Dec. 13, 2000 7:15 p.m.

Gore says he accepts George W. Bush as the 43rd president of the United States. "I accept the finality of this outcome," the vice president said Wednesday night.

In a valedictory from the ceremonial office at the White House he will vacate, Gore signaled some of the bitter reluctance to concede defeat that propelled his 36-day legal battle for Florida ballot recounts.

"Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt," Gore said. "While I strongly disagree with the court's position, I accept it."

He called for his supporters to unite behind his Republican rival Bush.

"We close ranks when the contest is done," Gore said.

"While we yet hold _ and do not yield _ our opposing beliefs, there is a higher duty than the one we owe to political party. This is America and we put country before party," Gore said. "We will stand together behind our new president."

Standing behind Gore in the ornate White House office were his wife, Tipper, their four children, running mate Sen. Joseph Lieberman and his family.

Gore recognized that the 50 million voters who cast their ballots for Gore-Lieberman on Nov. 7 were disappointed. "I am too. Our disappointment must be overcome by our love of country," he said from an armored presidential lectern missing its presidential seal.

Gore spoke minutes after telephoning his congratulations to Bush in the Texas governor's mansion and made a weak joke about the Election night drama in which Gore called Bush twice _ once to concede, once to retract.

"I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time," Gore said in the nationally televised address.

The rivals are to meet on Tuesday in Washington _ a man-to-man summit meant to pull the deeply divided nation together after an unprecedented court battle over the White House.

Gore, a senator's son and 16-year veteran of Congress, said he didn't know what comes next for him after 24 years in public office.

(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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