Powell speech a comfortable segue into convention's second-day theme: Defense

Gen. Colin Powell speaks Monday on education and race relations

By Ian Christopher McCaleb and Mike Ferullo/CNN

PHILADELPHIA (CNN) -- An electrifying social policy speech Monday by retired Gen. Colin Powell capped the first night of the four-day Republican National Convention and created a transition into Tuesday's program: maintaining a strong national defense and honoring veterans.

Powell is one of the nation's most respected war veterans, and the placement of his address on education, race relations and the expansion of social and economic opportunity would seem expertly timed. With the opening of the convention's third session on Tuesday evening, members of the GOP faithful will shift gears to consider the theme "Strength and Security with A Purpose: Safe in our Homes and in the World," after Powell closed out Monday's theme of "Opportunity with a Purpose."

TRANSCRIPT Laura Bush speaks at the Republican National Convention Retired Gen. Colin Powell addresses Republicans    VIDEO Laura Bush speaks to the Republican National Convention - Part 1 (July 31) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Laura Bush speaks to the Republican National Convention - Part 2 (July 31) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Colin Powell speaks to the Republican National Convention - Part 1 Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Colin Powell speaks to the Republican National Convention - Part 2 Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Bernard Shaw takes a closer look at the life of Laura Bush Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Powell, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff credited with helping the victory of the Western and Arab coalition over Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War, has spent the seven years following his retirement engaged in a number of efforts to promote volunteerism and public service as a means of opening up avenues of opportunity for those in need.

On the convention's second night, luminaries and party activists who take to the podium will discuss national security, international relations and the contributions of American military veterans who fought in the 20th century's pivotal armed conflicts.

Powell's powerful address

In arguably the most-awaited speech of the Republican convention thus far, Powell called on parents to step up to their responsibilities to improve the lives of their children.

"With all the success we have, with all the wealth we have created, we have much more work to do and a long way to go to bring the promise of America to every single American," Powell told delegates gathered for the convention's first day. He said if children fail, "the problem is us. If we fail to give them what they need to be successful in life, the burden is on us, not our children."

He called on parents "to point kids in the right direction for life," and said education and proper parenting fit together in the lives of children.

"Education is the key to breaking that cycle of poverty and failure," he told the audience.

Powell called on delegates to not fear controversial education proposals such as home schooling, charter schools and publicly funded scholarships allowing low-income children to attend private schools.

Mrs. Bush's debut

Powell's address came shortly after a speech by Texas' first lady, Laura Bush, who told the cheering throng of delegates that her husband -- Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the soon-to-be nominated presidential candidate -- will "make a great president."

"George is a leader that inspires the best in others, and he will bring out the best in this country," said Mrs. Bush, a former teacher and librarian. As her in-laws, former President George Bush and his wife Barbara, looked on, she said her husband of 23 years will "inspire us to dream bigger and do more."

Laura Bush, wife of Gov. George W. Bush, makes her national debut Monday at the Republican convention

Throughout Monday, Mrs. Bush's speech prompted a significant amount of buzz among delegates on the convention floor. Mrs. Bush, who readily admitted she had "never given a speech before so many people before," is highly regarded in Texas -- especially among state Republicans, many of whom expected a solid performance from her.

"Laura is a very intelligent woman. She is loyal, she is loving and she is genuine," Texas delegate and Bush family friend Debbie Francis said.

Between Mrs. Bush and Powell was a satellite appearance by the Texas governor, who is engaged on a pre-arrival campaign swing through the battleground state of Ohio.

"Tonight you heard from the best speaker in our family, my wife Laura," Bush said moments after she concluded her remarks. "Watching her speak tonight, seeing her grace and strength, reminded me just how much I love her."

Bush then introduced Powell, who he said is "working to open the door to opportunity for every child in America as chairman of (the group) America's Promise."

The new-fangled rolling roll call

Still hundreds of miles from the GOP convention site, south Philadelphia's Comcast First Union Center, the Texas governor is now more than one-quarter of the way to his party's nomination following a newly implemented "rolling roll call" of delegates. The voting procedure, initiated Monday night on the convention floor, allows some state delegations to cast their nominating votes days earlier than they would under standard convention rules.

Arizona delegation chairman Cindy McCain, wife of Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, replies during a rolling roll call vote at the convention

The roll call began with Alabama and proceeding through Iowa after Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert gaveled the convention session to order. The votes will end on Thursday night, when Bush enters the convention hall to receive his party's nomination and deliver his acceptance speech.

