eastern the history makers with the spelman college president and an and president. on the history of african-americans in education and the importance of hbcus. at 4:00 p.m. eastern unreal america in light of the recent attacks on the u.s. capitol watch several films on the united states government and american democracy, which offers specific lessons on how the government works. at 6:30 eastern and other talks about his book the heart of the sea about the 1820's sinking of the ship following a spur well attack at the state of the ships crew. at 8:00 p.m. eastern on the presidency we look back at farewells and inaugurations of previous presidents bill clinton, george w. bush, dwight eisenhower, john kennedy, and ronald reagan. watch american history tv this weekend on c-span3. announcer: coming up tonight on

c-span, a three hour look at this week's inauguration of president joe biden and vice president kamala harris. we begin with arrivals at the u.s. capitol just before the swearing-in ceremony and speeches. gentlemen, the vice president elect of the united states, kamala harris and mr. douglas emhoff. [applause]

[cheers] [applause] ♪

♪

♪ ♪ announcer: the joint congressional on inaugural

ceremonies staff representative accompanying the house republican leader, kevin mccarthy. steny hoyer, and misses yvette lewis. the speaker of the house of representatives, nancy pelosi. amy klobuchar. staff representative accompanying senate majority leader mitch mcconnell. staff representative accompanying [indiscernible] [applause]

[silence] [footsteps] [footsteps] [silence]

[silence] announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the director of the committee on inaugural ceremonies. the acting house senate sergeant at arms and the acting senate sergeant at arms. ♪

♪ announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the president-elect of the united states, joseph r biden junior and dr. jill biden. [applause] [cheers] ♪ ♪ [applause] [cheers]

cap [applause] [cheers] ♪ announcer: ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. [silence] announcer: please welcome the

honorable amy klobuchar. [applause] >> vice president pence, mr. president-elect, madam vice president elect, members of congress, and the judicial branch, former presidents and first ladies, vice president, leaders from abroad, and a whole bunch of bidens, america, welcome to the presidential inauguration where in just a few moments, joe biden and kamala harris will take their solemn oath. [cheers] [applause] this ceremony is the culmination of 200 40 four years of a democracy. it is a moment when leaders, brought to the stage by the will of the people, promised to be faithful to our constitution, to cherish and defend it. it is the moment when they

become, as we all should be, guardians of our country. have we become too jaded, too accustomed to the ritual of the passing of the torch of democracy to truly appreciate what a blessing and a privilege it is to witness this moment? i think not. two weeks ago, when an angry violent mob staged an insurrection and desecrated this temple of our democracy, it awakened us to our responsibilities as americans. this is the day when our democracy picks itself up, brushes off the dust, and does what america always does. goes forward as a nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [applause] this conveyance of a sacred

trust between our leaders and our people takes place in front of this shining capitol dome for recent. when abraham lincoln gave his first inaugural address, the dome was only partially constructed braced by ropes of steel. he promised he would finish it. he was criticized for spending funds on it during the civil war. to those critics, he replied, if the people see the capitol going on, it is a sign we intend the union shall go on. and it did and it will. generations of americans gave their lives to preserve our republic in this place. great legislation to protect civil rights and economic security and lead the world was debated and crafted under this dome. now, it falls on all of us, not just the two leaders we are inaugurating today, to take up the torch of our democracy.

not as a weapon of political arson, but as an instrument for good. we pledge today never to take our democracy for granted, as we celebrate its strength, resilience, grit. we celebrate the ordinary people doing extraordinary things for our nation. the doctors and nurses on the frontline of this pandemic. the officers in the capital. a new generation never giving up hope for justice. we celebrate a new president, joe biden, who vows to restore the soul of america and cross the river of our divides to a higher plane. and we celebrate our first african-american, first asian-american, and first woman vice president. [applause] [cheers] kamala harris who stands on this platform.

when she takes the oath of office, little girls and boys across the world will know that anything and everything is possible. in the end, that is america. our democracy, a country of so much good. today, on these capitol steps and before this glorious field of flags, we rededicate ourselves to its cause. thank you. [applause] >> it is now my owner to introduce -- my honor to introduce to you the senator who his work with me and so many others to make the ceremony possible, my friend and the chair of the inaugural committee, missouri senator roy blunt. [applause]

