Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell,  

Vice-President Pence. My distinguished guests, my fellow Americans. 

This is America's day. 

This is democracy's day. A day of history and hope of renew and resolve  

Through a crucible for the ages, America has been tested a new and America has risen to the challenge.

Today we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate but of a cause, a cause of democracy.

The people - the will of the people - has been heard, and the will of the people has been heeded.

We've learned again that democracy is precious, democracy is fragile and, at this hour my friends, democracy has prevailed.

So now on this hallowed ground where just a few days ago violence sought to shake the capital's very foundation

we come together as one nation under God - indivisible - to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.

As we look ahead in our uniquely American way, restless, bold, optimistic, and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.

I thank my predecessors of both parties.

I thank them from the bottom of my heart.  

And I know

And I know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength, the strength of our nation,

as does President Carter, who I spoke with last night who cannot be with us today 

but whom we salute for his lifetime in service

I've just taken a sacred oath each of those patriots have taken.

The oath first sworn by George washington.

But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us.

On we the people who seek a more perfect union. This is a great nation, we are good people.

And over the centuries through storm and strife in peace and in war we've come so far.

But we still have far to go.

We'll press forward with speed and urgency for we have much to do in this winter of peril and significant possibility.

Much to do, much to heal, much to restore, much to build and much to gain.

Few people in our nation's history have been more challenged

or found a time more challenging more difficult  than the time we're in now.

A once in a century virus that silently stalks the country  has taken as many lives in one year.

As america lost in all of World War Two.

Millions of jobs have been lost.

Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed.

A cry for racial justice, some 400 years in the making, moves us.

The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself, a cry that can't be any more desperate or any more clear now.

The rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism, that we must confront and we will defeat.  

To overcome these challenges, to restore the soul and secure the future of America, requires so much more than words.

requires the most elusive of all things in a democracy

unity unity

In another January on New Year's Day in 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

When he put pen to paper the president said, and I quote,

if my name ever goes down into history it'll be for this act and my whole soul is in it . 

My whole soul is in it today, on this January day.

My whole soul is in this.

Bringing America together, uniting our people uniting in our nation.

And I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Uniting to fight the foes we face - anger, resentment and hatred.

Extremism,lawlessness violence disease joblessness and hopelessness.

With unity we can do great things important things we can right wrongs we can put people to work in good jobs,

we can teach our children in safe schools.

We can overcome the deadly virus,

we can reward reward work and rebuild the middle  class and make health care secure for all

We can deliver racial justice and we can make america once again the leading force for good in the world.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy these days.

I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real.  

But I also know they are not new. Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal,

that we are all created equal, and the harsh ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear .

Have long torn us apart the battle is perennial and victory is never assured.  

Through civil war, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbackour better angels have always prevailed.

In each of our moments enough of us have come together to carry all of us forward and we can do that now.

History, faith and reason show the way. The way of unity.

the way of unity we can see each other not  as adversaries but as neighbors we can treat  

each other with dignity and respect we can join  forces stop the shouting and lower the temperature  

for without unity there is no peace only  bitterness and fury no progress only exhausting  

outrage no nation only a state of chaos this  is our historic moment of crisis and challenge  

and unity is the path forward and we must meet  this moment as the united states of america  

if we do that i guarantee you we will not fail  we have never ever ever ever failed in america  

we've acted together and so today at this  time in this place let's start afresh  

all of us let's begin to listen to one another  again hear one another see one another show  

respect to one another politics doesn't have to  be a raging fire destroying everything in his path

every disagreement doesn't have  to be a cause for total war  

and we must reject the culture in which facts  themselves are manipulated and even manufactured

my fellow americans we have to be  different than this america has to be  

better than this and i believe america is  so much better than this just look around  

here we stand in the shadow of the capital dome as  was mentioned earlier completed amid the civil war  

when the union itself was literally hanging in the  balance yet we endured we prevailed here we stand  

looking out in the great mall where dr king spoke  of his dream here we stand we're 108 years ago at  

another inaugural thousands of protesters tried to  block brave women marching for the right to vote  

and today we mark the swearing into  the first woman in american history  

elected to national office vice president  kamala harris don't tell me things can't change

can we stand across the potomac from arlington  cemetery where heroes who gave the last full  

measure of devotion rest in eternal peace and  here we stand just days after a riotous mom  

thought they could use violence  to silence the will of the people  

to stop the work of our democracy  to drive us from this sacred ground  

it did not happen it will never happen  not today not tomorrow not ever not

to ever those who supported our campaign  i'm humbled by the faith you placed in us  

to all those who did not support us let  me say this hear me out as we move forward  

take a measure of me and my heart if you still  disagree so be it that's democracy that's america  

the right to dissent peaceably than the guard  rails of our republic is perhaps this nation's  

