As many historians have argued, the presidential inaugural address is a sort of national sermon. I think most would agree that early this afternoon Obama inspired the faithful. I will spend the next few blog posts this afternoon and evening offering some commentary.
The start of Obama's speech echoed FDR's first inaugural. Both addressed a nation in a time of economic crisis.
Here is FDR's first inaugural address (1933):
In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunk to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; and the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone. More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment.
Here is Obama:
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
1 comments:
It is well to remember that FDR's "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" was not part of the prepared speech. As near as I can tell, Obama did not depart from his prepared speech in such a profound manner, if at all.
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