Reflections on Biden's Inaugural Address

Here are some quick reflections on President Joe Biden’s Inaugural Address. This was posted just after the speech concluded on January 20, 2021, so apologies for any inaccuracies of quoted text:

Optimism - 

It’s a great reminder that you can smile even in the of serious of speeches. Listen to Biden’s tone and watch his facial expressions in the opening of his speech especially. He also used optimistic language like: 

"look ahead in our uniquely American way”

"we’ll write the next great chapter"

Honesty - 

Biden didn’t sugar coat this moment in history. He mentioned a once in a century virus, economic toll, climate survival, white supremacy, and domestic terrorism. And he drew parallels to Lincoln during the Civil War.

Also note how Biden was true his down-to-Earth, riding-the-Amtrak-train ethos in this speech. It wasn’t filled with lofty language or grand gestures — both would have felt out of character. 

Unity -

The longest portion of the speech, by far, focused on the importance of unity. And, the role of unity, in addition to hard work, to overcome the great challenges we face. 

Tradition - 

It was great to see a return to tradition. Biden’s speechwriters minded the requirements of the inaugural genre by focusing on the big-picture and not getting into policy details. It recognized both supporters and those who didn’t vote for Biden, and stated a commitment to being president to and fighting for them all. As mentioned above, the address adhered to the generic requirements of re-knitting the fabric of the nation after a divisive campaign (and presidential term, in this case). 

I also appreciated the pleasantries common to speeches delivered by public figures. Biden gave a hat tip to former presidents in attendance and mentioned a recent conversation with former President Carter. He made no mention of the outgoing president’s absence. It felt like a return to normalcy. 

Prayer - 

The moment of silent prayer during the inaugural for those lost in the pandemic was refreshing. Acknowledgement of loss, sadness, and empathy have been in short supply from the outgoing president. 

Repetition -

The repetition of “here we stand” was one of the more powerful and memorable passages of the speech: 

"Just look around. Here we stand, in the shadow of the Capitol dome, as it was mentioned earlier, completed amid the civil war, when the union itself was literally hanging in the balance. Yet, we endured. We prevailed.

"Here we stand, looking out on the great mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream. Here we stand where, 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. And today, we mark the swearing of the first woman in American history elected to national office, Vice President Kamala Harris. Don't tell me things can't change!

"Here we stand, across the Potomac, from Arlington Cemetary, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion, rest in eternal peace. And here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, 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."

Audience -

Unsurprisingly, this speech was delivered to a very small and socially distanced audience. And as is tradition, it took place outdoors. These conditions meant you couldn’t hear much cheering or applause, which made the speech seem less well received than it perhaps was. All speakers at virtual events can commiserate.  

Hairspray -

It's a small thing, but Biden’s speech reminded us all to use ample hair product for outdoor speaking events to prevent fly aways. He had some hair blowing in the wind, which was distracting.

Showstopper - 

The showstopper today was 22-year old Amanda Gorman, the current United States Poet Laureate. Her inaugural poem, delivered after Biden’s inaugural address and in a floor-length goldenrod coat, was both bold and nuanced. And the delivery was impeccable — both her graceful gestures and beautiful vocal variety. 

Christine Clapp is the founder and president of Spoken with Authority, a Washington, D.C.-based presentation skills consultancy that elevates the presence and expands the influence of professionals, and promotes inclusion in their organizations. Christine and her diverse team of presentation skills experts have provided online and in-person training programs and coaching engagements to hundreds of organizations and thousands of leaders, emerging leaders, and subject-matter experts.