Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents March 4, 1881 Fellow-Citizens: We stand to-day upon an eminence which overlooks a hundred years of national life--a century crowded with perils, but crowned with the triumphs of liberty and law. Before continuing the onward march let us pause on this height for a moment to strengthen our faith and renew our hope by a glance at the pathway Continue reading “Inaugural Addresses of James A. Garfield” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents March 4, 1857 Fellow-Citizens: I appear before you this day to take the solemn oath "that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." In entering upon this great office I must humbly invoke the God Continue reading “Inaugural Address of James Buchanan” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents March 4, 1837 Fellow-Citizens: The practice of all my predecessors imposes on me an obligation I cheerfully fulfill--to accompany the first and solemn act of my public trust with an avowal of the principles that will guide me in performing it and an expression of my feelings on assuming a charge so responsible and vast. In imitating their example Continue reading “Inaugural Address of Martin van Buren” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents March 4, 1813. About to add the solemnity of an oath to the obligations imposed by a second call to the station in which my country heretofore placed me, I find in the presence of this respectable assembly an opportunity of publicly repeating my profound sense of so distinguished a confidence and of the responsibility united with it. Continue reading “The Second Inaugural Address of President James Madison” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents March 4, 1809 Unwilling to depart from examples of the most revered authority, I avail myself of the occasion now presented to express the profound impression made on me by the call of my country to the station to the duties o f which I am about to pledge myself by the most solemn of sanctions. So distinguished a mark of confidence Continue reading “The First Inaugural Address of President James Madison” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents First Inaugural Address March 4, 1801 FRIENDS AND FELLOW-CITIZENS, Called upon to undertake the duties of the first executive office of our country, I avail myself of the presence of that portion of my fellow-citizens which is here assembled to express my grateful thanks for the favor with which they have been pleased Continue reading “Thomas Jefferson First Inaugural Address” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath Continue reading “Inaugural Address of Barack Obama; January 20, 2009” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents Vice President Cheney, Mr. Chief Justice, President Carter, President Bush, President Clinton, members of the United States Congress, reverend clergy, distinguished guests, fellow citizens: On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the durable wisdom of our Constitution, and recall the deep commitments Continue reading “Second Inaugural Address of George W. Bush; January 20, 2005” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents President Clinton, distinguished guests and my fellow citizens: The peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history, yet common in our country. With a simple oath, we affirm old traditions and make new beginnings. As I begin, I thank President Clinton for his service to our nation; and I thank Vice President Gore for a contest conducted with spirit Continue reading “Inaugural Address of George W. Bush; January 20, 2001” »

Go to Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents My fellow citizens : At this last presidential inauguration of the 20th century, let us lift our eyes toward the challenges that await us in the next century. It is our great good fortune that time and chance have put us not only at the edge of a new century, in a new millennium, but on the edge of a bright new prospect in human Continue reading “Second Inaugural Address of William J. Clinton; January 20, 1997” »