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Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States

John Fea   |  January 20, 2021

It’s official. The Trump presidency is over. The Biden presidency is here. Here are a few thoughts, with the help of my Twitter feed, on today’s inauguration ceremony:

I began the day with a reminder. It’s been a long four years chronicling Trump and the evangelical response to his presidency. Thanks for joining me on the journey:

As of noon today, the #courtevangelicals are no longer court evangelicals. Maybe we should now call them the purveyors of evangelical Trumpism. https://t.co/LZtCb61Z8g

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

There were some snow flurries today in Washington D.C. Perhaps Minnesota Senator Klobuchar, who was one of the major organizers of the ceremony, brought the flurries with her:

Klobuchar is stretching her speech out as she hopes for more snow. pic.twitter.com/sPElS74ktr

— Chris Crawford (@CrawfordStuff) January 20, 2021

Did you notice Biden’s massive Bible?

That is a SERIOUS Bible on the table next to #JoeBiden. Learn more: https://t.co/ZH9KcrJPeU

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Bernie seemed to be enjoying himself:

My man and his mittens. pic.twitter.com/EQTwfZigFD

— Dr. Polly Fry (@sinclairlewis18) January 20, 2021

So was Biden’s Secretary of Treasury nominee Janet Yellen:

everyone is talking about Michelle Obama but turns out my fashion icon is Janet Yellen pic.twitter.com/10snrjcDpS

— Adrienne Porter Felt (@__apf__) January 20, 2021

Lady Gaga was amazing. Since I tweeted this I have learned that the bird on her outfit was actually a dove carrying a olive branch.

I don't know much about women's fashion, but that is a very large eagle. #LadyGaga

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

The first Latina swears-in the first female, African American, and South Asian-American vice president:

Wow, Sotomayor swearing-in Harris is one for the ages. #InaugurationDay

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

My friend Scott Hancock tweeted seconds after Harris was sworn-in:

She’s in. Biden is safe. Nobody’s gonna try and off him now

— scott hancock (@scotthancockOT) January 20, 2021

Biden was inaugurated at 11:48 AM EST. Twelve minutes too early:

Wait, Biden is being inaugurated 12 minutes early. Is he really president? Fraud! This is unconstitutional! 🙂

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Echoes of Langston Hughes:

A nod to Langston Hughes: "The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer."

— John Gehring (@gehringdc) January 20, 2021

What a difference four years make:

Well, this sure isn't "American carnage" … #Inauguration

— Frank Cogliano (@FrankCogliano) January 20, 2021

This was telling:

yes. "enough of us" https://t.co/zRLqbZFKl4

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Biden comes into office after four years of lies:

This may be the first time that a presidential inauguration speech had to mention the important of "facts." #BidenSpeech

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Biden quoted St. Augustine:

Is this the first time Augustine was quoted in an inaugural address? I think it might be. #BidenSpeech

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Presidential historian Jon Meacham, who helped to write Biden’s speech, has been using this Augustine quote for several years:

That Augustine reference was pure Meacham. #bidenspeech https://t.co/LMyQ84PuXn

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Meacham also dropped that St. Augustine line at the 2017 Wake Forest graduation ceremony: https://t.co/Uh43qEB4ry #biden #meacham

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Meacham also included the St. Augustine line in his book *The Soul of America* https://t.co/SRCwfAwuMb #augustine #meacham #biden

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” This has a ring of Reagan’s “morning in America“:

Psalm 30:5 #bidenspeech

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Biden asked for a moment of silent prayer for COVID-19 victims:

Is this the first time a prayer, albeit silent, was included in a presidential inaugural address? Has the word "Amen" ever been uttered in such a speech? #bidenspeech

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Apparently this is not the first prayer in a presidential inaugural address.

Ike began his address with his own prayer. https://t.co/5PFAxbVCQX

— David R. Bains (@DavidRBains) January 20, 2021

Here is Eisenhower in 1953:

What shall be our legacy?

What will our children say?

Let them say of me I was one who believed

In sharing the blessings

I received

Let me know in my hear

tWhen my days are through

America

America

I gave my best to you

American Anthem lyrics: https://t.co/w71E0iq3F1 #BidenSpeech

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Hope over fear. I’ve heard that before:

Hope over fear. I like it. #BidenSpeech

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

A general take on Biden’s speech:

Biden's speech was all about entering a narrative–a story of the U.S. past. He sees himself as part of a larger human experience as it unfolded through time. Trump was incapable of this kind of humility. His narcissism prevented him from entering the story. #bidenspeech

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Poet Amanda Gordon stole the show:

Thank you Amanda Gorman. This is incredible. #AmandaGorman

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Poet Amanda Gorman: "We have braved the belly of the beast, we have learned that quiet isn't always peace…we lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms… Scripture tells us everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid."

— John Gehring (@gehringdc) January 20, 2021

Then Missouri senator Roy Blunt came back on stage:

The transition from Amanda Gorman to Roy Blunt was a little rough for me. 🙂

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Inauguration days are days for civil religion:

Text from friend: "Days like today remind me that I am, at heart, a civil religionist. Way more than I realized." #InaugurationDay

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

I finished it this afternoon. Also got in that nap:

Now I need to write my "Age of American Revolution" syllabus. On one level, I am motivated by the events of today. On another level, I just want to sit down and watch TV for the next six hours and soak everything in. #InaugurationDay

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

My exact thoughts and feelings as I work on my courses.

— Cathay Snyder (@Cathay44) January 20, 2021

Yeah. Maybe I’ll just take a nap instead ?

— John Fea (@JohnFea1) January 20, 2021

Biden was ready to go on day 1:

Bless this tweet and the gentle man who wrote it. pic.twitter.com/DbSatp9rfs

— Cathleen 'Stationary Pilgrim' Falsani (@godgrrl) January 20, 2021

Filed Under: Way of Improvement Tagged With: #ageoftrump, Amanda Gorman, Amy Klobuchar, Andrew Wehrman, Augustine, Bernie Sanders, civil religion, court evangelicals, Donald Trump, Eisenhower, Frank Cogliano, Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Jon Meacham, Kamala Harris, Langston Hughes

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