"domestic G.I. Bill" proposal for student loans.Clinton said the New Covenant creates "an Americain which the doors of college are thrown open onceagain to the sons and daughters of stenographersand steelworkers. We'll say, everybody can borrowthe money to go to college. But you must do yourpart. You must pay it back from your paychecks, orbetter yet, by going back home and serving yourcommunities."