one such american was major sullivan ballou. on july 14th, 1861, when the north and south were lining up for their first battle, a time when our country was bitterly divided and faith in the future of our country was at a nadir, major ballou of the secondariry volunteers penned a letter to it is one of the greatest letters in american history. it shows the strength and courage of the average american. allow me to read some of his words, which echo through the ages. my very dear sara, he wrote, the indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days. perhaps tomorrow. if it is necessary that i should fall on the battlefield for my country, i am ready. i have no misgivings about or lack of confidence in the cause in which i am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. i know how strongly american civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the revotion, and i am willing, perfectly willing, t lay down all my joys

sullivan ballou gave his life on the battlefield a week later at the first battle of bull run.hemselves and were willing to sacrifice for it that we stand today in the full blessings of liberty, in the greatest country on earth. and that spirit lives on in each of us, americans whose families have been here for generations and those who have just arrived. and i know our best days are you have to come. i urge all americans to read ballou's full letter. his words give me solace, strength. i hope they will give you the same. now please stand while the associate justice of the supreme court clarence thomas administers the oath of office to the vice president of the united states. >> placed her hand on the right bible. mr. vice president-elect, would you raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, michael richard pence, do solemnly swear... >> i, michael richard pence, do solemnly swear... >> justice thomas: that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states... >> that i will support and defend the conception of united states. >> against all enemies, foreign and

sullivan ballou gave his life on the battlefield a week later at the first battle of bull run.hemselves and were willing to sacrifice for it that we stand today in the full blessings of liberty, in the greatest country on earth. and that spirit lives on in each of us, americans whose families have been here for generations and those who have just arrived. and i know our best days are you have to come. i urge all americans to read ballou's full letter. his words give me solace, strength. i hope they will give you the same. now please stand while the associate justice of the supreme court clarence thomas administers the oath of office to the vice president of the united states. >> placed her hand on the right bible. mr. vice president-elect, would you raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, michael richard pence, do solemnly swear... >> i, michael richard pence, do solemnly swear... >> justice thomas: that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states... >> that i will support and defend the conception of united states. >> against all enemies, foreign and

when i talked about sullivan ballou, a great civil war patriot who gave his life to his country and said there are some things greater than ourselves there were cat calls. wow. what kind -- what kind of situation is that? and, you know, i have to say something. the president-elect ought to lead. when his followers do things like that, he ought to speak positively about being inclusive and being american. the speech should have been aimed at bringing people together as ronald reagan's speech was, as franklin roosevelt's speech was, democrat and republican, so this is a -- the fact that saying these things which are usually accepted by just about every american melt the displeasure of the crowd doesn't speak too kindly of that crowd. >> senate minority leader, chuck schumer. >> i should say. >> just the people who booed. i'm sure it wasn't most of them. >> just the people who booed, got it. senate minority leader chuck schumer, democrat of new york, always a pleasure to have you

sullivan ballou gave his life on the battlefield a week later at the first battle of bull run.ce for it that we stand today in the full blessings of liberty. in the greatest country on earth. and that spirit lives on in each of us. americans whose families have been here for generations, and those who have just arrived. and i know our best days are yet to come. i urge all americans to read ballou's full letter. his words give me solace, strength, i hope they will give you the same. now, please stand while the associate justice of the supreme court, clarence thomas, administers the oath of office to the vice president of the united states. >> place your hand on the bible. >> mr. vice president-elect, would you raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, michael richard pence do solemnly swear. >> i, michael richard pence do solemnly swear. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic. >>

one such american was major sullivan ballou.or their first battle, a time when our country was bitterly divided and faith in the future of our country was low, major sullivan ballou of the second rhode island volunteers penned a letter to his wife, sarah. it is one of the greatest letters in american history. it shows the strength and courage of the average american. allow me to read some of his words, which echo through the ages. "my very dear, sarah, the indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow. if it is necessary that i should fall on the battlefield for my country, i am ready. i have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which i am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. i know how strongly american civilization now leans liens ue triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the revolution. and i am willing, perfectly willing, to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this

sullivan ballou gave his life on the battlefield a week later at battle of bull run.ou and countltless otrs believed dn sosomeing biggerhan n themselves anand were willing to sacrifice for battle of bull it that we sn the fullll blessings of liberty, in the greatest country on her. -..n earth i know our best days are yet to come. i urge all americans to read his full letter. hihis words give me solace, they will givee you the same. while thee stand associate justice of the supreme court clarence thomas administers the oath of office to the vice president of the united states. [applause] wasice thomas: president-elect doesn't vice president elect, raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, michael richard pence do solemnly swear that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. enemies foreign and domestic. faith andl bear true allegiance to the same. that i take this obligation freely. any mental reservation or purpose of evasion. and i will well and faithfully duties of the office on which i'm about to enter. so help me god. congratulations. [a

sullivan ballou gave his life on the battlefield a week later at the first battle of bull run. others believed in something bigger than themselves and were willing to sacrifice for it that we stand today in the full blessings of liberty, in the greatest country on earth. and that spirit lives on in each of us, americans whose families have been here for generations and those who have just arrived. and i know our best days are yet to come. i urge all americans to read ballou's full letter, his words give me solace, strength. i hope they will give you the same. now please stand while the associate justice of the supreme court clarence thomas administers the oath of office to the vice president of the united states. >> please place your hand on the bible and raise your right hand. vice president-elect raise your right hand and repeat after me. i, michael richard pence, do solemnly swear. >> i, michael richard pence, do solemnly swear. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states. >>