To renew America, we must meet the challengesabroad as well as at home. There is no cleardivision today between what is foreign and what isdomestic--the world economy, the worldenvironment, the world AIDS crisis, the world armsrace affects us all.

Today, as an old order passes, the new world ismore free but less stable. Communism's collapsehas called forth old animosities and new dangers.Clearly America must continue to lead the world wedid so much to make.

While America rebuilds at home, we will notshrink from the challenges, nor fail to seize theopportunities, of this new world. Together withour friends and allies, we will work to shapechange, lest it engulf us.

When our vital interests are challenged, or thewill and conscience of the international communitydefied, we will act--with peaceful diplomacy whenpossible, with force when necessary. The braveAmericans serving our nation in the Persian Gulf,in Somalia, and wherever else they stand aretestament to our resolve.

But our greatest strength is the power of ourideas, which are still new in many lands. Acrossthe world, we see them embraced--and we willrejoice. Our hopes, our hearts, and our hands, arewith those on every continent who are buildingdemocracy and freedom. Their cause in America'scause.

The American people have summoned the change wecelebrate today. You have raised your voices in anunmistakable chorus. You have cast your votes inhistoric numbers. And you have changed the face ofthe Congress, the presidency, and the politicalprocess itself.

Yes, you have forced the spring.

Now, we must do the work the season demands.

To that work I now turn, with all the authorityof my office. I ask the Congress to join with me.But no President, no Congress, no government canundertake this mission alone.

My fellow Americans, you too, must play yourpart in our renewal.

I challenge a new generation of young Americansto a season of service--to act on your idealism byhelping troubled children, keeping company withthose in need, reconnecting our torn communities.There is much work to be done--enough for millionof other who are still young in spirit to give ofthemselves in service, too.

In serving, we recognize a simple but powerfultruth: We need each other. And we must care forone another.

Today, we do more than celebrate America; werededicate ourselves to the very idea of America:

--an idea born in revolution and renewedthrough two centuries of challenge;

--an idea tempered by the knowledge that, butfor fate, we--the fortunate and theunfortunate--might have been each other;

--an idea ennobled by the faith that our nationcan summon from its diversity the deepest measureof unity;

--an idea infused with the conviction thatAmerica's long heroic journey must go foreverupward.

And so, at the edge of the twentyfirst Century,let us begin with energy and hope, with faith anddiscipline, and let us work until our work isdone. The scripture, says, "And let us not beweary in well-doing, for in due season, we shallreap, if we faint not."

From this joyful mountain-top of celebration,we hear a call to service in the valley.

We have heard the trumpets. We have changed theguard. And now--each in our own way, and withGod's help--we must answer the call