THE BULLETIN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 A5
THE INAUGURATION
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
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“
hief Justice Roberts, Vice President Harris,
Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell,
Vice President Pence, my distinguished guests
and my fellow Americans: This is America’s day.
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.
We’ve learned again that democracy is precious.
Democracy is fragile. At this hour, my friends, de-
mocracy has prevailed.
From now, on this hallowed ground, where just a
few days ago, violence sought to shake the Capitol’s
very foundation, we come together as one nation,
under God, indivisible to carry out the peaceful trans-
fer of power, as we have for more than two centuries.
As we look ahead in our uniquely American way:
restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the na-
tion 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 na-
tion. 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.
I’ve just taken the sacred oath. Each of those patriots
have taken. The oath, first sworn by George Washing-
ton. But the American story depends not on any one
of us, not on some of us, but on all of us, on we the
people who seek a more perfect union.
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 dif-
ficult 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 cry for survival comes from planet itself, a cry
that can’t be any more desperate or any more clear.
And now a rise of political extremism, white suprem-
acy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and
we will defeat.
To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul
and secure the future of America requires so much
more than words. It requires the most elusive of all
things in a democracy: unity, unity.
In another January, on New Year’s Day in 1863,
Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Procla-
mation. When he put pen to paper, the president said,
and I quote, “if my name ever goes down into history,
it’ll be for this act. And my whole soul is in it.”
My whole soul was in it today. On this January day,
my whole soul is in this: Bringing America together,
uniting our people, uniting our nation. And I ask every
American to join me in this cause.
Uniting to fight the foes we face: anger, resentment,
hatred, extremism, lawlessness, violence, disease, job-
lessness and hopelessness. With unity, we can do great
things, important things. We can right wrongs. We can
put people to work in good jobs. We can teach our
children in safe schools. We can overcome the deadly
virus. We can reward, reward work and rebuild the
middle class and make health care secure for all. We
can deliver racial justice and we can make America
once again the leading force for good in the world.
I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a
foolish fantasy these days. I know the forces that divide
us are deep and they are real, but I also know they are
not new. Our history has been a constant struggle be-
tween the American ideal that we’re all created equal
and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear,
demonization have long torn us apart. The battle is
perennial and victory is never assured.
Through civil war, the Great Depression, world
war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice and setbacks, our
better angels have always prevailed. In each of these
moments, enough of us, enough of us have come to-
gether to carry all of us forward. And we can do that
now. History, faith and reason show the way, the way
of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries, but
as neighbors. We can treat each other with dignity
and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting
and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is
no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only
exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos.
This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge.
And unity is the path forward. And we must meet this
moment as the United States of America. If we do that,
I guarantee you we will not fail. We have never, ever,
ever, ever failed in America when we’ve acted together.
And so today at this time in this place, let’s start
afresh, all of us. Let’s begin to listen to one another
again. Hear one another see one another, show respect
to one another. Politics doesn’t have to be a raging fire,
destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement
doesn’t have to be a cause for total war. And we must
reject the culture in which facts themselves are ma-
nipulated and even manufactured.
My fellow Americans. We have to be different than
this. America has to be better than this. And I believe
America is so much better than this. Just look around.
Here we stand in the shadow of the Capitol dome, as
was mentioned earlier, completed amid the Civil War,
when the union itself was literally hanging in the bal-
ance. Yet we endured, we prevailed.
Here we stand looking out in the great mall where
Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand, where 108
years ago, at another inaugural, thousands of protest-
ers tried to block brave women marching for the right
to vote. And today we marked the swearing in of the
first woman in American history elected to national
office: Vice President Kamala Harris. Don’t tell me
things can’t change.
Here we stand across the Potomac from Arlington
Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure
of devotion rest in eternal peace. And here we stand
just days after a riotous mob thought they could use vi-
olence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work
of our democracy, to drive us from this sacred ground.
It did not happen. It will never happen. Not today,
not tomorrow, not ever. Not ever.
To all those who supported our campaign, I’m hum-
bled by the faith you’ve placed in us. To all those who
did not support us, let me say this. Hear me out as we
move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart.
If you still disagree so be it. That’s democracy. That’s
America. The right to dissent, peaceably, the guard-
rails of our republic is perhaps this nation’s greatest
strength.
Yet hear me clearly: disagreement must not lead to
disunion. And I pledge this to you, I will be a president
for all Americans. All Americans. And I promise you
I will fight as hard for those who did not support me
as for those who did.
