The New York Times has a transcript of Barack Obama's inaugural address. Here's how it begins:
My fellow citizens:
I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents. Read full text >>
President Obama's inauguration speech contains an error. He said: "Forty-four Americans have now taken the Presidential oath". That is false. Obama is the 43rd American to take the Presidential oath. Obama's slip is probably due to the fact that he is accounted the 44th President.
The rule is that a President who serves more than one term is counted only once, provided that the terms be contiguous. That means that the "Nth President" will be the same as the "Nth individual to serve as President" only if no one serves two non-contiguous terms. That has happened once: Grover Cleveland was President from 1885-1889, lost the election to Benjamin Harrison, then won again in 1893. Cleveland is accounted the 22nd President and also the 24th President. Obama is thus the 44th President in the odd accounting of Presidents, but he is only the 43rd person to be President. Read full article >>
