The concession speech: a powerful tradition in US democracy

Practically, what puts an end to the presidential race is that phone call placed by the losing candidate to his/her opponent, conceding defeat. Then a public speech to gracefully congratulate the president-elect.

Watch some memorable concession speeches in recent US history, in sharp contrast to D. Trump's allegations of fraud and false claims to victory:

https://youtu.be/H1AKGTtV05Q

In 1992, George H. W. Bush (Sr) was the last incumbent president failing to get reelected before Trump -- he lost to Bill Clinton, who would go on to be president for the next 8 years. However, Bush took it far more gracefully than current outgoing president :

Sen. John McCain's speech when losing to Obama in 2008 is also remembered as one of the most graceful and moving concession speeches in modern US history :

A sense of public duty and reverence for American democracy unlikely to prevail this year, as D. Trump has promised a long string of legal battles and multiple court challenges over the coming weeks instead. There may never be a concession speech this time around...

... regardless, the Electoral College will convene at the end of the month and officially elect Joe Biden on Dec. 14th.