>> i should own one or got an old, there would be at least a touch of snow this morning. of all the things we considered, i don't think snow was on my agenda until i walked up the door a moment ago, but thank you, senator klobuchar and thank you to the members of the joint committee on the inauguration as we officially begin the 59th inaugural ceremony. i also want to thank the joint committee staff and our partners, particularly our security partners for the way they have dealt with unprecedented circumstances. when i chaired the inauguration four years ago, i shared president reagan's description of this event as commonplace and miraculous. commonplace, because we have done it every four years since 1789.

iraqi list, because we have done it every four years since 1789. americans have celebrated this moment during war, during depression, and now, during pandemic. once again, all three branches of our government come together as the constitution envisions. once again, we renew our commitment to our determined democracy, forging a more perfect union. that theme for this inauguration our determined democracy, forging a more perfect union was announced by the joint commission before the election with the belief that the united states can only fulfill its promise and set an example for others if we are always working to be better than we have been. the constitution established that determined democracy was the first three words declaring the people as the source of the government.

the articles of confederation had done that, the magna carta hadn't done that. only the constitution says the government exists because the people are the source of the reason it exists. they immediately follow those first three words with the words to form a more perfect union. the founders did not say to form a perfect union. they did not claim that in our new country, nothing would need to be improved. fortunately, they understood that always working to be better would be the hallmark of a great democracy. the freedoms we have today, the nation we have today is not here because it happened. they aren't complete bid a great democracy, working through the successes and failures of our history, striving to be better than it had been. we are more than we have been, and we are less than we hope to

be. the assault on our capitol at this very place just two weeks ago reminds us that a government designed to balance and check itself is both fragile and resilient. during the last year, the pandemic challenged our free and open society and called for extraordinary determination and sacrifice and still challenges us today. meeting that challenge head-on have been and our health care workers, scientists, first responders, essential frontline workers, and so many others we depend on in so many ways. today, we come to this moment, people all over the world are watching and will watch what we do here. our government comes together. the congress and the courts joint the transition of executive responsibility. one political party more pleased

today and on every inaugural day than the other. this is not a moment of division, it is a moment of unification. the new administration begins and brings with it, a new beginning. with that, our great national debate goes forward and a determined democracy will continue to be essential in pursuit of a more perfect union and a better future for all americans. what a privilege for me to join you today. thank you. [applause] >> i am pleased to call to the podium a long friend of the president-elect and his family to lead us in and invocation. please stand if you are able and remain standing for the national anthem and the pledge to our flag.

>> gracious and merciful god. at this sacred time, we come before you in need. indeed on our knees. we come still more with hope and with our eyes raised a new to the vision of a more perfect union in our land. the union of all of our citizens to join the welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. we are a people of many races, creeds and colors.

national backgrounds, cultures, and styles. now, far more numerous and a land much faster than when the archbishop wrote his prayer for the inauguration of george washington to hunter 32 years ago --232 years ago. he prayed that you would assist with your holy spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of these united states. that his administration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to your people. today, we confess our past failures to live according to our vision of equality, inclusion, and freedom for all. yet we resolutely commit still more now to the vision. to caring for one another in word and deed.

especially the least fortunate among us. and so becoming a light for the world. there is a power in each and every one of us that lives by turning to everyone of us. the trust of the spirit to cherish and care and standby others and above all, those most in need. it is called love. it's path is to give evermore of itself. today, it is called american patriotism. born not of power and privilege, but of care for the common good. with malice toward none and with charity for all. for our new president, we beg of you the wisdom solomon sought when he knelt for you and paid for understanding heart so that

i can govern your people and know the difference between right and wrong. we trust in the counsel of the letter of james. if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask god, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. pope francis has reminded us how important it is to dream together. by ourselves, he wrote, we risk seeing barrages. --mirages. things that are not there. dreams are built together. be with us mystery of love as we dream together. help us under our new president to reconcile the people of our land, restore our dream and invest it with peace and justice and the joy that is the overflow

of love. to the glory of your name, forever, amen. announcer: ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the presentation of our national colors by the armed forces colorguard. the singing of our national anthem, and the pledge of allegiance. ♪

♪ announcer: ladies and gentlemen, here for the singing of our national anthem, accompanied by the united states marine band, please welcome lady gaga.

