DemocratJoeBidenwassworninaspresidentoftheUnitedStatesonWednesday, vowingtoeendtheuncivilwarin a deeplydividedcountryreelingfrom a batteredeconomyand a ragingcoronaviruspandemicthathaskilledmorethan 400,000 Americans.
Withhishandon a fiveinchthickheirloomBiblethathasbeeninhisfamilyformorethan a century, Bidentooktheoathofofficeadministeredby U.
S ChiefJusticeJohnRoberts, standinginfrontof a heavilyfortifiedUScapitalwhere a mobofTrumpsupportersstormedthebuildingtwoweeksago, Bidendeliveredaninauguralspeechpromoting a messageofhopeandunityforthecountry.
Andherewestand, justdaysafter a riotousmobthoughttheycoulduseviolencetosilencethewillofthepeopletostoptheworkofourdemocracy, todriveusfromthissacredground.
Itdidnothappen.
Itwillneverhappen.
Nottoday, nottomorrow.
Notever.
Notever.
Oh, lookingoutacrosstheNationalMall, coveredin a fieldofflagsymbolizingthosewhocouldnotattend, Bidentakesofficeat a timeofdeepnationaluneasewiththecountryfacingwhathisadvisershavedescribedasfourcompoundingcrisesthepandemic, theeconomicdownturn, climatechangeandracialandequality.