At press time, Bush was considering holding a presidential-style news conference in Austin today, where he would be likely to name Colin Powell as secretary of state and former Stanford University provost Condoleezza Rice as national security adviser. Washington analysts expect him to name a Democrat, perhaps Louisiana Sen. John Breaux, to a cabinet post.

Bush is also expected to turn over the Texas governorship to Lt. Gov. Rick Perry in the next day or so.

While yesterday's long-awaited end to the campaign gave Bush the task of assembling an administration in record time, it left Gore to ponder his future.

Gore, 52, had reportedly been so embroiled in the past five weeks of legal wrangling that he had never spoken--out loud, at least--about where his life might turn in case of defeat. Aboard Air Force Two in September, the one-time newspaper reporter mused about possibly being "a writer of some kind."

Last night, Gore said he had not made any plans for the future, besides spending the holidays with his family and mending fences, both "literally and figuratively," back home in Tennessee.

But while he said little about his future last night, Gore gave a few hints that a third run for the presidency in 2004 is not out of the question.

His only regret, he said, was that he would not be able to fight for those whose voices had not been heard.