LOCAL & NATION
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021
BAKER CITY HERALD — 5A
INAUGURATION DAY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Joe Biden becomes 46th president,
saying ‘democracy has prevailed’
By Jonathan Lemire, Zeke
Miller and Alexandra Jaffe
“We have much to do in this winter of peril, and
signifi cant possibilities: much to repair, much to restore,
much to heal, much to build and much to gain.”
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Joe
Biden became the 46th presi-
dent of the United States on
Wednesday, Jan. 20, declaring
that “democracy has pre-
vailed” as he took the helm of
a deeply divided nation and
inherited a confl uence of crises
arguably greater than any
faced by his predecessors.
Biden’s inauguration came
at a time of national tumult
and uncertainty, a ceremony
of resilience as the hallowed
American democratic rite
unfurled at a U.S. Capitol
battered by an insurrectionist
siege just two weeks ago. The
chilly Washington morning
was dotted with snow fl urries,
but the sun emerged just
before Biden took the oath
of offi ce, the quadrennial
ceremony persevering even
though it was encircled by
security forces evocative of a
war zone and devoid of crowds
because of the coronavirus
pandemic.
“The will of the people has
been heard, and the will of
the people has been heeded.
We’ve learned again that
democracy is precious and
democracy is fragile. At this
hour, my friends, democracy
has prevailed,” Biden said.
“This is America’s day. This is
democracy’s day. A day in his-
tory and hope, of renewal and
resolve.”
And then he pivoted to chal-
lenges ahead, acknowledging
the surging virus that has
claimed more than 400,000
lives in the United States.
Biden looked out over a
capital city dotted with empty
storefronts that attest to the
pandemic’s deep economic toll
and where summer protests
laid bare the nation’s renewed
reckoning on racial injustice.
— President Joe Biden
they could use violence to
silence the will of the people,”
Biden said. “To stop the work
of our democracy. To drive us
from this sacred ground. It did
not happen. It will never hap-
pen. Not today, not tomorrow.
Not ever. Not ever.”
The tense atmosphere
evoked the 1861 inauguration
of Lincoln, who was secretly
transported to Washington to
avoid assassins on the eve of
the Civil War, or Roosevelt’s
Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via Associated Press inaugural in 1945, when he
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John opted for a small, secure cer-
Roberts as Jill Biden holds the Bible on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the U.S. Capitol.
emony at the White House in
the waning months of World
“We have much to do in this the presidency, staked his can- well as a depth of experience
War II.
winter of peril, and signifi cant didacy less on any distinctive forged from more than four
The day began with a reach
possibilities: much to repair,
political ideology than on gal- decades in Washington. At age across the aisle after four
much to restore, much to heal, vanizing a broad coalition of
78, he was the oldest presi-
years of bitter partisan battles
much to build and much to
voters around the notion that dent inaugurated.
under Trump. At Biden’s invi-
gain,” Biden said. “Few people Trump posed an existential
More history was made at tation, congressional leaders
in our nation’s history have
threat to American democracy. his side, as Kamala Harris
from both parties bowed their
more challenged, or found
Biden did not mention Trump became the fi rst woman to
heads in prayer in the socially
a time more challenging or
by name in the early moments be vice president. The former distanced service just a few
diffi cult than the time we’re
of his inaugural address but
U.S. senator from California
blocks from the White House.
in now.”
alluded to the rifts his prede- is also the fi rst Black person
Once at the Capitol, Biden
His predecessor’s absence
cessor had helped create.
and the fi rst person of South will be administered the oath
underscored the healing that
“I know the forces that
Asian descent elected to
by Chief Justice John Roberts;
is needed.
divide us are deep and they
the vice presidency and will
Harris will be sworn in by
Flouting tradition, Donald
are real. But I also know
become the highest-ranking
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the
Trump departed Washington they are not new. Our history woman ever to serve in gov-
fi rst Latina member of the
on Wednesday morning ahead has been a constant struggle
ernment.
Supreme Court. Vice Presi-
of the inauguration rather
between the American ideal
The two were sworn in dur- dent Mike Pence, standing
than accompany his successor that we all are created equal
ing an inauguration ceremony in for Trump, was sitting
to the Capitol. Though three
and the harsh, ugly real-
with few parallels in history.
nearby as Lady Gaga, holding
other former presidents — Bill ity of racism, nativism, fear,
Tens of thousands of troops a gold microphone, sang the
Clinton, George W. Bush and demonization that have long
are on the streets to provide
National Anthem accompa-
Barack Obama — gathered to torn us apart,” Biden said.
security precisely two weeks nied by the U.S. Marine Corps
watch the ceremonial transfer “This is our historic moment of after a violent mob of Trump band.
of power, Trump, awaiting his crisis and challenge, and unity supporters, incited by the Re-
The theme of Biden’s ap-
second impeachment trial,
is the path forward and we
publican president, stormed
proximately 30-minute speech
instead fl ew to Florida after
must meet this moment as the the Capitol in an attempt to
will be “America United,” and
stoking grievance among his
United States of America.”
prevent the certifi cation of
aides said it would be a call to
supporters with the lie that
Biden came to offi ce with a Biden’s victory.
set aside differences during a
Biden’s win was illegitimate.
well of empathy and resolve
“Here we stand, just days
moment of national trial.
