First lady Laura Bush joins her husband, President George W. Bush (news - web sites), on stage after the President gave his speech on the final night of the 2004 Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York, September 2, 2004. President Bush (news - web sites) vigorously defended his first four years in office on Thursday, promising to create a safer world and vowing: 'I will never relent in defending America -- whatever it takes.' 'We have fought the terrorists across the earth -- not for pride, not for power, but because the lives of our citizens are at stake,' Bush said in accepting the Republican nomination for another term in the White House. REUTERS/Gary Hershorn US ELECTION REUTERS