Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Address, January 20, 1981

The first presidential inauguration to take place on the west front of the United States Capitol will take place on January 20,

1981

with the inauguration of Ronald Wilson Reagan as the 40th president of the United States, while nearly all Presidents, starting with Thomas Jefferson, have been sworn in at the Capitol. The east front, facing the Supreme Court, has been the traditional landmark: the unusually warm and pleasant day begins with the reception at the White House for participants, including the vice president and Mrs. Walter Mondale vice president-elect and Mrs. George Bush's Representative Robert Michael and Senator Howard Baker, members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, President Mrs.

Carter and the President-elect and Mrs. Ronald Reagan, accompanied to the White House by Senator Mark Hatfield, chairman of the

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committee, and Representative John Rhodes in the capital, the crowd gathers guests on the presidential platform, including Senator Barry Goldwater, Republican presidential candidate in 1964, General David Jones, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Senator Paul Laxalt, President-elect Reagan's campaign manager, General Omar Bradley, Mrs. Nelson Rockefeller and the families of the Vice President-elect and President-elect The procession of official guests begins with the House of Representatives led by the Dean of the House Jamie Whitman and an official carrying the mace traditional symbol that the House is in session the the diplomatic corps attends embalmed the nation's governor enters the

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ceremony Strom Thurmond President Pro Tem of the Senate the secretary and the chaplain lead the procession of senators at the White House.

The presidential group leaves for the Capitol at 11:05 a.m. 25 minutes before the ceremony It is to begin the presidential party receives the traditional greeting from Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Howard Leoben Will and Sergeant-at-Arms Benjamin Guthrie On the other side of the Capitol the last of the procession of official guests are taking their seats in the Supreme Court ma'am. Mondale and Mrs. Bush Spouses of Joint Inaugural Committee Members Mrs. Bush Howard Baker Mrs. Robert seabird Mrs. Robert Michael Mrs. Jim Wright and Mrs. play burn path the first lady and the future first lady are escorted to their places of honor by mrs.

Hatfield ladies brand. Thomas P O'Neill and Mrs. John Rhodes at the salute to the chief' by the Marine Band President Carter himself and Vice President Mondale are escorted to the platform by members of the inaugural committee Speaker Thomas P O'Neill, Senator Claiborne Pell, Representative Jim Wright and Senator Robert Seberg, the next vice president-elect, Bush takes his place escorted by Representative Michael, Senator Baker and the sergeants of the Senate and House of Representatives and sets up the drums and bugles, which marks the moment when a record crowd of more than 100,000 people has been awaiting President-elect Ronald Reagan's entry into the procession. is headed by Tom Deckard executive director of the inaugural committee the president-elect is joined by president mark Hatfield members of the inaugural committee and welcoming the sergeants of the House and Senate to the historic first inauguration under the panoply of the Western Front of our nation's capital, the fortieth president of the United States takes the oath of office on the day when a tide of New Hope is rising across our land as an affirmation of this new hope, let us all join Michael Ryan of the United States Marines in sing a verse from America the Beautiful, come together everyone and reach out and take the hand of your neighbor and let this be a symbol of our unity oh Beautiful for the spacious skies for the amber waves you are a great artist please take I agree that this new hope is not promoted in lyricism but it is hard and realistic hope that is the instinct of the soul, the Energizer of the mind for our invocation, today I present to you president-elect and mrs.

Reagan Pastor, Reverend Don Mumma of Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, please stand wherever you are here in the United States and around the world, bow with me in this moment of solemn dedication in prayer, merciful God, Our Father, we need. Today, perhaps more than ever before, we have fallen short of our personal or national potential. We have seen our world from our own selfish and parochial point of view. We have lived as if everything depended on us. We confess our sin and seek your forgiveness at this historic moment. At this time we would pray for our president-elect Ronald Reagan, we also pray for Brice, the vice president-elect, George Bush, the cabinet and all others who are in positions of leadership in this new administration, that they may well gauge the brevity of time and the duration of eternity.