[applause] [silence] [cheers] ♪ ♪

>> o say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight o'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? and the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night

that our flag was still there o say does that star-spangled banner yet wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave [applause] [cheers] [applause]

[applause] announcer: ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the president of the international association of firefighters local 3920 for the reciting of the pledge of allegiance. >> i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[applause] >> what you are all about to be part of, america, is a historic moment of first. to administer the oath to our first african-american, first asian-american, and our first woman vice president, kamala harris, is my great privilege to welcome to the inaugural stage the first latina to serve on the supreme court of the united states supreme court, justice sonia sotomayor. [applause] announcer: ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the

oath of office. >> please raise your right hand and repeat after me. i kamala harris do solemnly swear that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. against all enemies, foreign and domestic. that i will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. that i take this obligation freely. without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. that i will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the

office on which i am about to enter. so help me god. [cheers] [applause] ♪ [applause] announcer: ladies and gentlemen, seated -- please be seated.

please welcome jennifer lopez to perform this land is your land and america the beautiful. accompanied by the marine band. [applause] ♪

this land is your land and this land is my land from california to the new york island from the redwood forest to the gulf stream waters this land was made for you and me as i went walking that ribbon of highway i saw above me that endless skyway saw below me that golden valley this land was made for you and me

this land was made for you and me this land was made for you and me

america! america! god shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. [speaking foreign language] this land was made for you and me ♪ [applause]

>> that was great did the sun is shining as mr. president-elect, this is the first inauguration in the history of america where j-lo was the warm-up act for chief justice roberts. [laughter] it is my distinct honor to introduce chief justice of the supreme court of the united states, john roberts, to administer the presidential oath to the next president of the united states, joseph r biden. [applause] announcer: ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the oath of office followed by musical honors.

chief justice roberts: please raise your right hand and repeat after me. i joseph biden junior do solemnly swear that i will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states. and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the constitution of the united states so help me god. congratulations, mr. president. [applause] [cheers] ♪

[hail to the chief plays] [applause] [cheers] announcer: ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.

[silence]

>> my fellow americans, a moment we have all been waiting for. it is now migrate put wrote -- privilege and high honor to be the first person to officially introduce the 46th president of the united states, joseph r biden, junior. [applause] [cheers]

president biden: chief justice roberts, vice president harris, speaker pelosi, leader schumer, senator mcconnell, vice president pence, my distinguished guests, my fellow americans, this is america's day. this is democracies day. the day of history and hope. of renewal and resolve. through a crucible through the ages, america has been tested a new and america has risen to the challenge. today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause. the cause of democracy. the people, the will of the people has been heard. the will of the people has been heated. we have learned again that

democracy is precious. democracy is fragile. at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed. [applause] president biden: from now, on this hallowed ground, where just a few days ago, violence sought to shake the capitals very foundation. we come together as one nation, under god, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries. as we look ahead at our uniquely american way, restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be. i think my predecessors of both parties for their presence here today. i thank them from the bottom of my heart, and i know [applause]

the resilience of our constitution and strength of our nation as does president carter, who i spoke with last night, who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service. [applause] president biden: i have just taken the sacred oath each of those patriots have taken. the oath first sworn by george washington. the american story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us. on we the people, who seek a more perfect union. this is a great nation. we are good people. over the centuries, through storm and strife, in peace and a

war, we come so far. we still have far to go. we will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibilities. much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain. few people in our nations history have been more challenged or found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we are in now. once in a century virus that silently stocks the country. it has taken as many lives in one year as america lost in all of world war ii. millions of jobs have been lost. hundreds of thousands of businesses closed. a cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making, moves

us. the dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer. [applause] president biden: a cry for survival comes from the planet itself. a cry that cannot be any more desperate or any more clear. now arrives the extremism, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat. [applause] president biden: to overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of america requires so much more than words. it requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy, unity. unity. in another january on new year's day in 1863, abraham lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation. he put pen to paper, the

