Publisher of Milestone Documents series chooses history’s seminal inaugural addresses
DALLAS, Jan. 5, 2009 — President-elect Barack Obama often cites past presidents as a source of inspiration. So from whose inaugural address is he taking cues? Neil Schlager, publisher of Milestone Documents in American History and upcoming Milestone Documents of American Leaders, says that while the obvious modern choice is John F. Kennedy’s hope-filled 1961 address, we can expect to hear echoes from others.
“Everyone wants to be Kennedy on inauguration day. His address is the standard by which all modern political speeches are measured,” says Schlager. “But history is filled with poignant, gripping, and encouraging addresses. The President-elect’s reading is likely taking him back to 1789, when Washington took office.”
Schlager thinks Obama will turn to these five, seminal addresses for pointers on …
- Humility: George Washington’s first inaugural address (1789). With America in post-Revolution chaos, Washington is called out of retirement and becomes the unanimous choice for first president. He asks his fellow citizens to excuse errors due to “incapacity as well as disinclination for the weighty and untried cares before me.”
- Healing: Thomas Jefferson’s first inaugural address (1801). After a bitter campaign against President John Adams, Jefferson calls for unity rather than retaliation – a change from the previous administration. He pledges to allow dissenting voices and reminds Americans of their common ground: “We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists.”
- Compassion: Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address (1865). In just 703 words, Lincoln defines the meaning of the Civil War and approaches the task of Reconstruction “with malice toward none; with charity for all.” Lincoln appeals to citizens “to bind up the nation’s wounds,” adopting a generous tone in an address now considered to be a fundamental document of American history.
- Confidence: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inaugural address (1933). With America in the midst of the Great Depression, Roosevelt’s address takes a markedly different tone than predecessor Herbert Hoover’s. Roosevelt chides the business community for incompetent, unethical practices that led to economic disaster. He emphasizes that “the people of the United States have not failed” and assumes the responsibility for restoring “discipline and direction.”
- Inspiration: Kennedy’s inaugural address (1961). Kennedy succinctly calls upon Americans to help achieve the New Frontier – a metaphor for Americans’ “unfulfilled hopes and dreams” that Kennedy turned into a broad domestic program – through sacrifice and service and to take up the “burdens” of freedom.
MilestoneDocuments.com (http://milestonedocuments.com) features all five addresses along with in-depth analyses from prominent historians. Coming soon: expert analysis of Barack Obama’s inaugural address.
Based on content from Schlager Group’s acclaimed reference series, MilestoneDocuments.com assembles experts to explore the primary source documents that shaped history. Its unique approach pairs riveting analysis with original documents to guide students, teachers, and historians to greater understanding of classic and contemporary works. It also features a lively blog by top historians and a free e-newsletter for teachers.
Contact:
Beth Dempsey for Schlager Group
248-349-7810
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