See all people, things and nations from your point of view, we thank you, oh God, for the release of our hostages and for all those who have made this moment possible and that is why in this moment of new beginnings our hearts beat with cadence. of pride in our country and hope in its future, help us to remain proud American citizens and face every challenge with a confidence born of your spirit and humbly touched by your love and grace, so to this end we commit ourselves to this end, we pray. In the name of the lord of lords and King of kings even Jesus Christ amen amen please take your seats my fellow citizens could you join me at this time in wishing good health and happiness to the president and mrs.

Carter and the vice president and Mrs. Mondale now introduces Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, the Honorable Potter Stewart, who will administer the oath of office to the vice president-elect. Place your left hand on the Bible. Raise your right hand. Repeat after me. Hello, George Herbert Walker Bush. Hello, George Herbert Walker Bush I solemnly swear I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies internal and external against all enemies internal and external that I will have true faith and loyalty to the same that I will have true faith and loyalty to the same that I assume this obligation freely that I assume this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion that I will do I will fulfill well and faithfully that I will fulfill well and faithfully the duties of the office the duties of the office that I'm about to assume that I'm about to assume so help you God so help me God God bless you George the United The States Navy Band will now play our national anthem God of our citizen parents.

I now introduce the Chief Justice of the United States, the Honorable Warren Burger, who will administer the oath of office to the president-elect. Is he prepared to take the constitutional oath? I am, if you place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand and repeat after me. I, Ronald Reagan, solemnly swear I, Ronald Reagan, solemnly swear that I will faithfully serve as President of the United States. That I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States. office of President of the United States and I will do the best I can and I will do the best I can preserve protect and defend preserve protect and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States so help you God so help me God, the Americans have it a loser, the president of the United States, thank you, thank you, Senator Hatfield, mr. president of the court mr.

President Vice President Bush Vice President Mondale Senator Baker Speaker O'Neill Reverend Mumma and my fellow citizens to some of us here today this is a solemn and momentous occasion and yet in the history of our nation it is a common occurrence the orderly transfer The authority that required in the Constitution is carried out routinely as it has for almost two centuries and few of us stop to think how unique we really are in the eyes of many in the world. This ceremony every four years that we accept as normal is nothing less. What a miracle Mr.

President, I want our fellow citizens to know how much you did to continue this tradition through your kind cooperation in the transition process. It has demonstrated to a watching world that we are a united people and are committed to maintaining a political system that guarantees individual freedom for a greater number of people. degree than any other and I thank you and your people for all your help in maintaining continuity, which is the bulwark of our Republic, the businesses of our nation move forward, these United States are facing an economic affliction of great proportions that we have suffered since longer ago. and one of the worst sustained inflation in our national history distorts our economic decisions penalizes savings and crushes struggling young people and elderly people on fixed incomes alike threatens to destroy the lives of millions of our people idle industries have thrown workers away to unemployment human misery and personal indignity those who work are denied a fair return for their work due to a tax system that penalizes successful achievements and prevents us from maintaining full productivity, but however great our tax burden is, it has not continued the pace of public spending for decades, we have accumulated deficit upon deficit, mortgaging our future and that of our children for the temporary convenience of the present, continuing this long trend is guaranteeing tremendous social, cultural, political and economic upheavals.

You and I, as individuals, by going into debt, can live beyond our means, but only for a limited period of time. time why then should we think that collectively as a nation we are not bound by that same limitation we must act today to preserve tomorrow and that there are no misunderstandings we will begin to act from today the economic evils that we suffer have come upon us for several decades They won't go away in days or weeks or months, but they will go away, they will go away because we as Americans have the ability now, as we have had in the past, to do whatever it takes to preserve this. last and greatest bastion of freedom in this current crisis government is not the solution to our problem government is the problem from time to time we have been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-government, that government by an The elite group is superior to government by and of the people.

Well, if none of us is capable of governing ourselves, then which of us is capable of governing anyone else? All together, inside and outside of government, we must carry the burden of the solutions we seek. The search must be equitable, with no group being singled out to pay a higher price. There is a lot of talk about special interest groups, while our concern should be for a special interest group that has been neglected for too long. It knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions. crosses political party lines it is made up of men and women who raise our food patrol our streets man our minds and factories teach our children to maintain our homes and Heelys when we are sick industrial professionals merchants employees taxi drivers and truck drivers are in short us The people of this race called Americans, the goal of this administration will be a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunity for all Americans, without barriers born of bigotry or discrimination.

