Photos: Obama's Acceptance Speech In Brief

Good leadership requires a special facility with words: an ability to encapsulate a moment and explain what has happened, and what will happen next, to those being led. By that measure, both men seeking the presidency in 2012 did an excellent job of elevating their words to meet the moment—calling for unity and catharsis in the aftermath of a nation giving voice to deeply felt divisions.

Below are the best lines from President Barack Obama's speech on Election Night 2012. Obama’s speech resonated with a tone akin to his 2008 campaign—even harkening back to the 2004 Democratic Convention speech that began his meteoric rise to the presidency. He called for bipartisanship, recognizing that in a nation recovering from economic hardship, a coming together to solve problems was the key to hope and healing.

Mitt Romney conceded defeat with brief remarks in which he maintained he worried for the nation but was confident that, like Obama would later say, the time of political bickering was over and a renewed focus on job creation and progress was at hand.

What did you think were the most memorable parts of the Election Night speeches? Share your thoughts in the comments. 

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Barack Obama's Acceptance Speech (click here for full text of speech) 

Part 1

(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Part 2

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Part 3

(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)