Posting in the last few days has been light due to significant work on the dissertation. Inauguration observation is taking place here in London courtesy of NPR (all times local) with Jim Lehrer.
A complete transcript is available at NPR. Items that were ‘dropped in’ are in italics.
@6:01PM: The first post on the new blog at Whitehouse.gov was made by Director Phillips.
@10:10PM: Analysis of the speech by the Economist paper.
@4:35PM: President GWB is announced.
@4:39PM: VP-elect Biden is announced.
@4:43PM: President-elect Obama is announced.
@4:45PM: Chairman (Sen.) Diane Feinstien’s introductory remarks on the transition. “The supremacy of the power of the ballot over the bullet…”
@4:48PM: Rev. Warren conducts the invocation.
@4:53PM: Ms. Aretha Franklin sings.
@4:56PM: Associate John Paul Stevens is introduced.
@4:57PM: Swearing in of Vice President Joseph Biden by Associate Justice Stevens. [Note: The United States Constitution makes no mention of an oath specific to the Office of Vice President according to Mr. Lehrer, thus the 'standard' oath for governmental office is used.]
@4:59PM: ‘Air and simple gifts’ by John Williams (Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriela Montero, Anthony McGill).
@5:00PM: Under the 22nd Amendment of the United States Constitution, Sen. Obama becomes President of the United States although the Oath of Office has not been administered, via Jim Lehrer.
@5:04PM: Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr is introduced.
@5:05PM: The Oath of Office is administered by Chief Justice Roberts and President Obama is sworn in.
@5:07PM: President Obama is introduced and the inaugural address begins.
“I stand here today humbled by the task ahead of us.”
“We are in the midst of crisis is well understood.”
“Our collective failure to make hard choices.”
“Less measurable, but no less profound, is the sagging of confidence….The challenges we face are real…know this America, they will be met.”
“On this day, we gather because we have chosen…unity of purpose.”
“We are a young nation….but the time has come to put away childish things.”
“Greatness is never a given, it must be earned. The makers of things…men and women obscure in their labor…who have carried us…up the path of progress.”
“We must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin the work of remaking America. For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.”
“There are some who challenge the scale of our ambition. Their memories are short…the ground has shifted beneath them.”
“Without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control.”
@5:17PM: “America is a friend of each nation…we are ready to lead once more.”
“We will not apologize for our way of life…for we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength.”
@5:21PM:”To the Muslim world…we seek a new way forward…we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
“The world has changed and we must change with it.”
“What is required now of us is a new era of responsibility.”
“America, in the face of our common dangers,…let us remember these timeless words…let it be said by our children’s children…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..”
@5:26PM: Inaugural address concludes.
