Transcipt of Obama ' s Speach ( 3.17 mts)
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I started public service working in communities. Throughout my career, what has always given
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me energy, what's given me hope, is just how good and decent and resilient and strong the
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American people are. The theme of this year's inauguration is "Our People. Our Future."
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I really believe that when our people are succeeding when they have the tools that they need to get
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a great education, get a good job, look after their kids, have some basic security, that
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there is nothing that can stop America.
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Two figures that I admire probably more than anybody in American history is Dr. King and
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President Lincoln. For me to have the opportunity to be sworn in using the bibles of these two
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men that I admire so deeply on the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, 50th anniversary
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of the March on Washington is I think fitting because their actions - the movements they
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represented - are the only reason that it's possible for me to be inaugurated. It is also
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a reminder for me that this country has gone through some very tough times before but we
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always come out on the other side. This task of constantly perfecting our union, making
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it more fair, making sure that everybody in this country has a fair shot, that if you
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work hard you can make it regardless of the circumstances of your birth or what you look
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like or where you come from, what god you pray to, I think that it's probably the
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most important thing to keep in mind when your POTUS. So, me stating before the entire
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country that I will uphold my oath of office while at the same time letting them know that
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there is a connection between me being here and the sacrifices of those in the past, I
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think, is entirely fitting.
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[cheering]
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I remember the train ride that we took down from Philadelphia; crowds lined the entire
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route. It was an incredible reminder of the diversity of our country. The other thing
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that really sticks in my mind was a day of service. Because the inauguration comes close
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to Dr. King's birthday, we had a tradition of serving on that weekend. We painted a homeless
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shelter, our daughters put together care packages for our troops overseas. I think it's a
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terrific reminder of who we are as Americans. The last memory I have that really moved me
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a lot was the Commander in Chief ball. Michelle and I danced our traditional first dance at
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that ball but then we each paired off with a couple of service members who were representing
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all of those folks who have made such enormous sacrifices on behalf of our freedom. The inauguration
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reminds us of the role that we have as fellow citizens in promoting a common good as well
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as making sure we're carrying out our individual responsibilities. That is the reason that
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America has been successful in the past and that's why we'll be successful in the
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future.
