Video: '2000 Election Night Coverage' (38 videos)

(Tuesday, November 7, 2000, during the 2000 United States presidential election) — The outcome of today‘s U.S. presidential election between Governor George W. Bush of Texas, a Republican, and incumbent Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee, a Democrat, wound up in almost a dead heat, prompting a controversial recount in Florida that would continue until Dec. 12, 2000.

Shortly after 2 a.m. EST the following day, on Nov. 8, 2000, Bush appeared to have won Florida, and several news organizations, including The New York Times, declared that he had captured the White House.

Aides to Gore said he was preparing his concession speech, while Bush expected to announce his victory.

Video: 'The American Presidential Election of 2000'

But later in the morning, as the count in Florida neared an end, the narrow margin that Bush had achieved unexpectedly evaporated, and state officials said they might have to count the overseas absentee ballots before they could be certain of the result.

By 4 a.m., the candidates were separated by only the barest of margins in the popular and electoral votes as the electorate seemed agonizingly split between Gore and Bush.

Bush was eventually declared the winner following turmoil over Florida results that ultimately involved the U.S. Supreme Court.