president said and i quote, if my name ever goes down in history, it will be for this act and my whole soul is in it. my whole soul is in it. today, on this january day, my whole soul is in this. ringing america together, uniting our people, uniting our nation, and i asked every american to join me in this cause. [applause] president biden: uniting to fight the foes we face. anger, resentment, and hatred. extremism, lawlessness, violence . disease, joblessness, and hopelessness. with unity, we can do great things, important things. we can write wrongs, we can put people to work and good jobs, we can teach our children in safe

schools. we can overcome the deadly virus. we can reward work and rebuild the middle class and make health care secure for all. we can deliver racial justice and make america once again the leading force for good in the world. i know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days. i know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real. i also know they are not new. our history has been a constant struggle between the american ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, demonization have long torn us apart. the battle is perennial and victory is never assured.

through civil war, the great depression, world war, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, our better angels have always prevailed. in each of these moments, enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward. we can do that now. history, faith, and reason show the way. the way of unity. we can see each other not as adversaries, but as neighbors. we can treat each other with dignity and respect. respect. we can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. without unity there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. no progress, only exhausting outrage. no nation, only a state of chaos. this is our historic moment of

crisis and challenge. unity is the path forward. we must meet this moment as the united states of america. if we do that, i guarantee you we will not fail. we have never ever failed in america. we have acted together. today at this time and this place, let's start afresh. all of us. let's begin to listen to one another again. hear one another, see one another, show respect to one another. politics does not have to be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. every disagreement does not have to be a cause for total war. we must reject the culture to which facts themselves are

manipulated and manufactured. [applause] pres. biden: my fellow americans, we have to be different than this. america has to be better than this. i believe america is so much better than this. look around. here we stand in the shadow of the capitol dome, completed amid the civil war when the union itself was hanging in the balance. yet we endured, we prevailed. here we stand looking out at the great mall where dr. king spoke of his dream. here we stand where 108 years ago, thousands of protesters tried to block brave women marching for the right to vote. today we mark the first woman in history elected to national

office, vice president kamala harris. don't tell me things can't change. [applause] pres. biden: here we stand across the potomac from arlington cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace. here we stand just days after a mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, to drive us from the sacred ground. it did not happen. it will never happen. not today, not tomorrow, not ever. not ever. [applause] pres. biden: do all those who supported our campaign, i am humbled by the faith you placed in us. to all of those who do not support us, let me say this.

hear me out as we move forward. take a measure of me and my heart. if you still disagree, so be it. that is democracy. that is america. the right to dissent peaceably is perhaps this nation's greatest strength. hear me clearly. disagreement must not lead to disunion. i pledge this to you. i will be a president for all americans, all americans. [applause] pres. biden: i promise i will fight as hard for those who do not support me as those who did. [applause] pres. biden: many centuries ago, saint augustine, saint of my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects their love -- the

common objects of their love. what are the common objects we as americans love? i think we know. opportunity. security. liberty. dignity, respect, honor, and the truth. recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson. there is truth and there are lies. lies told for power and profit. each of us has a duty and a responsibility as citizens, as americans, especially as leaders , leaders who have pledged to honor our constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies. [applause] pres. biden: i understand that many of my fellow americans view

the future with fear and trepidation. i understand they worry about their jobs. -- or worship the way you do, who do not get your news from the same sources you do. we must end this on civil war that pits red against brew -- we must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative against liberal. we can do this if we open our

souls instead of pardoning our hearts. if we show tolerance and humility and if we are willing to stand in the other persons shoes, just for a moment stand in their shoes as my mom would shea -- as my mom would say. here's the thing about life. there is no accounting for what eight will deal you. some days -- for what fate will deal you. there are days when we lend a hand and days when we are called to lend a hand. if we are this way we will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. we can still disagree. my fellow americans, and the work ahead of us we will need each other. we need all of our strength to persevere through this dark winter.

