Ms. Messinger's speech, made before a business group in lower Manhattan, represented something of a political turnabout.

The speeches once again refer to the bill in general terms, and represent the final chance for debate.

Without this investement - this speech can represent two things only:

His long-awaited speech represented the administration's first significant foray into the Middle East peace process.

The speech represented his first extended remarks since he arrived on Tuesday.

On one level, the speech represents an effort to disabuse the public of misperceptions about the word "jihad."

One aide said the speech represented an effort to highlight the administration's crime-fighting successes.

Today's speech represented his most comprehensive policy statement.

"Unless speech represents a clear and present danger of some serious substantive evil, it may neither be forbidden nor penalized."

(This speech represented existing departmental policy but the words may not have been the same as those used by the Minister.)