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Biden Takes Helm as US President 01/20 14:32
Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on
Wednesday, summoning American resilience to confront a historic confluence of
crises and urging people to come together to end an "uncivil war" in a nation
deeply divided after four tumultuous years
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the
United States on Wednesday, summoning American resilience to confront a
historic confluence of crises and urging people to come together to end an
"uncivil war" in a nation deeply divided after four tumultuous years
Declaring that "democracy has prevailed," Biden took the oath at a U.S.
Capitol that had been battered by an insurrectionist siege just two weeks
earlier.
On a chill Washington morning dotted with snow flurries, the quadrennial
ceremony unfolded within a circle of security forces evocative of a war zone
and devoid of crowds because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, Biden gazed
out over 200,000 American flags planted on the National Mall to symbolize those
who could not attend in person.
"The will of the people has been heard, and the will of the people has been
heeded. We've learned again that democracy is precious and democracy is
fragile. At this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed," Biden said. "This
is America's day. This is democracy's day. A day in history and hope, of
renewal and resolve."
Biden never mentioned his predecessor, who defied tradition and left town
ahead of the ceremony, but his speech was an implicit rebuke of Donald Trump.
The new president denounced "lies told for power and for profit" and was blunt
about the challenges ahead.
Central among them: the surging virus that has claimed more than 400,000
lives in the United States, as well as economic strains and a national
reckoning over race.
"We have much to do in this winter of peril, and significant possibilities.
Much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build and much to gain,"
Biden said. "Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged, or
found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now."
Biden was eager to go big early, with an ambitious first 100 days that
includes a push to speed up the distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations to
anxious Americans and pass a $1.9 trillion virus relief package. On Day One, he
planned a series of executive actions to roll back Trump administration
initiatives and also planned to send an immigration proposal to Capitol Hill
that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for immigrants living in
the country illegally.
The absence of Biden's predecessor from the inaugural ceremony, a break from
tradition, underscored the rift to be healed.
But a bipartisan trio of three former presidents -- Bill Clinton, George W.
Bush and Barack Obama -- were there to witness the ceremonial transfer of
power. Trump, awaiting his second impeachment trial, was at his Florida resort
by the time the swearing-in took place.
Biden, in his third run for the presidency, staked his candidacy less on any
distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters
around the notion that Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy.
Biden did not mention Trump by name but alluded to the rifts his predecessor
had helped create.
"I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. But I also
know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the
American ideal that we all are created equal and the harsh, ugly reality of
racism, nativism, fear, demonization that have long torn us apart," Biden said.
"This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path
forward and we must meet this moment as the United States of America."
Biden came to office with a well of empathy and resolve born by personal
tragedy as well as a depth of experience forged from more than four decades in
Washington. At age 78, he was the oldest president inaugurated.
More history was made at his side, as Kamala Harris became the first woman
to be vice president. The former U.S. senator from California is also the first
Black person and the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice
presidency and the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government.
The two were sworn in during an inauguration ceremony with few parallels.
Tens of thousands of troops were on the streets to provide security precisely
two weeks after a violent mob of Trump supporters, incited by the Republican
president, stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of
Biden's victory.
"Here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use
violence to silence the will of the people," Biden said. "To stop the work of
our democracy. To drive us from this sacred ground. It did not happen. It will
never happen. Not today, not tomorrow. Not ever. Not ever."
The tense atmosphere evoked the 1861 inauguration of Lincoln, who was
secretly transported to Washington to avoid assassins on the eve of the Civil
War, or Roosevelt's inaugural in 1945, when he opted for a small, secure
ceremony at the White House in the waning months of World War II.
But Washington, all but deserted downtown and in its federal areas, was
quiet. And calm also prevailed outside heavily fortified state Capitol
buildings across nation after the FBI had warned of the possibility for armed
demonstrations leading up to the inauguration.
The day began with a reach across the political aisle after four years of
bitter partisan battles under Trump. At Biden's invitation, congressional
leaders from both parties bowed their heads in prayer in the socially distanced
service just a few blocks from the White House.
Biden was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts; Harris by Justice Sonia
Sotomayor, the first Latina member of the Supreme Court. Vice President Mike
Pence, standing in for Trump, sat nearby as Lady Gaga, holding a golden
microphone, sang the National Anthem accompanied by the U.S. Marine Corps band.
When Pence, in a last act of the outgoing administration, left the Capitol,
he walked through a door with badly cracked glass from the riot two weeks ago.
Later, Biden, Harris and their spouses were joined by the former presidents to
lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Ceremony.
Biden was also to join the end of a slimmed-down inaugural parade as he
moves into the White House. Because of the pandemic, much of this year's parade
was to be a virtual affair featuring performances from around the nation.
In the evening, in lieu of the traditional glitzy balls that welcome a new
president to Washington, Biden will take part in a televised concert that also
marks the return of A-list celebrities to the White House orbit after they
largely eschewed Trump. Among those in the lineup: Bruce Springsteen, Justin
Timberlake and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
This was not an inauguration for the crowds. But Americans in the capital
city nonetheless brought their hopes to the moment.
"I feel so hopeful, so thankful," said Karen Jennings Crooms, a D.C.
resident who hoped to catch a glimpse of the presidential motorcade on
Pennsylvania Avenue with her husband. "It makes us sad that this is where we
are but hopeful that democracy will win out in the end. That's what I'm
focusing on."
Trump was the first president in more than a century to skip the
inauguration of his successor. After a brief farewell celebration at nearby
Joint Base Andrews, he boarded Air Force One for the final time as president.
"I will always fight for you. I will be watching. I will be listening and I
will tell you that the future of this country has never been better," said
Trump. He wished the incoming administration well but never mentioned Biden's
name.
The symbolism was striking: The very moment Trump disappeared into the
doorway of Air Force One, Biden emerged from Blair House, the traditional guest
lodging for presidents-in-waiting, and into his motorcade for the short ride to
church.
Trump did adhere to one tradition and left a personal note for Biden in the
Oval Office, according to the White House, which did not release its contents.
And Trump, in his farewell remarks, hinted at a political return, saying "we
will be back in some form."
Without question, he will shadow Biden's first days in office.
Trump's second impeachment trial could start as early as this week. That
could test the ability of the Senate, poised to come under Democratic control,
to balance impeachment proceedings with confirmation hearings and votes on
Biden's Cabinet choices.
Biden planned a 10-day blitz of executive orders on matters that don't
require congressional approval -- a mix of substantive and symbolic steps to
unwind the Trump years. Among the planned steps: rescinding travel restrictions
on people from several predominantly Muslim countries; rejoining the Paris
climate accord; issuing a mask mandate for those on federal property; and
ordering agencies to figure out how to reunite children separated from their
families after crossing the border.
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