'We have lit a fire ... in the minds of men'

The following is the text of President George W Bush's inauguration address.

"On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the durable wisdom of our constitution, and recall the deep commitments that unite our country. I am grateful for the honour of this hour, mindful of the consequential times in which we live, and determined to fulfil the oath that I have sworn and you have witnessed.

"At this second gathering, our duties are defined not by the words I use, but by the history we have seen together. For a half a century, America defended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders. After the shipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose, years of sabbatical and then there came a day of fire.