Did Joe Biden establish himself as 'nation's healer' with inaugural speech? Expert says president spoke frankly
Joe Biden on Wednesday, January 20, reached a big career milestone by taking oath as the 46th president of the United States. His journey to make the pinnacle was not easy, particularly at a time when the US is facing several difficult challenges engulfing it together – be it the pandemic, economic downturn, race riots and deep political schism. But as a politician whose career has spanned over five decades and who has the experience of serving as the country’s No.2 in the face of an economic recession a decade or so ago, Biden is perhaps the most qualified candidate to shoulder the responsibility at such a time.
At a modest ceremony held at Washington DC on Wednesday, Biden took oath along with Kamala Harris, who also made history by becoming the first woman vice president of the US, and gave a speech that lasted more than 20 minutes. He chose the occasion to stress what the US needed the most at this hour – national unity – even while acknowledging that America was going through one of its most difficult phases.
Mitchell S. McKinney, director of the Political Communication Institute at the University of Missouri and a noted political communication expert, analyzed Biden’s inaugural speech which he felt was not about the triumph of a political candidate assuming power but as a president who is seeking to heal a divided nation.
“With the sun shining brightly on his face, Joe Biden began his term as the 46th U.S. president by offering a realistic yet still hopeful assessment of the nation and its democratic experiment. Utilizing his characteristic plain-spoken style, the new president focused most of his short inaugural address on a call for national unity, also acknowledging the considerable challenges facing the country, and assuring his fellow citizens that the nation would prevail during “our historic moment of crisis and challenge”,” McKinney told MEAWW, adding, “Biden spoke not in triumph as a political candidate assuming power, but as a president seeking to heal a divided nation.”
McKinney, who has extensively assessed inaugural addresses by presidents in the past and in particular has gone through Biden’s speeches during his decades-old tenure in the Senate as well as the vice president and presidential candidate before the 2020 presidential election, pointed out that the new president’s address was largely aimed at those who do not support him. Biden said in his speech that “every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war” and pleaded that “we must end this uncivil war”.
Biden said he will be president for all Americans
In his healing touch, Biden said harmony can be achieved “if we see each other not as adversaries, but as neighbors” and “if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.” The 78-year-old Democrat pledged that he will be a president for all Americans and promised that he will fight as hard for those who didn’t support him, just as he will for thoe who did.
“President Biden’s realistic assessment of the many challenges facing the nation and his presidency included reference to the recent bloody insurrection at the US Capitol, “an attack on our democracy and on truth,” and also “a raging virus, growing inequity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis [and] America's role in the world”,” McKinney said, adding: “ The oldest president in the history of the republic noted, “Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways. But the fact is, we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the gravest responsibilities we've had. Now we're going to be tested”.”
McKinney, who has served as a staff member in the Senate and White House, also added: “Yet, in such a time of unparalleled challenge, the newly inaugurated and energetic president assured the nation “it’s time for boldness,” and that “we’ll write the next great chapter in the history of the United States of America . . . an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. A story of decency and dignity, love and healing, greatness and goodness.” He assured his fellow citizens, “my whole soul is in it, my whole soul is in this: bringing America together, uniting our people, uniting our nation”.”
'Biden's finest speech'
McKinney said while Biden is not for lofty rhetoric, yet his speech at inauguration may well be his finest. He said the new commander-in-chief spoke “frankly, with dignity and humble confidence” and acknowledged the fact that the US is facing numerous challenges.
“His sober assessment of our difficulties was matched by his eagerness to help heal the divided nation and the possibility of a brighter future. While this speech may not be recorded as one of the greatest inaugural addresses in the annals of presidential speechmaking, it will be remembered as an effective speech for a nation eager for presidential decorum, decency and goodwill,” he said.