heeded. democracy is precious, democracy is m fries, democra has prevailed. so now on this hallowed ground where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the capitol's 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. few people in our nation's history have been more challenged, found a time more challenging or difficult than the time we're in now. once in a century virus that silently stalks the country, it's taken as many lives in one year as america lost in all of ,

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. a cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear, and now the rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism, that we must confront and we will defeat. 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. 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. but i also know they are not new. our history has been a constant struggle between the american ideal that we're 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, enough of us have come

together to carry all of us forward. and 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. we can join forces, stop the shouting and lower the temperature. for without unity there is no peace. only bitterness and fury. politics doesn't have to be a raging fire, destroying everything in its path. every disagreement doesn't have to be a cause for total war. and we must reject the culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured. and here we stand, just days

after a riotous mob thought they can 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. not ever. for all those who supported our campaign, i'm humbled by the faith you put in us. to all those who did 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's democracy, that's america. the right to dissent peaceably within the guardrails of our republic is perhaps this nation's greatest strength. yet hear me clearly,

disagreement must not lead to disunion. and i pledge this to you, i will be a president for all americans, all americans. and i promise you, i will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did. recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson, there is truth and there are lies. lies told for power and for profit, and each of us has a duty and a responsibility, as citizens, as americans, and especially as leaders, leaders who have pledged to honor our constitution and protect our nation, to defend the truth and defeat the lies. look, i understand that many of my fellow americans view the future with fear and trepidation. i understand they worry about

their jobs, i understand like my dad they lay in bed at night staring at the ceiling wondering can i keep my health care, can i pay my mortgage, thinking about their families. about what comes next. i promise you, i get it. but the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions. my fellow americans, i close today where i began, with a 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 will give all, all of you, keep everything i do in your service, thinking not of power but of possibilities, not of personal interest but the public good, and together we shall

write 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. 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, that america's secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. that is what we owe our forebears, one another and generations to follow. so with purpose and resolve, we turn to those tasks of our time, sustained by faith, driven by conviction, devoted to one another and the country we love

with all our hearts. may god bless america, and may god protect our troops. anu, america. >> joseph r. biden, the 46th president of the united states. you're it's very common to have both sensitivity and gum issues. dentists and hygienists will want to recommend sensodyne sensitivity and gum you get the sensitivity relief as well as improved gum health all in one honey honey? new nyquil severe honey is maximum strength cold and flu medicine with soothing honey-licious taste. nyquil honey. the nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever best sleep with a cold medicine. i give to shriners hospitals for children because i want to be a part of something amazing. - i know my gift to shriners hospitals for children makes a difference in the lives of children. - our support gives kids a bright future.

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so children can heal and go home. - yay, shriners! - yay, shriners! - with your monthly gift, we'll send you this adorable love to the rescue blanket as another way to say thank you. plus, it's a reminder of all the children who now have hope because of your support. - will today be the day you send your love to the rescue? er who now have hope because of your support. ive ur mo s. - will today be the day you send your love to the rescue? - thank you. - thank you for giving. - thank you for giving. - [child] please call right now to give. if operators are busy with other caring donors, please hold patiently, or go to loveshriners.org - [child] your gift, no matter how small, shows you care. donald trump is waking up

this morning as a private citizen at his home in florida. trump has never conceded he lost the election and refused to take part in the inauguration. he was the first outgoing president to skip the ceremony since the 1800s. trump and his wife melania boarded for short hop to joint base andrews. still president at the time ordered the pentagon to give him a 21 gun salute before he addressed the supporters. >> what we've done has been amazing by any standard. we rebuilt the united states military, we created a new force called space force. that in itself would be a major achievement for a regular administration. we were not a regular administration. we took care of the vets, 91% approval rating, they've never had that before, the vets have

given us, the va, an approval rating like has never been before. i wish the new administration great luck and great success. i think they'll have great success. they have the foundation to do something really spectacular, and again we put it in a position like it's never been before, despite the worst plague to hit since, i guess you would say 1917, over 100 years ago. and despite that, despite that, the things that we've done have been just incredible. and i couldn't have done it without you. so just a goodbye, we love you, we will be back in some form. i want to thank all of the great people of washington, d.c., all of the people that we worked with to put this miracle together. so have a good life, we will see

you soon. thank you. thank you very much. thank you very much. >> and with that, donald trump boarded air force 1 for one final time as president and flew final time as president and flew (announcer) america's veterans have always stepped up. but with the covid-19 crisis, many veterans are struggling - to make ends meet or get tare many veterans are struggling - dahas help ill and injured ve fundred years, but today, the need is greater than ever. give to the dav covid-19 relief fund - and help provide critical assistance to veterans in need. go to dav.org/helpvets or call now. your donation will make a real difference. or call now. (drumsticks rattle, feedback hums) (door closes in distance) ♪ ♪ (overlapping voices): we are producers, engineers, singers, songwriters, musicians, tour and live production crews,

and thousands more of us. (male voice): without us, the music stops. (overlapping voices): we need your help (female voice): to keep the music playing. (male voice): support those impacted today at: musicares.org. [female narrator] whether school buildings are open or closed, we're always there for our students. because kids who already struggle with poverty, emotional trauma and other learning barriers need our support more than ever. at communities in schools we do whatever it takes. tutoring, mentoring, providing resources for at-home learning and just checking in. in schools ... and in communities. making sure all kids can learn and succeed. for more information, visit communities-in-schools-dot-org.

with song, a stirring rendition of the national anthem performed by lady gaga. ♪ ♪ 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 rockets' red glare the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ gave proof through the night that our flag was still there ♪ ♪ oh, say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave ♪

♪ o'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ and the home of the brave? ♪ lady gaga wowing the crowd at the inauguration. and when she turned and sang and our flag was still there, it got a lot of people thinking of the assault on the capitol just two weeks earlier, and when was the last time there was violence on those steps? the war of 1812 when that song was written. that's the overnight news this thursday. for some of you, news continues, others check back for "cbs this morning," and follow us online anytime at cbsnews.com, reporting from the nation's capital, i'm jan crawford.

it's thursday, january 21st, 2021. this is the "cbs morning news." so help you god -- >> so help me god. >> congratulations, mr. president. [ cheers ] >> president joe biden. america has a new commander in chief who's moving quickly on his agenda. final farewell. former president trump leaves the white house. his outgoing message for the country. we close the divide because we know to put our future first we must first put our differences aside. >> poised and power. amanda gorman delivers the inaugural poem. how she's already inspired old how she's already inspired old and new fans.