The presidential election of 2004 marked 55th quadrennial presidential election of the United States. It was held on Tuesday, November 2, 2004. Republican Party candidate President George W. Bush defeated Democratic Party candidate and Former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts. John Kerry. Foreign policy was the theme of the election campaign, particularly Bush's conduct of the War on Terrorism and the 2003 invasion of Iraq during his first term as president. President George W. Bush began his second term as chief executive of the United States by telling the American people that working toward worldwide democracy is "the calling of our time" in his inaugural address on January 20, 2005. (Foner, Eric. Voices of Freedom. Chapter 28: …show more content…
Unlike that of his successors, he began his presidency with a federal budget surplus; however this was quickly depleted as fighting two wars and broad tax cuts led to annual budget deficits and eventually America experiencing its worst financial crisis in 2008, since the Great Depression. Congress passed a series of controversial Bush administration-sponsored plans to bail out the financial industry with hundreds of billions in federal funds. Bush also pushed unsuccessfully for a plan to replace Social Security with private retirement savings accounts. During his 2nd inaugural address as President, George W. Bush set the theme for his second term: “At this second gathering” stating, “our duties are defined, not by the words I use, but by the history we have seen together”. Saying essentially, The speech was repetitive with a “preaching” rhythm to it that was not stimulating emotionally however Former President Bush believed that we’re fortunate to live in a country that is built on the principle that we are all created equal, with certain