Introduced by presidential historian Ted Widmer, this work offers both
the original texts and insightful essays by leading historians on each
of the presidential inaugural addresses--from George Washington to
Joseph Biden.
Every four years, the incoming president of the United States delivers
an inaugural address in a tradition that dates back to 1789, with the
first inauguration of George Washington. The address tells
Americans--and peoples around the world--what the country has been and
what it has the potential to become. In a speech freighted with
importance, they express their fears, their hopes, and their most
personal aspirations for the nation and for democracy.
This work brings together all of the inaugural addresses--from George
Washington's first in 1789 through Joseph Biden's in 2021. What
distinguishes it from other compilations of inaugural addresses are
brief, original essays by leading scholars, speechwriters, historians,
biographers, and editors of presidential papers that contextualize the
speech within the presidential administration that followed. Each of the
contributors explores what a president expected to be dealing with when
entering the highest office in the land and what he hoped to do for the
country. The authors examine decisions the president made and how this
impacted the nation's trajectory. They also reflect on how the address
relates to the president's legacy in and out of office. The essays also
offer distinctive approaches: some consider the political, economic, and
military status of the country; others the composition of the address
itself; and still others the personal circumstances of the president at
the time
of his inauguration.
Covering over 230 of years of American history, My Fellow Americans
captures a snapshot of America at unique points in time, with perceptive
commentaries by America's finest presidential historians and a
broad-ranging introduction by Ted Widmer.