Many centuries ago. Saint Augustine, a saint in my
church, wrote to the people was a multitude defined
by the common objects of their love. Defined by the
common objects of their love. What are the common
objects we as Americans love, that define us as Amer-
icans? I think we know. Opportunity, security, liberty,
dignity, respect, honor and yes, the truth.
Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful
lesson. There is truth and there are lies, lies told for
power and for profit. And each of us has a duty and
responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially
Saul Loeb/Pool photo via AP
Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Jill Biden holds
the Bible on the U.S. Capitol steps Wednesday, just before the new president delivered his inaugural speech.
as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our
Constitution and protect our nation, to defend the
truth and defeat the lies.
Look,I understand that many of my fellow Ameri-
cans view the future with fear and trepidation. I under-
stand they worry about their jobs. I understand, like
my dad, they lay in bed at night, staring at the ceiling,
wondering, can I keep my health care? Can I pay my
mortgage? Thinking about their families, about what
comes next. I promise you, I get it.
But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into
competing factions, distrusting those who don’t look
like look like you or worship the way you do, or don’t
get their news from the same sources you do. We must
end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural
versus urban, rural versus urban, conservative versus
liberal. We can do this if we open our souls instead
of hardening our hearts. If we show a little tolerance
and humility, and if we’re willing to stand in the other
person’s shoes, as my mom would say, just for a mo-
ment, stand in their shoes. Because here’s the thing
about life. There’s no accounting for what fate will
deal you. Some days, when you need a hand. There
are other days when we’re called to lend a hand. That’s
how it has to be. That’s what we do for one another.
And if we are this way, our country will be stronger,
more prosperous, more ready for the future. And we
can still disagree.
My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we’re
going to need each other. We need all our strength to
to persevere through this dark winter. We’re entering
what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the
virus. We must set aside politics and finally face this
pandemic as One Nation. One Nation.
And I promise you this, as the Bible says, “Weeping
may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morn-
ing.” We will get through this together. Together.
Look, folks, all my colleagues I served with in the
House of the Senate up there, we all understand the
world is watching, watching all of us today. So here’s
my message to those beyond our borders. America
has been tested and we’ve come out stronger for it.
We will repair our alliances and engage with the world
once again. Not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but to-
day’s and tomorrow’s challenges. And we’ll lead, not
merely by the example of our power, but by the power
of our example.
We’ll be a strong and trusted partner for peace,
progress and security. Look, you all know, we’ve been
through so much in this nation. And my first act as
president, I’d like to ask you to join me in a moment
of silent prayer to remember all those who we lost this
past year to the pandemic. Those four hundred thou-
sand fellow Americans, moms, dads, husbands, wives,
sons, daughters, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
We will honor them by becoming the people and the
nation we know we can and should be. So I ask you,
let’s say a silent prayer for those who’ve lost their lives,
those left behind and for our country.
Amen.
Folks, this is a time of testing. We face an attack on
our democracy and on truth, a raging virus, growing
inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in cri-
sis, America’s role in the world. Any one of these will
be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the
fact is, we face them all at once, presenting this nation
with one of the gravest responsibilities we’ve had. Now
we’re going to be tested. Are we going to step up? All
of us? It’s time for boldness, for there is so much to do.
And this is certain, I promise you, we will be judged,
you and I, by how we resolve these cascading crises
of our era.
Will we rise to the occasion, is the question. Will
we master this rare and difficult hour? Will we meet
our obligations and pass along a new and better world
to our children? I believe we must. I’m sure you do as
well. I believe we will. And when we do, we’ll write the
next great chapter in the history of the United States
of America. The American story. A story that might
sound something like a song that means a lot to me.
It’s called American Anthem. There’s one verse that
stands out, at least for me, and it goes like this:
“The work and prayers of a century have brought
us to this day.
“What shall be our legacy? What will our children
say?
“Let me know in my heart when my days are
through.
“America, America, I gave my best to you.”
Let’s add. Let us add our own work and prayers to
the unfolding story of our great nation. If we do this,
then when our days are through, our children and our
children’s children will say of us: They gave their best,
they did their duty, they healed a broken land.
My fellow Americans, I close the day where I be-
gan, with a sacred oath before God and all of you. I
give you my word, I will always level with you. I will
defend the Constitution. I’ll defend our democracy.
I’ll defend America and I will give all, all of you. Keep
everything I do in your service, thinking not of power,
but of possibilities, not of personal interest, but the
public good. And together we shall write an American
story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light,
not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and
healing, greatness and goodness. May this be the story
that guides us. The story that inspires us and the story
that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of
history. We met the moment. Democracy and hope,
truth and justice did not die on our watch, but thrived.