greatest strength yet hear me clearly  this agreement must not lead to disunion  

and i pledge this to you i will be a  president for all americans all americans

and i promise you i will fight as hard for those  who did not support me as for those who did

many centuries ago saint augustine a saint of  my church wrote that the people was a multitude  

defying by the common objects of their love  defined by the common objects of their love  

what are the common objects we as americans  love that define us as americans i think we know  

opportunity security liberty dignity  respect honor and yes the truth  

recent weeks and months have taught us a  painful lesson there is truth and there are lies  

lies told for power and for profit and  each of us has a duty and a responsibility  

as citizens as americans especially as leaders  leaders who have pledged to honor our constitution  

and protect our nation to defend  the truth and defeat the lies look  

i understand that many of my  fellow americans view the future  

with fear and trepidation i  understand they worry about their jobs  

i understand like my dad they lay in bed staring  at the night staring at the ceiling wondering  

can i keep my health care can i pay my  mortgage thinking about their families  

about what comes next i promise you i get  it but the answer is not to turn inward to  

retreat into competing factions distrusting  those who don't look like look like you  

or worship the way you do or don't get  their news from the same sources you do  

we must end this uncivil war that pits red against  blue rural versus ireland or rural versus urban  

conservative versus liberal we can do this if we  open our souls instead of hardening our hearts  

if we show a little tolerance and humility  and if we're willing to stand in the other  

person's shoes as my mom would say  just for a moment stand in their shoes

because here's the thing about life

there's no accounting for what fate will deal you  

some days when you need a hand there are  other days when we're called to lend a hand  

that's how it has to be this is what we do for one  another and if we are this way our country will be  

stronger more prosperous more ready for the future  and we can still disagree my fellow americans  

and the work ahead of us we're going to need  each other we need all our strength to preserve  

to persevere through this dark winter we're  entering what may be the toughest and deadliest  

period of the virus we must set aside politics  and finally face this pandemic as one nation  

one nation and i promise you this as the  bible says we be may endure for a night  

but joy cometh in the morning we will  get through this together together  

look folks all my colleagues i serve  with in the house and the senate up here  

we all understand the world is watching  

watching all of us today so here's my message of  those beyond our borders america has been tested  

and we've come out stronger for it we will repair  our alliances and engage with the world once again  

not to meet yesterday's challenges  but today's and tomorrow's challenges

and will lead not merely by the example of  our power but by the power of our example

we'll be a strong and trusted partner  for peace progress and security  

look you all know we've been  through so much in this nation  

and my first act as president i'd like to ask you  to join me in a moment of silent prayer remember  

all those who we lost in this past year to  the pandemic those four hundred thousand  

fellow americans moms dads husbands wives sons  daughters friends neighbors and co-workers will  

honor them by becoming the people and the nation  we know we can and should be so i ask you let's  

say a silent prayer for those who've lost their  lives and those left behind and for our country  

amen folks this is a time of testing we face an  attack under democracy and on truth a raging virus  

growing inequity the sting of systemic racism  a climate in crisis america's role in the world  

any one of these would be enough to challenge  us in profound ways but the fact is we face  

them all at once presenting this nation with  one of the greatest responsibilities we've had  

now we're going to be tested are we going  to step up all of us it's time for boldness  

for there's so much to do and this is certain i  promise you we will be judged you and i by how  

we resolve these cascading crises of our era we  will rise to the occasion is the question will we  

master this rare and difficult hour when we meet  our obligations and pass along a new and better  

world to our children i believe we must i'm sure  you do as well i believe we will and when we do  

we'll write the next great chapter in the history  of the united states of america the american story  

a story that might sound something like a song  that means a lot to me it's called american anthem  

there's one verse that stands out at least for me  and it goes like this the work and prayers of the  

century have brought us to this day what shall be  our legacy what will our children say let me know  

in my heart when my days are through  america america i gave my best to you  

let's add let's us add our own work and prayers  to the unfolding story of our great nation  

if we do this then when our days are through our  children and our children's children will save us  

they gave their best they did their  duty they healed the broken land  

my fellow americans i closed the day where i began  

with the sacred oath before god and all of you  i give you my word i will always level with you  

i will defend the constitution i will defend  our democracy i'll defend america and i'll give  

all all of you keep everything you i do in your  service thinking not of power but of possibilities  

not a personal interest but the public good  and together we shall write an american story  

of hope not fear of unity not division of light  not darkness a story of decency and dignity love  

and healing greatness and goodness may this be the  story that guides us the story that inspires us  

and the story that tells ages yet to come that  we answered the call of history we met the moment  

democracy and hope truth and justice  did not die in our watch but thrive  

that america secured liberty at home and  stood once again as a beacon to the world  

that is what we owe our forebearers  one another and generation to follow so  

with purpose and resolve we turn to those  tasks of our time sustained by faith  

driven by conviction devoted to  one another and the country we love  

with all our hearts may god bless america  and may god protect our troops thank you

america

you