Barack Obama's 2009 Inaugural Address: Visions of America Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph.Sentence)

Quote #1

We'll restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. (12.5-6)

The Bush administration didn't do much to align itself with the scientific community, and was even accused of pressuring government scientists to downplay the issue of climate change (source). Rather than suppressing science and technology, Obama says he will embrace it. In 2008, he campaigned on expanding alternative energy, which he saw as a way to benefit the economy and save the environment. They call that a win-win.

Quote #2

The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity, on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart. (15.5)

During the economic crisis of 2008, the American public was angered by the sizeable income gap between rich and poor. Obama envisions a more level playing field, where the economy would give opportunities to those who work hard, not just let the rich get richer. This wasn't a popular idea with Republicans or Richie Rich.

Quote #3

Guided by these principles once more we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort, even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. (19.3)

The Bush administration saw the war on terror as solely America's job, but Obama promised to work in cooperation with other countries to face global threats. His reference to an exit strategy for the Iraq War is another clear signal of a shift away from Bush-era policies.