Countdown to January 20, 2021 - US Presidential Inauguration
Activities
21/01, 11 am – Short Story Club - Poetry at Presidential Inaugurations – We’ll read and discuss Presidential Inaugural Poems on Facebook LIVE American Corner Trieste. Amanda Gorman, the first US Youth Poet Laureate, will be the reader in 2021.
We'll read the 5 and discuss the poems from past inaugurations: Robert Frost (Kennedy, 1961), Maya Angelou (Clinton, 1993), Miller Williams (Clinton, 1997), and Elizabeth Alexander (Obama, 2009), Richard Blanco (Obama, 2013).
For more than 200 years America’s citizens have witnessed the Inauguration ceremonies of the President and Vice President of the United States. From the first Inauguration of George Washington, in New York City, in 1789, to today, as we prepare for the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies, the Swearing-In Ceremonies represent both national renewal and continuity of leadership. As each president has offered a vision for America’s future, we reflect on the heritage of Inaugurals past.
Since 1901, and in accordance with the 20th Amendment of the United States Constitution, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) has been responsible for the planning and execution of the Inaugural Ceremonies of the President-elect and Vice President-elect of the United States at the Capitol.
The Presidential Inauguration will be different this year with very few live spectators, no crowds and a virtual parade.
Watch the Inauguration of Joseph Biden - President and Kamala Harris - Vice President live from the Capitol Steps on January 20th at 5:30 pm Italian time. We'll watch the Live Stream from the PBS NewsHour together on Facebook Live.
Here are some additional resources about the Inauguration:
Voice of America - US PRESIDENTS - Podcast Series
The White House - The Presidents
Farmer's Almanac - All You Need to Know about the Inauguration
The New Republic - Stories from Inauguration History
Abraham Lincoln's Campaign Biography, by Abraham Lincoln
Robert Frost - JFK Inauguration
Poets.org - Presidential Inaugural Poems
Library of Congress - Poetry and the Presidential Inauguration
Poetry for Presidents https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/poetry-for-presidents
American Writer's Museum - Stories that feature Elections
