Mr. Dole, assuming the role of the underdog, made a much tougher, much more partisan speech in giving the Republicans' official response tonight.

But lawmakers, who gave impassioned partisan speeches on the floor, remained deadlocked over its details late Wednesday.

The student-led movement was organized to protest the university's decision to ban partisan speeches on campus.

"Make no mistake," Mr. Gore said in one of the most aggressively partisan speeches all week.

I never heard you make such a bitter partisan speech before, Captain Jim.

"The secretary's speech was not intended to be a partisan speech," Mr. Ruff said.

Mr. Giuliani gave one of his most partisan speeches since the November election.

This experiment was not considered a success, and overtly partisan election-year speeches would not return until 1932.

I would not make a partisan speech.

Why Mr. Mandela chose to give a partisan political speech when a far-larger audience was waiting has been the subject of debate.