If those communities are left to decay, this city will decay.

Chicago kept industry, attracted new business, became the center for convention trade and transportation.

If for no other reason than the energy crisis now facing this country, the federal government should be eager to become partners with us in rebuilding our city.

The nation can no longer afford to continue policies that hasten the flight of persons to the distant suburbs.

We must care. We must all care. And while I am working, while the governments is working, so must the people also work.

The people of Chicago are a proud people - and for good reason.

The credit for much of this rightly belongs to the late Mayor Daley who forged a coalition of business and labor that kept Chicago always moving ahead.

I pledge tonight to be Mayor for all of the people of this city - for one Chicago.

If all of us would require the same level of performance from ourselves as we expect from government, this city will forever be the city that works.

I accept that responsibility and ask only that I be judged by my performance as its chief executive.

For my part, I plan to work out a fair and adequate redistribution of city services to all city neighborhoods.

In the housing projects, people talked of ways to reduce crime, relieve overcrowding, and they were good ideas that we plan to study, and possibly implement.

If those communities are left to decay, this city will decay.

City employees will be hired and promoted because of their abilities - without outside interference.

In the days and months I spent walking through the various communities of this city, I found that Chicago did not work for everyone, however.

If we are to succeed, we must recognize that the community redevelopment is not solely the rehabilitation of housing, or putting a mall in the business strips.

We saw hundreds of programs to redevelop the central city, the neighborhoods, in the past.

But as important as the job to be done by government in the neighborhoods, the people must also be involved.

But always I was a private citizen whose activities in government or political party were appointive.

The Chicago Symphony is considered the greatest orchestra in the world.

Chicago's neighborhoods have always been this city's greatest strength.

The cooperation of government at its different levels is important and can only be achieved as long as the people of Chicago are directly involved in our efforts and supportive of our goals.

Be assured that I did not become the Mayor of Chicago to preside over its decline.

I am here before you tonight to dedicate this administration to bringing a new renaissance of neighborhood life and community spirit, a renewal of confidence in the future of our city and a revival of opportunity for all Chicago.

Tonight - by taking this solemn oath - I am no longer a private citizen but the Mayor of the City of Chicago.

As I visited the various neighborhoods in the campaign, I learned fast that it's a mistake to think that all of the wisdom and possible solutions to our problems are available only in this building.

Our universities and museums are respected around the country.

But I am committed to keeping this city a strong and viable center for commerce and industry, for continuing to make it a place of opportunity for its citizens.

The people ask much, often more than any government can give. We must resist the temptation to promise solutions to all problems.

I am a Democrat. I have been one all of my life.

The people must know that from this day on, we want their opinions.

When there were fears about the future of this nation's older cities... when a few of the cities teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, all eyes were focused on Chicago for contrast.

Chicago kept industry attracted new business became the center for convention trade and transportation.

If you think it's going to rain, it will.

Set religion free, and a new humanity will begin.

Unless the reformer can invent something which substitutes attractive virtues for attractive vices, he will fail.

Every American deserves to live in freedom, to have his or her privacy respected and a chance to go as far as their ability and effort will take them - regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or economic circumstances.

It will take a long time, and certainly the West will remain the dominant civilization well into the next century, but the decline is occurring.

Given a fair wind, we will negotiate our way into the Common Market, head held high, not crawling in. Negotiations? Yes. Unconditional acceptance of whatever terms are offered us? No.

I think I've become a much better singer and a much better player. Years and years of playing a couple of hours every day will do that.

To hard necessity ones will and fancy must conform.

Almost everyone will find something in our services worth paying for.

I frankly don't care if you agree with my stand on abortion. I take that stand because no other stand is consistent with decent principles, and no other standard is consistent with the will of God.

Let us eat and drink neither forgetting death unduly nor remembering it. The Lord hath mercy on whom he will have mercy, etc., and the less we think about it the better.

Journeys, like artists, are born and not made. A thousand differing circumstances contribute to them, few of them willed or determined by the will-whatever we may think.

There are those, I know, who will reply that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream. They are right. It is. It is the American Dream.

I want to thank all the fans for their support over the years. Keep supporting the Knicks, we're moving in the right direction here and we will be exciting to watch and competing against the best in the NBA. Come back to the Garden for those exciting games.

How you think when you lose determines how long it will be until you win.

And it was only released in London last week, so when I go back to England Monday or whatever, I am expecting heaps of adulation. I'm hoping there is. If that doesn't happen I will be disappointed.