BBC NEWS | Americas | Obamas first speech as US president
Rated • 3 reviews • politics, obama, inauguration • bbc.co.uk
We now seem to have a fully-paid-up human being, as well as a great man, in the White House.In the run-up to the inauguration speech, the BBC related this story from CNN:
Obama ... took his family this past week to the Lincoln Memorial ahead of his historic inauguration address Tuesday, because the massive figure of the man many consider America's greatest president "always inspires me."
"We're looking at the Gettysburg Address (engraved on the wall of the memorial) and Michelle's describing what Lincoln's words mean," Obama told CNN.
"The fact that these soldiers died on this battlefield means that any words that Lincoln could have said ... They've already consecrated this ground, and what we have to do is to honor them by working for more justice, more equality here in America," he said.
"At which point Malia turns to me, and she says, 'Yes, how are we doing on that?'"
When daughter Sasha, 7, noted that Lincoln's second inaugural speech, engraved on the other side of the memorial, seemed a little long, Obama recounted, "I said, 'Actually, that one's pretty short. Mine may even be a little longer.
"At which point, Malia turns to me and says, 'First African-American president? Better be good.'"
Malia, somehow I don't think that you were disappointed by what your Dad came up with!
Thanks for this pic, chaotiqual!
After the ceremonies, I caught this clip of the President of the United States, fully aware of the weight of the world he will be carrying, partying like a regular guy (and he's a good mover, too!). You can tell a lot about someone by watching them dance.
And while this was going on, orders were already going out from the White House to halt the military trials at Guantanamo Bay.
[Permalink to this post]
