5 years ago Watch President Joe Biden’s full inaugural address By News Desk In his inaugural address, President Joe Biden called for unity, truth, defense of democracy and pledged to fight as hard for the people who supported him as he did for those who voted against him. “This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge,” he said. “And unity is the path forward. And we must meet this moment as the United States of America.” He noted the “harsh reality” that racism and fear have played in dividing the country but urged for people with opposing beliefs to come together. “If we do that, I guarantee you we will not fail.”
5 years ago ‘We’re gonna need each other:’ Biden asks Americans to come together to fight COVID-19 By Lynsey Jeffery In a familiar message of unity, President Biden urged Americans to respond to the coronavirus as a unified nation. “My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we’re gonna need each other. We need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter,” Biden said in his inaugural speech. “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.” The Biden administration has challenged all Americans to wear face masks for the first 100 days of his administration to slow the spread of COVID-19, which has infected more than 24 million Americans and killed over 400,000 in less than a year. In that same period, he’s promised to administer 100 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine across the country.
5 years ago Amanda Gorman, at 22, is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history By Lynsey Jeffery Gorman told the PBS NewsHour that her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” is “about unity and a new chapter of America.” In reading today’s poem, she joins the ranks of famous American poets including Robert Frost and Maya Angelou.
5 years ago Biden: ‘Without unity, there’s no peace, only bitterness and fury’ By Laura Santhanam “Disagreement must not lead to disunion,” says President Joe Biden during his inaugural speech. Again, Biden pledged that he will be president of all Americans fighting just as hard for those voted for him as those who didn’t. “Without unity, there’s no peace, only bitterness and fury,” Biden said, adding that “unity is the path forward” amid “historic crises and challenges.”
5 years ago Netanyahu congratulates Biden, Harris By News Desk Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video today congratulating President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their “historic inauguration.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "Congratulations President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on your historic inauguration. pic.twitter.com/wf6a5XhiVe — PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) January 20, 2021
5 years ago Biden takes oath of office By News Desk Joe Biden became the president of the United States moments ago after taking the oath of office at a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The oath was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Kamala Harris took her oath moments before, becoming vice president.
5 years ago Kamala Harris is sworn is as vice president By Candice Norwood Kamala Harris took the vice presidential oath of office at the U.S. Capitol, becoming the first woman and first woman of color to be sworn into the vice presidency. The oath was administered by Sonia Sotomayor, the nation’s first Latina Supreme Court justice. Harris was sworn in using two Bibles, one that previously belonged to the Regina Shelton, a woman Harris has described as a “second mother.” The second Bible belonged to the country’s first Black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who inspired Harris’ career.
5 years ago Biden’s favorability at 49 percent but trending upward By Laura Santhanam Americans are split over how they feel about President-elect Joe Biden with 49 percent of Americans saying they see the incoming president in a positive light, according to the latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll. That includes 86 percent of Democrats. Overall, 43 percent of Americans don’t have a favorable impression of him, including 82 percent of Republicans. Independents are split on how they feel about Biden. Another 8 percent said they don’t know how they feel about him. But Biden’s favorability among Americans is inching upward, according to Marist polling data. In September 2019, 44 percent said they had a favorable impression of him.
5 years ago Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem By Lynsey Jeffery Eleven-time Grammy winner Lady Gaga sings the National Anthem for the Inauguration of Joe Biden four years after she was hailed for operatic rendition of the song performed at the 2016 Super Bowl. Her performance today comes after she publicly supported Biden in the 2020 election, campaigning for him in Pittsburgh, Penn., a key state that Biden flipped from 2016. “We all know this may come down to Pennsylvania…” the singer said to the drive-in rally crowd. “Vote like your life depends on it.”
5 years ago Father Leo J. Donovan gives the invocation By Lynsey Jeffery Jesuit priest and the president emeritus of Georgetown University Leo J. Donovan gives the opening prayer at the Inauguration of Joe Biden. The priest is a longtime confidant of the president-elect, who will become the nation’s second Catholic president.