In his prime-time speech to a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, President Barack Obama called on Americans to pull together to face challenges and to take responsibility for the country’s future.

“While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover,” Obama said.

Obama guaranteed lawmakers and a nationwide television audience that his efforts to rescue the U.S. economy will not ruin his long-term goals of creating a national health care system, improving education and developing alternative energy sources.

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