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Philadelphia Postcards: Wish You Were Here... The Cheese Steak Speaking Philadelphian Victor Café Independence Hall

Featured Speakers: Colin Powell, Laura Bush, Elizabeth Dole, John McCain and others share their visions for the Republican Party.

Conventions Past: The Past is Prologue Hear speakers from Republican Conventions of the past -- Eisenhower and Dirksen in 1952 -- Goldwater in 1964 -- Reagan and Ford in 1976 -- and Bush in 1988.

The Shadow Convention: Outside the GOP Convention Halls

GOP Links: Republican National Convention 2000 www.gopconvention.com Republican National Committee www.gop.org Democratic Reaction Democratic National Convention 2000 www.dems2000.com Democratic National Committee www.democrats.org

"If you believe that patriotism is a purpose more ennobling than opportunism and expediency, then vote for Governor Bush," said the Arizona Republican who won seven GOP primaries against Bush this year on a message calling for new campaign finance laws.

Hear Sen. John McCain's full speech from Tuesday night.

McCain shied away from talking about this rugged and sometimes heated primary campaign, but instead spoke loftily of patriotism and his strong endorsement of Bush, giving the convention a smooth-running patina for the second straight day.

"It is easy to forget in politics where principal ends and selfishness begins. It takes leaders of courage and character to remember the difference," he said. "Tomorrow, our party will nominate such a leader."

All was not smooth in downtown Philadelphia, however, where demonstrators protesting the convention blocked traffic and sparred with police Tuesday. At least 280 people were arrested before the protest ended at nightfall.

U.S. Not a Global Police Force
McCain's speech concluded the convention Tuesday evening, where featured speakers focused largely on calls for rebuilding the nation's military might and morale -- but with caution in how it is used.

Driving that point home, Bush's national adviser Condoleeza Rice told the convention that the Texas governor recognizes "America's armed forces are not a global police force. They are not the world's 911."

Hear Condoleeza Rice's full speech.

A black woman, Rice touched upon issues of race that retired Gen. Colin Powell first raised on Monday evening and her confidence in Bush understands the struggles of many minorities.

"He realizes that we are a nation that has been forged not from common blood but from common purpose -- that the faces of America are the faces of the world," she said. "It has not been easy for our country to make 'We, the people' mean all the people. Democracy in America is a work in progress -- not a finished masterpiece."

New Theme at Convention
Many of Monday's speakers and entertainers were women; black and Latino, while the sea of the delegates on the floor who applauded and cheered were predominately white and male.

African-American Republicans haven't always felt so welcome, as NPR's Wade Goodwyn reports for All Things Considered. Listen to his report from Philadelphia's African-American Museum, where he talked to many black women GOP delegates.

Then hear All Things Considered Robert Siegel talk with Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne and Weekly Standard senior editor, David Brooks.

Elizabeth Dole, who also ran a short campaign for the GOP nomination, spoke of national defense as a defense of the nation's values as she declared her support for Bush. "The next president of the United States must defend both America's interests and America's ideals. No one, no one understands this better than Governor George W. Bush."

Hear Elizabeth Dole's full speech.

The Importance of Being Bush
The Texas governor is scheduled to arrive in Philadelphia tomorrow when he concludes a bus tour through must-win states. He made a few brief comments to the gathering via satellite link from Gettysburg, Pa., after the convention program honored recent Republican presidents, including his father, former President Bush.

Only two presidential sons have risen to be nominated for president in their own right. John Quincy Adams -- and George W. Bush. The Bush clan shies away from word dynasty, but many find the word hard to avoid when talking about a family that now has two governors in the family and a former president. Hear NPR's Elizabeth Arnold report for All Things Considered on the importance of being a Bush.

Trading Campaign Salvos
Campaigning in Charleston, W.Va., today, Bush bristled at comments made by Clinton about the Texas governor running for president because his "daddy was president." "It's amazing to me that the president of the United States would spend time trying to be a political pundit," Bush told reporters.

Hear NPR's Don Gonyea report for All Things Considered as he travels with the Texas Governor.

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