we are entering what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus. we must set aside politics and face this pandemic as one nation. one nation. i promise you this. as the bible says, weeping may endure for a night, but joy com meth in the morning. we will get through this together. all of my colleagues i served with in the house and the senate , we all understand the world is watching, watching all of us today. here is my message to those beyond our borders. america has been tested and we have come out stronger for it. we will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again. not to meet yesterday's

challenges, but today's and tomorrow's challenges. we will lead not by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. [applause] pres. biden: we will be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security. you all know we've been through so much in this nation. my first act as president, i would like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all of those we lost this past year to the pandemic. those 400,000 fellow americans, moms, dads, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. we will honor them by becoming the people and the nation we know we should be. i ask you, let's say a silent

prayer for those who lost their lives and those left behind and for their country. amen. folks, this is a time of testing. we face an attack on our democracy and on truth. a raging virus, growing equity, the sting of systemic racism, a climate in crisis. america's role in the world. any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways. the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with one of the greatest responsibilities we have had. now we will be tested. are we going to step up? it is time for boldness. there is so much to do.

this is certain. i promise you, we will be judged by how we resolve these cascading crises of our era. will we rise to the occasion? will we master this rare and difficult our? will we meet our obligations to pass along a new and better world to our children? i believe we must. i believe we will. and when we do, we will write the next great chapter in the history of the united states of america. the american story. a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me. it is called "american anthem." there is one verse that stands out, at least for me. it goes like this. "the work and the prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. what shall be our legacy?

what will our children say. let me know in my heart when my days are true. america, america, i gave my best to you." let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our great nation. if we do this, then when our days are through, our children and our children's children will say to us, they gave their best, they did their duty, they heal the broken land. my fellow americans, i close where i began, with the sacred oath before god and all of you. i give you my word. i will always level with you. i will defend the constitution. i will defend our democracy. i will defend america, and i will give all of you everything

i do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal interest but the public good. together, we shall right in american story of hope, not fear. of light, not darkness. a story of decency and dignity. love and healing. greatness and goodness. may this be the story that guides us. the story that inspires us, and the story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history, we met the moment. democracy and hope, truth and justice did not die on our watch but thrived. america secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. that is what we owe our forbearers, one another, and generations to follow.

with purpose and resolve we turn to those tasks of our time sustained by faith, driven by conviction, and both to one another and the country we love with all of our hearts. may god bless america and may god protect our troops. thank you, america. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.

ladies and gentlemen, please welcome garth brooks to perform amazing grace. [applause] ♪ garth: ♪ amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me

i once was lost but now i am found was blind, but now i see when we have been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun we have no less days to sing

god's praise then when we first begun ♪ i ask you to sing this last verse with me, not just the people at home, but at work, as one, united. ♪ amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me i once was lost but now i am found was blind but now i see ♪

[applause] >> hard not to be reminded of president obama seeing that same song at the mother emanuel church. [applause]

>> a song that in our culture is as close to poetry and prayer as you could possibly come. we will finish with those things. let me introduce amanda gorman, our nation's first ever national poet laureate. [applause] amanda: mr. president, dr. biden , madam vice president, mr. emhoff, americans and the world,

when day comes we asked ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade? the loss we carry ac we must wait, we brave the belly of the beast. we have learned that client is not always peace, and the norms and notions of what just is is not always justice. yet the don is -- the dawn's hours before we knew it. somehow we do it. we weather and witness a nation that is not broken but simply unfinished. we the successors of a country and a time where a skinny black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one. we are far from polished, far

from pristine, but is that -- but that does not mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect. we are striving to forge a union with purpose. to compose a country committed to all club -- all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man. we lift our days not to what stands between us but what stands before us. we close the divide because we note to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside. we lay down our arms and can reach out our arms to one another. we seek harmony for all. if nothing else, say this is true. that even as we grieved, we grew, even as we heard, we hoped. we will forever be tied together. victorious, not because we will

never again no defeat, but because we will never again sew division. scripture tells us to envision that everyone should sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid. if we are to live up to our own time, victory will not lie in the blaze but in all of the bridges we have made. that is the promise made, the hill we climb if only we dare it. being america is more than a prize we inherit, it is the past we step into and how we were apparent. we have seen the force that would shatter our nation rather than share it. it would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy. this effort very nearly succeeded. while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can