That America secured liberty at home and stood once
again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe
our forebearers, one another and generations to follow.
So, with purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks
of our time. Sustained by faith, driven by conviction,
devoted to one another and the country we love with
all our hearts. May God bless America and may God
protect our troops. Thank you, America.
e e
Transcript via The Washington Post
THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT
‘We will be back in some form’: Trump bids farewell to Washington
BY JILL COLVIN
Associated Press
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.
— His presidency over, Donald
Trump said farewell to Wash-
ington on Wednesday but
also hinted about a comeback
despite a legacy of chaos, tu-
mult and bitter divisions in the
country he led for four years.
“So just a goodbye. We love
you,” Trump told supporters at
Joint Base Andrews in Mary-
land where he walked across
a red carpet and boarded Air
Force One to head to Florida.
“We will be back in some form.”
Trump departed office as the
only president ever impeached
twice, and with millions more
out of work than when he was
sworn in and 400,000 dead
from the coronavirus. Under
his watch, Republicans lost the
presidency and both chambers
of Congress. He will be forever
remembered for inciting an in-
surrection, two weeks before
Democrat Joe Biden moved
into the White House, at the
Capitol that left five dead, in-
cluding a Capitol Police offi-
cer, and horrified the nation.
It was on Trump’s on Inaugu-
ration Day, Jan. 20, 2017, that
he had painted a dire picture of
“American carnage.”
The first president in mod-
ern history to boycott his suc-
cessor’s inauguration, Trump
is still stewing about his loss
and maintains that election
won by Biden was stolen from
him. Republican officials in
several critical states, members
of his own administration and
a wide swath of judges, includ-
ing those appointed by Trump,
have rejected those arguments.
Trump refused to partic-
ipate in any of the symbolic
passing-of-the-torch traditions
surrounding the peaceful tran-
sition of power, including in-
viting the Joe and Jill Biden to
the White House for a get-to-
know-you visit.
He did follow at least one
tradition: The White House
said Trump left behind a note
for Biden. A Trump spokes-
man, Judd Deere, declined
Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump board Air Force One
at Andrews Air Force Base on Wednesday, bound for Florida. “It’s been
something very special,” he told supporters. “We’ve accomplished a lot.”
to say what Trump wrote or
characterize the sentiment
in the note, citing privacy for
communication between pres-
idents.
Members of Trump’s fam-
ily gathered for the send-off
on the military base along
with the president’s loyalists,
who chanted “We love you!”
“Thank you, Trump” and
“U.S.A.” Four Army cannons
fired a 21-gun salute.
Speaking without notes,
Trump said his presidency
was an “incredible four years.”
He told the crowd that he and
first lady Melania Trump loved
them and praised his family
for its hard work, saying they
could have chosen to have an
easier life.
“It’s been something very
special. We’ve accomplished
a lot,” Trump said, citing the
installation of conservative
judges, creation of the space
force, development of corona-
virus vaccines and manage-
ment of a robust pre-pandemic
economy. “I hope they don’t
raise your taxes, but if they do,
I told you so,” he said of the in-
coming Biden administration.
He acknowledged that his
was not a “regular adminis-
tration” and told his backers
that he would be returning in
some form. He said the Trump
campaign had worked so hard:
“We’ve left it all on the field,”
he said.
In his final hours, Trump
issued pardons for more than
140 people, including Steve
Bannon, his former strate-
gist, as well as rap performers,
ex-members of Congress and
allies of him and his family.
Trump also rescinded an ex-
ecutive order that had limited
federal administration officials
from lobbying the government
or working for foreign coun-
tries after they leave their posts,
undoing one of the few mea-
sures he had instituted to fulfill
his 2016 campaign promise to
“drain the swamp.” Trump had
signed the now-reversed order
with much fanfare in an Oval
Office ceremony in January
2017.
Trump will be in Florida
with a small group of former
White House aides as he charts
a political future that looks
very different now from just
two weeks ago.
While Trump has left the
White House, he retains his
grip on the Republican base,
with the support of millions of
loyal voters, along with allies
still helming the Republican
National Committee and many
state party organizations.
“I wish the new administra-
tion great luck and great suc-
cess,” Trump said. Just before
leaving the dais, he said: “Have
a good life, we’ll see you soon.”
e e
The Washington Post contributed
to this report.