Historical Inaugural Addresses

The best inaugural addresses were George Washington's First, Abraham Lincoln's Second and John F. Kennedy's, all of which were eloquent. Washington summarized the significance of the event and established the precedent. Lincoln sounded a conciliatory tone at a time when the War Between the States was nearly over. Kennedy not only inspired Americans to serve their country, but declared the importance of American resistance to International Communism at the height of the Cold War.

Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural was significant because of its conciliatory tone after the Revolution of 1800 -- the first peaceful transfer of power from one party to another in human history, a tremendous American contribution to mankind. That such transfers of power, like yesterday's transfer from Republican George W. Bush to Democrat Barak Hussein Obama, are taken for granted is a remarkable testament to this American tradition.

Franklin Roosevelt's most memorable quote came from his First Inaugural: "All we have to fear is fear itself." His addresses were eloquent, but having given four of them, it is understandable that only one stood out. Ronald Reagan was a gifted orator, but his best lines came from other speeches.

George H.W. Bush was prophetic when he observed that a "new breeze was blowing" in the opening line of his inaugural address, referring to the spread of democracy around the world. We can hope that his son's Second Inaugural will also be remembered for its emphasis on the role of the United States in promoting freedom around the world.