Inaugural Addresses: Barack Obama
The first inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States remains a remarkable historic event. It was the first time that an African-American became President and it set a record attendance for any event held in Washington, D.C. Its combined attendance numbers, television viewership, and Internet traffic, made it the most-observed events ever by the global audience. Held on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the inaugural theme was "A New Birth of Freedom", a phrase from the Gettysburg Address, as the event occurred during the 200th anniversary of the birth year of Abraham Lincoln.
President Obama paid homage to Lincoln during several of the week's events, starting with a commemorative train tour from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D.C. on January 17, 2009. The inaugural events held in Washington from January 18 to 21, 2009, included concerts, a national day of community service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the swearing-in ceremony, luncheon and parade, inaugural balls, and the interfaith inaugural prayer service. The presidential oath as administered to Obama during his swearing-in ceremony on January 20 by Chief Justice John Roberts departed slightly from the oath of office prescribed in the Constitution, which led to its re‑administration the next day.
The address is considered to be among the finest ever delivered and it touched on some new themes never previously included in inaugural addresses, including the acknowledgement that there are non-believers and agnostics among the American people. President Obama began his address by acknowledging that he felt humbled and grateful for the honor bestowed upon him. He thanked his predecessor, President George W. Bush, "for his service to the nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition." He commented that "Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath" (actually, he was the forty-third, since Grover Cleveland is counted twice) and he used this event to transition to addressing the resilience of the American people. He said:
"That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly, our schools fail too many, and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet. These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable, but no less profound, is a sapping of confidence across our land; a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.. Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America: They will be met."
He said that this was a time to choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation. But in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things." He described how the path to greatness required courage, giving examples of those who had made great sacrifices for their country. He urged for the journey to continue, adding optimistically:
"We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week, or last month, or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions. that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America."
He next outlined areas where there was work to be done, such as in the economy, in job creation, in the building of infrastructure, in scientific achievement and in providing affordable health care. He said: "We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do." He addressed the doubters, stating that "Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what this country has already done, what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage." He then proceeded to frame the problem as he saw it:
"The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works; whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account, to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day, because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government."
On the question of healing the broken economy, Obama said:
"Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched. But this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control. The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity, on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart, not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good."
He next addressed the matter of the nation's security, famously stating, "As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience sake." He told foreign nations that they should see America as "a friend of each nation, and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity." He called Americans the keepers of a legacy in which democratic principles were as important as military might. He then specifically discussed the current ongoing conflicts, stating
"We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we'll work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken - you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you."
President Obama discussed the diversity that exists in the nation, stating:
"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."
He told "the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."
Obama pledged help to poor nations, but cautioned wealthier nations that "we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders, nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it." He thanked "with humble gratitude those brave Americans who at this very hour patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains", adding, "We honor them not only because they are the guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service, a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves."
He echoed a theme spoken of by previous presidents when he said "as much as government can do, and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies." He added, "Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends: honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism; these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history." He called for "a return to these truths." He called this selfless concern for one's fellow man as "the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence, the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed, why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall; and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served in a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath." He asked Americans to remember "how far we have traveled" since the experience at Valley Forge. He concluded by saying:
"In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At the moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words to be read to the people: 'Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive, that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet it.' America: In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America."
After the inaugural ceremony, President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden escorted former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush to a departure ceremony on the east side of the U.S. Capitol. An inaugural luncheon was later held at the U.S. Capitol. During the luncheon, Senator Ted Kennedy collapsed after suffering a seizure, and he was transported to a hospital for medical treatment.