Putting America back to work means putting all Americans back to work. Ending inflation means freeing all Americans. From the terror of runaway living costs we must all share in the productive work of this new beginning and we must all share in the bounty of a revived economy with the idealism and Fair Play that are the core of our system and our strength, we can have an economy strong. and prosperous United States at peace with itself and with the world so as we begin let's take inventory we are a nation that has a government and not the other way around and this makes us special among the nations of the earth our government has no power except that granted by part of the people it is time to control and reverse the growth of government that shows signs of having grown beyond the consent of the governed.

My intention is to curb the size and influence of the federal establishment and demand recognition of the distinction between the powers granted to the federal government and those reserved to the states or the people, all of us, we must all remember that the federal government did not create the states , the states created the federal government now, so there will be no misunderstandings, there won't be. My intention in taking down government is more to make it work by working with us, not on us, by our side, not on our backs. Government can and should provide opportunity, not stifle it, foster productivity, not stifle it, if we seek the answer.

Lord, why for so many years we managed to prosper as much as any other people on earth was because here on this land we unleashed theman's individual energy and genius to a greater extent than ever before than the freedom and dignity that the individual has. We have been more available and safer here than anywhere else on Earth. The price of this freedom has sometimes been high, but we have never been willing to pay that price. It is no coincidence that our current problems are parallel and proportional to those of intervention and intrusion. In our lives resulting from unnecessary and excessive government growth, it is time for us to realize that we are too big a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams, we are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to inevitable decline.

I believe in a fate that will befall us no matter what we do. I believe in a fate that will fall upon us if we do nothing. So with all the creative energy at our disposal, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination our courage and our strength and let us renew our faith and our hope we have every right to dream heroic dreams those who say we are in a time where there are no heroes they just don't know where to look can You see heroes every day coming in and coming out of the factory gates, others, a handful, produce enough food to feed us all and then in the world beyond you meet heroes on the other side of a counter and they are on both sides of that counter, there are entrepreneurs with faith. in themselves and faith in unidea those who create new jobs new wealth and opportunities are individuals and families who collect taxes support the government and whose voluntary donations support the Church charity culture art and education their patriotism is silent but deep their values ​​sustain our lives national now I have used the words they and their when talking about these heroes I could say you and their because I am

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ing the heroes of whom I speak you the citizens of this blessed land your dreams your hopes your goals are going to be the dreams the hopes and the goals of this administration so help me God, we will reflect the compassion that is such an important part of your makeup, how can we love our country and not love our countrymen and love them extend a hand when they fall, heal them when they are sick and provide them? opportunity to make them self-sufficient so that they are equal in fact and not just in theory.

Can we solve well the problems we face? The answer is a resounding and unequivocal yes, to paraphrase Winston Churchill. I did not take the oath I just took with the intention of presiding over the dissolution of the world's strongest economy in the coming days. I will propose removing obstacles that have slowed our economy and reduced productivity. Measures will be taken to restore balance between the different levels of government. Progress may be slow if measured in inches and feet, not miles, but we will make progress, it is time to wake up this industrial giant to get the government back within its means and lighten our punitive tax burden, and these will be our first priorities and on these principles there will be no compromise on the eve. of our fight for independence a man who could have been one of the greatest among the founding fathers dr.

Massachusetts House Speaker Joseph Warren told his fellow Americans that our country is in danger, but they should not despair. The fate of the United States depends on you. They must decide the important question on which rests the happiness and freedom of millions of people yet to be born. act well as you are worthy of yourselves I believe that we, Americans today, are ready to act as we are worthy of ourselves, ready to do whatever it takes to ensure happiness and freedom for ourselves, our children, and their children. of our children, and as we are renewed here in our own land, We will be seen as stronger people throughout the world.

We will once again be an example of freedom and a beacon of hope for those who now have no freedom. For those neighbors and allies who share our freedom. We will strengthen our historic ties and assure them of our firm support and commitment we will match loyalty with loyalty we will strive for mutually beneficial relationships we will not use our friendship to impose their sovereignty because our own sovereignty is not for sale as to the enemies of freedom those who are adversaries potentials will Remember that peace is the highest aspiration of the American people. We will negotiate for her.