never be permanently defeated. in this truth, in this faith we trust. while we have our eyes on the future, history has our eyes on us. this is the era of just redemption. we feared at its inception. we do not feel prepared to be the heirs to a terrifying our but in it we found the power to offer a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves, so while once we asked how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe, now we assert. how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us? we will not march back to what was, but moved to what shall be. a country bruised but whole, benevolent but bold. we will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know inaction and

inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation. our blenders become their burden one thing is certain. if we merge mercy with might and might with right then love becomes our legacy and change our children's birthright. let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left. with every breath from my chest we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one. we will rise from the hills of the west, we will rise from the width spread -- from the windswept northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution. we will rise from the midwestern states. we will rise from the sun baked south. we will rebuild reconcile and recover in every nook of our nation, in every corner called our country. our people will emerge battered

and beautiful when they come to step out of the shade on afraid, new dawn blooms as we free it. there is always light, if only we are brave enough to see it. if only we are brave enough to be at. -- if only we are brave enough to be it. [applause] >> thank you, amanda gorman. now for our benediction i am pleased to introduce reverend dr. sylvester beeman, the pastor of the african episcopal church in wilmington, delaware, a friend of president biden for 30 years.

reverend beeman: as a nation and people of faith gathered in this historic moment, let us unite in prayer. god, we gather under the beauty of your holiness and the holiness of your beauty. we seek your faith, your smile, your warm embrace. we petition you once more in the celebration. we pray for divine favor upon our president, joseph r. biden, and our first lady, dr. jill

biden and their family. we further ask that you would extend the same favor upon our vice president, kamala d. harris, and our second gentleman, doug emhoff and their family. more than ever, they and our nation need you. we need you for in you we discover our common humanity. in our common humanity we will seek out the wounded and bind their wounds. we will seek healing from those who are sick and diseased. we will mourn our dead. we will befriend the lonely, the least common the left out. we will share our abundance -- the least, and the left out. we will share our abundance. we will give justice to the

oppressed. a knowledge sin, and seek forgiveness, thus grasping reconciliation. in discovering our humanity, we will seek the good in and for all our neighbors. we will love the unlovable. remove the stigma of the so-called untouchables. we will care for our most vulnerable, our children, the elderly, the emotionally challenged, and the poor. we will seek rehabilitation beyond correction. we will extend opportunity to those locked out of opportunity. we will make friends of our enemies. we will make friends of our enemies. people, your people shall no longer raise up weapons against one another. we will use our resources for the national good and become a beacon of life and goodwill to the world.

neither shall we learn hatred anymore. we will lie down in peace, not make our neighbors afraid. in you, oh god, we discover our humanity. in our humanity we discover our commonness. jan the difference of color, creed, origin, political party, ideology, and personal preferences. we become greater stewards of your environment, preserving the land, reaping from it a sustainable harvest, and securing its wonder and miracle giving power for generations to come. this is our benediction, that from these hallowed grounds, where slaves labored to build this shrine to liberty and democracy, let us all

acknowledge from the indigenous native americans to those who recently received their citizenship, from the african-american to those whose parents came from europe and every corner of the globe, from the wealthy to those struggling to make it, from every human being regardless of their choices, that this is our country as such, teach us, oh go d. teach us to live in it, loving it, be healed in it, and reconciled to one another in it, lest we miss kingdom's goal. dear glory, majesty, dominion and power forever. hallelujah. glory, hallelujah.

and the strong name of our collective faith, amen. >> please remain standing as the armed forces colorguard retires our national colors. ♪

>> please be seated and remain in your seat while the president and official party depart the platform. for safety reasons, your ushers will release your sections in an orderly manner, following the playing of our national march, "stars and stripes forever." ["stars and stripes forever" plays] ♪

>> thank you, all. a lot of work. thank you.

dr. biden: thank you. thank you very much. pres. biden: thank you.

v.p. harris: thank you very much. thank you.

♪

[indistinct chatter]

president obama: nice to see you. how have you been? . good to see you. doing all right? good job. you did a good job. >> give me a call anytime.

[indiscernible] new commander-in-chief.