President Biden, VP Harris, Take Oaths
- Details
- Category: World News
- Published on Wednesday, 20 January 2021 11:21
- Written by Janet Walker
Joseph R. Biden, after more than four decades in public service and two other attempts to secure the democratic nomination, today, made history after a tumultuous election as the 46th President of the United States of America.
Administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts, Biden swore to "faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States and with the help of God preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
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Vice-President Kamala Harris shattered the glass ceiling which held the second highest office to men only since 1789 and who with her oath, which she swore "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic" administered by Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor, became the first female, and woman of color, elected to hold the office.
Coronavirus protocols restricted the Inauguration's public attendance, and while the crowds may not have attended the spirit of democracy and the historical significance of the moment were present.
Former President's Obama, Clinton, and Bush along with their wives, former First Lady Michelle Obama, former First Lady, Secretary of State and first Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and former First Lady Laura Bush were also in attendance.
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Former Vice President Mike Pence, whom many believe will lead the party in 2024, was a welcomed guest and represented the exiting administration.
Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, former democratic presidential nominee, spoke moments before President Biden took the Oath of Office.
"This is the day our democracy picks itself up, brushes off the dust, and does what America always does, goes forward as a nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," reported the Independent.co.uk.
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Excerpts from President Biden's Inauguration Speech
Addressing the world, speaking to friends, and allies reiterating his campaign promises. Elected by a party, and yet the President of the people, President Biden spoke of unity.
"This is democracy's day. A day of history and hope of renewal and resolve through a crucible for the ages. America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge. Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy. The people, the will of the people, has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded," reported The Washington Post.
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His Inauguration speech addressed the devastation of the coronavirus, the lives lost, the "dark winter" and the resilience of the human spirit. He spoke of the sedition and insurrection of January 6, 2021. Of the very ground, where only weeks ago, rioters were encouraged to dismantle and destroy the constitution through any means.
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We've learned again that democracy is precious. Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. As we look ahead in our uniquely American way: restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we can be and we must be.
I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. And I know, I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation. As does President Carter, who I spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.
This is a great nation. We are good people. And over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we've come so far. But we still have far to go. We'll press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities, much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.
Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. Once-in-a-century virus that silently stalks the country. It's taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II.
Millions of jobs have been lost. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. A cry for racial justice, some four hundred years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. (The Washington Post) |