Biden, in his third run for
born by personal tragedy as
after a riotous mob thought
Biden will then oversee a
“Pass in Review,” a military
tradition that honors the
peaceful transfer of power to
a new commander in chief.
Then, Biden, Harris and their
Baker County Monthly Unemployment Rates: 2019-2020
11/19
12/19
01/20
02/20
03/20
04/20
4.0%
3.8%
4.1%
4.1%
4.1%
13.0% 13.2% 10.9% 9.8%
05/20
06/20
07/20
08/20
09/20
10/20
11/20
8.1%
7.5%
6.5%
5.9%
Source: Oregon Employment Department
JOBS
opment Center, said he was
a bit surprised at how many
Continued from Page 1A
jobs the county has recovered
The number of jobs in
since last spring.
Baker County then increased
“Baker’s doing very well,”
in fi ve of the next six months. Nelson said.
The one exception was
An obvious exception to
September 2020, when the
that assessment, Nelson said,
county’s private, nonfarm
is the leisure and hospitality
workforce dropped slightly,
industry, which has endured
from 4,350 to 4,330.
long periods of severe restric-
Jeff Nelson, Baker County tions, including the current
business adviser with Blue
ban on indoor dining at
Mountain Community Col-
restaurants.
lege’s Small Business Devel-
Restaurants and bars
have been limited to takeout,
delivery or outdoor dining
Baker County
— the latter not especially
Unemployment:
feasible in midwinter given
Baker County’s climate — for
Annual average
all but two weeks since early
• 2019: 4.6%
December.
In a December 2020 report,
• 2018: 5.3%
Christopher Rich, Eastern
• 2017: 5.5%
Oregon regional economist
for the Employment Depart-
• 2016: 6.3%
ment, wrote that “leisure
• 2015: 6.8%
and hospitality has taken
the brunt of the impact. The
• 2014: 8.3%
industry remains below
• 2013: 9.6%
seasonal expectations and
below recovery as it rides an
• 2012: 10.6%
operational roller coaster.”
• 2011: 10.9%
As of November 2020 —
December statistics will be
• 2010: 10.3%
available next week — the
• 2009: 10.4%
number of leisure and hospi-
tality jobs in Baker County
• 2008: 7.1%
was 600. That’s 20 fewer than
• 2007: 5.8%
in November 2019.
Rich said in an interview
• 2006: 6.3%
on Wednesday, Jan. 20, that
• 2005: 7.4%
he expects the December
report will show a decline in
Source: Oregon
leisure and hospitality jobs
Employment
in the county, and a resulting
Department
increase from November’s
5.9% jobless rate.
The December fi gures will
refl ect effects of the ban on
indoor dining, Rich said.
Bryan Tweit, the county’s
economic developer, wrote
in an email to the Herald
that some local restaurant
workers have moved to Idaho,
where restaurants are not
restricted as much as in
Oregon.
“I think we will have a
hard time getting those peo-
ple back into the workforce
locally when we get to open
completely,” Tweit wrote.
Manufacturing jobs have
actually increased over the
past year, with 590 in Baker
County in November 2020,
compared with 560 in No-
vember 2019.
Nelson pointed out that
the county’s larger manufac-
turing employers, including
Behlen Mfg. Inc., Marvin
Wood Products and Ash
Grove Cement, are not
subject to the restrictions
that the state has imposed on
restaurants and some other
retail businesses.
Manufacturing fi rms have
also avoided COVID-19 out-
breaks, which have affected
similar businesses in many
other counties.
No Baker County manu-
facturing company has had
an outbreak, according to the
Oregon Health Authority.
Nelson said he’s talked
with several local business
owners who have job vacan-
cies but are struggling to fi ll
them.
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spouses will be joined by
that bipartisan trio of former
presidents to lay a wreath at
the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier at Arlington National
Ceremony.
Later, Biden will join the
end of a slimmed-down inau-
gural parade as he moves into
the White House. Because of
the pandemic, much of this
year’s parade will be a virtual
affair featuring performances
from around the nation.
In the evening, in lieu of the
traditional glitzy balls that
welcome a new president to
Washington, Biden will take
part in a televised concert
that also marks the return of
A-list celebrities to the White
House orbit after they largely
eschewed Trump.
“I protested 45’s inaugura-
tion, and I wanted to be here
when he left,” said Raelyn
Maxwell of Park City, Utah.
“And I wanted to celebrate the
new president.” She brought
a bouquet of roses she hoped
to toss to Harris and some
champagne to toast the occa-
sion.
Trump is the fi rst president
in more than a century to skip
the inauguration of his suc-
cessor. In a cold wind, Marine
One took off from the White
House and soared above a de-
serted capital city to his own
farewell celebration at nearby
Joint Base Andrews. There, he
boarded Air Force One for the
fi nal time as president for the
fl ight to his Florida estate.
“I will always fi ght for you.
I will be watching. I will be
listening and I will tell you
that the future of this country
has never been better,” said
Trump, who wished the
incoming administration well
but once again declined to
mention Biden’s name.
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