Second inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt
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| Date | March 4, 1905 |
|---|---|
| Location |
Washington, D.C. United States Capitol |
| Participants | Theodore Roosevelt |
The second inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt as the 26th President of the United States, took place on March 4, 1905. The inauguration marked the beginning of his second (only full) term as President and the only term of Charles W. Fairbanks as Vice President. The Chief Justice, Melville W. Fuller, administered the Oath of office.[1]
Second Inaugural Address
Roosevelt had a very thankful and optimistic tone to his second inaugural address. In it, the President touches on Americans hardiness and the fact that the United States has a clean slate that the rest of the world simply does not have. He speaks of past successes, but warns that any success in the future will only come with hard work. He speaks of responsibility, not only to ourselves but to the rest of the world as well. The United States must show good deeds through actions as well as words with all nations of the world. Justice and generosity are counted as most important, however he also warns of those wishing to wrong America. Roosevelt values peace, not out of fear, but because it is just and righteous. He comments on how any weak nation shall have nothing to fear from the US, but warns that America will not be the subject for insolent aggression. The President cites good relations with the world as being important, but relations among Americans as most important. All of the growth and success has come with problems the Founding Fathers could not have foreseen, but assures that these are problems that all great nations face. Roosevelt speaks about the complexity of modern life, and the advances of industry. He speaks about the difficulty of self-government, and warns that should America fail, it would shake all free nations to their foundations. Roosevelt calls this a heavy responsibility, to Americans, to the world, and to the unborn generations. He gives no reason to fear the future or unseen problems, but encourages the problems be met head-on. In his closing, Theodore Roosevelt knows that the problems facing Americans differs from those of the Founding Fathers, but insists that these problems be met with the same spirit. While it may be difficult, it must not be abandoned, nor memories forgotten. America has been blessed with a heritage that is to be unwasted and enlarged for all future generations. To do this, America has to show each day, that she possesses intelligence, courage, hardiness, endurance, and devotion of a lofty ideal, which helped to build and defend this great nation.[2]
Second Inaugural Parade
It is said that “The inaugural celebration was the largest and most diverse of any in memory—cowboys, Indians (including the Apache Chief Geronimo), coal miners, soldiers, and students were some of the groups represented.” This was to illustrate how diverse a man that Teddy Roosevelt really was.[2] There is actual footage of the parade.
Media
Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt
Reference
- ↑ http://inaugural.senate.gov/history/chronology/troosevelt1905.cfm
- 1 2 "Theodore Roosevelt: Inaugural Address. U.S. Inaugural Addresses. 1989". www.bartleby.com. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
External links
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Second Inaugural Parade Footage