We will sacrifice ourselves for her. We will not give up for her now or ever. Our tolerance should never be misunderstood. Our reluctance to conflict should not be misjudged as a lack of will when acting. necessary to preserve our national security, we will act, we will maintain sufficient force to prevail if necessary, knowing that if we do so we have the best chance of never having to use that force, and above all we must realize that there is no arsenal or any weapon in our country. The world's arsenal is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.

It is a weapon that our adversaries in today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we, as Americans, have allowed those who practice terrorism to understand. and they take advantage of their neighbors. I am told that tens of thousands of prayer meetings are being held on this day and so I am deeply grateful that we are one nation under God and I believe that God intended us to be free. It would be appropriate and good, I believe, if on each inaugural day in future years a day of prayer were declared. This is the first time in our history that this ceremony is taking place as you have been told on this west front of the Capitol.

Standing here, one is faced with a magnificent view that opens up to the special beauty and history of this city. At the end of this open mall are the shrines to the Giants, on whose shoulders we stand directly in front of me, the monument to a monumental man, George Washington, father of our country, a humble man who came to greatness reluctantly, He led the United States from revolutionary victory to a nascent nation. On one side, the majestic monument to Thomas Jefferson, a declaration of independence burns with its eloquence, and then, beyond the reflecting pool, the dignified columns of the Lincoln.

Memorial he who understands in his heart the meaning of America will find it in the life of Abraham Lincoln beyond that moment those monuments to heroism are the Potomac River and on the far shore the sloping hills of Arlington National Cemetery with its row after row Simple white markers with crosses or Stars of David add up to only a small fraction of the price paid for our freedom. Each of those markers is a monument to the kind of hero I talked about before, his lives ending in places called Bella. Argonne beach Omaha Salerno and on the other side of the world on Guadalcanal the pork chop hill of Tarawa the Chosun reservoir and in a hundred rice fields and jungles of a place called Vietnam under one of those markers is a young man who Martin stumbled and left his job in a small town barbershop in 1917 to go to France with the famous Rainbow Division there on the Western Front.

He was killed trying to carry a message between battalions under heavy artillery fire. We're told a diary was found on his body in Flyleaf. under the title my promise had written these words America must win this war, therefore, I will work, I will save, I will sacrifice, I will endure, I will fight happily and do my best as if the outcome of the entire fight depended only on me, the crisis. What we face today does not require of us the kind of sacrifice that Martin Treptower earned and so many thousands of others were called to make, but it does require our best efforts and our willingness to believe in ourselves and our ability to perform. great facts to believe that together with God's help we can and will solve the problems we now face and after all, why shouldn't we believe that we are Americans?

God bless you and thank you. Will they remain standing? Please, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inauguration and all members of the United States Congress are honored that you have come here for this great occasion today and as we close now with the blessing offered by Reverend Mumma, followed by the song of the starry banner by Mrs. Juanita Booker may the Lord bless you and keep you may the Lord make his face shine upon you and be merciful to you may the Lord lift up the light of his face upon you and give you peace now and forever amen oh say can you? we see by the dawn what with so much pride we Oh Twilight whose wide stripes and stars bright through the air the SMAW though parts was such a brave story the path that was due to that tower hear that banner full of stars yes all the earth Oh Oh, will you agree? once again our president and mrs.

President Reagan, Vice President Carter, Mondale, their families and aides depart the capital to travel to Andrews Air Force Base and Plains Georgia, the home wing of the Capitol. President Reagan brings tremendous news to the guests. Thank God Almighty, I have been given a catchphrase. Offline, everyone wants the end of a toast, a speech or anything else. About 30 minutes ago, the planes carrying our prisoners left Iranian airspace before departing the Capitol. The president pauses to review troops from all services under the command of Maj. Gen. Robert Archers. Chairman of the Armed Services Inaugural Committee The presidential motorcade leaves the Capitol grounds to travel down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, where the president watches the inaugural parade.

This year's parade lasts an hour considerably less than in 1977; more than 300,000 people lined the parade route. Twenty-five bands, including the high school band from the president's hometown of Dixon, Illinois, floats, and 54 marching groups participate in the parade. A total of more than eight thousand Americans. The parade ends as dusk approaches and more than 40,000 people prepare to attend the novel dance. The grand finale. from the inaugural festivities of

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