WASHINGTON – On a brisk cold January morning, using his family’s 127-year-old Bible, President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was sworn in Wednesday as the 46th President of the United States.
Biden becomes just the 2nd Catholic to hold the Nation’s highest office, spoke of Unity during his Inauguration speech.
“Once in a century virus that silently stalks the country, has 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 have closed. A cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making, moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.” President Biden said Wednesday. “With unity, we can do great things, important things. We can right wrongs. Put people to work in good jobs. Teach our children in safe schools. Overcome the deadly virus. We can reward work, and rebuild the middle class and make healthcare secure for all. We can deliver racial justice and make America once again the leading force for good in the world.”
With the Inauguration, Biden’s run in mate, Kamala Harris becomes the first woman ever to hold the Vice Presidency, sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Officer Eugene Goodman, who diverted a mob from breaching the Senate chambers during the Capitol attack just two week ago, escorted the Vice President-elect into the Capitol ahead of today’s inauguration.
As part of the 59th Inauguration, a public art exhibition was erected on the National Mall to represent Americans who were unable to attend due to the pandemic and travel restrictions on the Capitol. In attendance today included former Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama along with former Vice Presidents Dan Quayle and current Vice President Mike Pence. Former President Jimmy Carter was unable to attend.
The twice Impeached President Donald Trump left Washington during the early morning hours and became the first outgoing President in over 150 years to skip an inauguration and the process of the peaceful transfer of power.
Later today, President Biden is expected to sign 15 executive orders to revert actions taken by President Trump over the last four years, including revoking the “1776 Commission” which aimed at promoting “patriotic education.” Other executive orders tend to focus on the pandemic, climate change, and offering aid to economically challenged Americans.
Local Representatives were in attendance today and offered congratulations to the President.
