After a year like no other, Americans have just virtually witnessed an inauguration like no other. The swearing-in of Joe Biden, our 46th President, and Kamala Harris, making history as the first Vice President who is a woman and person of color, should have brought at least the usual thousands of spectators to the ample public spaces in Washington D.C. Instead, the city was largely closed off to the public and patrolled by 20,000 National Guard troops as a precaution against a resumption of the riots at the Capitol that occurred on January 6th. Additionally, concerns about a still-rampant pandemic forced planners to scale back the number of in-person attendees. The newly-elected administration had to be content with virtual versions of the usual celebrations, such as having an inauguration special hosted by Tom Hanks titled “Celebrating America,” which aired on several networks and was watched by over 10 million people.
And yet, for all the anxiety leading up to the day, and the somber reminders of our democracy’s fragility embodied in the massive security protocols, the transfer of power occurred peacefully and demonstrated that even in crisis there is great reason for optimism. As an inaugural theme, Mr. Biden chose “America United” — a nod to the United States’ motto, “E pluribus unum,” meaning, “Out of many, one.” In his inaugural address, Mr. Biden highlighted the times in our history when democracy was threatened and yet prevailed. He acknowledged that this year has been a major test, with many Americans facing hardships and tragedies during the pandemic, as well as the confrontation of many difficult questions about racism and social injustice in our country that became a major focus of this past year. However, he sounded a strong note of hope in his pledge to defend the Constitution and be a “President for all Americans.”
Despite the modifications to the day’s events, a number of items remained on or were newly added to the schedule, including: performances by artists such as Lady Gaga and Garth Brooks; a reading by Amanda Gorman, the first national youth poet laureate; the wreath-laying at the Arlington Cemetery; and the long-standing tradition of the military passing in review before the new President and Vice President and their spouses. Live inaugural events concluded with a presidential escort by each branch of the military to Mr. and Mrs. Biden’s new home, the White House.
As momentous as the occasion is of a newly-elected American president taking office, the day after the inauguration is a work day. Mr. Biden signed no fewer than 30 executive orders on his first day in the Oval Office, following up on a promise made in his inaugural address to act on, not just speak about, confronting the many challenges of our day. In his words: “We will pass forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility.”
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