Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States

by Faithlife

Publisher:

Faithlife

, 2019

Overview

Dig deeper into American history with the inaugural addresses of US presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama—the texts carefully designed to set the tone for each subsequent administration.

Compiling each of these historical documents, this volume presents a compelling picture of the goals outlined at the beginning of each presidency. Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States allows you to study a president’s initial objectives, rhetorical style, and values—as well as the challenges he faced. These critical pieces of presidential history not only provide a window into specific administrations, but also into the political, historical, and social climate of the United States throughout history. Each address includes a photo of the president and most offer a brief introduction with historical information, providing context for the speech.

In the digital edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Note: Five of the 44 US presidents did not give inauguration speeches, but only took the Executive Oath of Office.

Key Features

• Presents inaugural addresses of US presidents since George Washington
• Provides a unique window into the political, historical, and social climate of the United States throughout the years
• Includes a brief introduction with context for many of the inaugurations

Contents

Top Highlights

“I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.” (source)

“In the midst of these pleasing ideas we should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our liberties if anything partial or extraneous should infect the purity of our free, fair, virtuous, and independent elections. If an election is to be determined by a majority of a single vote, and that can be procured by a party through artifice or corruption, the Government may be the choice of a party for its own ends, not of the nation for the national good.” (source)

“God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.’ With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.” (source)

Famous Quotations from Inaugural Addresses

. . . the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the republican model of government, are justly considered deeply, perhaps as finally, staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.

—George Washington, 1789

We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. We are all republicans, we are all federalists.

—Thomas Jefferson, 1801

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.

—Abraham Lincoln, 1865

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

—Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933

The United States and other like-minded nations find themselves directly opposed by a regime with contrary aims and a totally different concept of life.

—Harry Truman, 1949

In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

—John F. Kennedy, 1961

Product Details

• Title: Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States
• Author: Faithlife
• Publisher: Faithlife
• Print Publication Date: 2019
• Logos Release Date: 2009
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Presidents › Inaugural addresses--United States
• Resource ID: LLS:6.10.42
• Resource Type: text.monograph.lecture
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-01-14T21:19:35Z