He'll arrive Wednesday in Philadelphia. Some 1,034 votes will be needed for the nomination, and party officials appear to be shooting for Bush to go over the top on that night, possibly when Wyoming, vice presidential designee Dick Cheney's home state, casts its votes.

By the time Iowa's delegation completed the balloting Monday night, Bush had 293 delegate votes, compared to five for Alan Keyes -- all from the Arkansas delegation. Keyes got the votes thanks to his showing in that state's primary earlier this year.

During Monday night's session, a variety of citizens delivered speeches and video presentations based on their work with a number of charities and faith-based organizations. Alternative and experimental educational and social services programs were discussed -- many of which involve large elements of private sector support -- and so-called "Profiles in Courage" presentations featuring people who described themselves as products of such endeavors.

But even with the GOP's new push to present itself as a party of inclusion, rather than an organization of political partisans intent on going on the offensive against the Democrats -- as they did in San Diego in 1996 -- some minority members of the party remained dissatisfied Monday night.

Though the party went to great lengths Monday night to showcase minority speakers, African-Americans are still heavily underrepresented on the party, some participants said on the floor. Ed Martin, an African American running for the House of Representatives in Alabama's 7th District, said he had hoped his party would be eager to play up his candidacy, but he was feeling dismayed as the convention kicked into full gear.

"I am disappointed. I don't understand this process, and you would think that being the one black delegate from Alabama, the delegation and the party would be more interested in giving me some exposure. But they do not seem to be," he said.

There are 44 delegates in Alabama's delegation. Martin, a private investigator who says his chances against incumbent Democrat Earl Hilliard are "excellent," said the party should play up the fact that he is "the first black delegate from Alabama to reach this milestone in 80 years."

But the call for an appreciation of diversity is appealing to a wide range of ears. The Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the now-defunct Moral Majority and a voice of the conservative Christian movement, said Monday night that gays should be welcomed into the GOP -- and he'd want their support if he were running for office.

"This is a political party, not a church," Falwell said.

A new role for a one-time lightning rod

Amid the endless shuffling of entourages, security details, journalists and delegates on the crowded convention floor, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia seemed content to observe the chaos from the back of the convention floor -- as a private citizen.

Gingrich, credited for engineering the Republicans' shocking takeover of the House of Representatives in 1994 and often vilified for sharply partisan politicking that emerged soon after, has left politics: He resigned from the House after GOP losses in the 1998 midterm elections. He is attending the 2000 GOP convention, in part, as a political analyst for Fox News.

Gingrich played a low-profile role at the 1996 GOP convention, despite the office he then held.

The Texas delegation gathers Monday for a GOP convention morning session

"Four years ago it was much different," he said. "They would tell me, 'Speaker, you've got a minute here and then we've got to move on,' " Gingrich said of the atmosphere on the floor.

"I'm very, very excited about the prospect of nominating George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, Gingrich said. "And I think that the emphasis on outreach puts a tremendous amount on (Vice President Al) Gore, because I assume they're going to have four days in Los Angeles that's purely negative."

Seemingly pleased at the upbeat approach this year's gathering has taken on, Gingrich said he didn't view efforts to cast the four-day extravaganza as a "different kind of Republican convention" as a direct attack on his leadership during the 1996 party gathering, when former Sen. Bob Dole was nominated to run against President Clinton.

"I wrote a book called 'To Renew America,' and I look up at a sign that says, 'Renewing America's Purpose,' " Gingrich philosophized. "I feel that they're building at what we did, and I feel actually, very comfortable with it."

Tuesday's program

When the Republican convention is brought to order just after 7 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, the proceedings' second theme of domestic safety and national defense will be driven home in much the same way Monday's theme was highlighted through appearances by luminaries and activists.

Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf -- who led coalition forces on the ground during the Gulf War -- will appear live via satellite from the deck of the battleship USS New Jersey to discuss military readiness. The now-retired vessel is anchored across the Delaware River in Camden, New Jersey.

Retired Sen. Bob Dole, the 1996 GOP nominee for the presidency and decorated a World War II veteran, will lead a salute to all American veterans before an appearance by Condoleezza Rice, Bush's international affairs adviser. Rice, who served as a national security aide in the Reagan and Bush administrations, will discuss international relations in the post-Cold War era.

Dole's wife, Elizabeth Dole, who ran a short campaign for the 2000 GOP presidential nomination, will discuss the "principle of strength through compassion," before Arizona Sen. John McCain closes the evening with an address focusing on the merits of a strong military.

CNN's Keating Holland and Jeanne Meserve contributed to this report.