President George Bush Speaks from the White House to the GOP Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

I know what it takes to be president. In these past eight years, I've sat at the resolute desk and reviewed the daily intelligence briefings, the threat assessments, and the reports from our commanders on the front lines.

I've stood in the ruins of buildings knocked down by killers and promised the survivors I would never let them down.

I know the hard choices that fall solely to a president. John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation.

(APPLAUSE)

From the day of his commissioning, John McCain was a respected Naval officer who made decisions on which the lives of others depended.

As an elected public servant, he earned the respect of colleagues in both parties as a man to follow when there's a tough call to make.