Former PresidentsBarack Obama,George W. BushandBill ClintonattendedJoe Biden’s inauguration ceremony on Wednesday morning, went with him to a ceremonial wreath-laying that afternoon — and appeared later in the night during theCelebrating Americaprimetime specialto wish the 46th president luck and to underscore (without having to say why) the rightness of transferring power.
“Good evening, America. Obviously, there was a personal element to seeing my former vice president become the 46th president, to seeKamala Harrisas our first woman vice president,” Obama, 59, began. “But more broadly, I think inaugurations signal a tradition of a peaceful transfer of power that is over two centuries old.”
“Well, I think the fact that the three of us are standing here talking about a peaceful transfer of power speaks to the institutional integrity of our country,” said Bush, 74.
Outgoing President Trump was notably absent from the inauguration ceremony Wednesday morning and insteadflew to Floridabefore Biden was sworn in. Trump is the first president in modern history not to attend his successor’s inauguration.
“So this is an unusual thing — we are both trying to come back to normalcy, deal with totally abnormal challenges, and do what we do best, which is try to make a more perfect union,” Clinton, 74, added. “It’s exciting times.”
Obama continued: “We’ve gotta not just listen to folks we agree with but listen to folks we don’t.”
“I think if Americans would love their neighbor like they’d like to be loved themselves, a lot of the division in our society would end,” Bush said.
From left: former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama appearing in theCelebrating Americaninauguration special on Wednesday.getty images
Barack Obama.getty images
President Joe Biden giving his inaugural address as president.PATRICK SEMANSKY/POOL/AFP via Getty
Former US president Barak Obama (R) congratulates US President Joe Biden after he was sworn in.OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty
“That’s what this means,” Clinton said, “It’s a new beginning.”
Clinton, who took office in 1993, went on to encourage Americans to check in with “friends and neighbors” to try to make unity possible.
Obama, Bush and Clinton — who like the many former presidents before them regularly make appearances together at official state functions — all wished Biden success on his presidency to conclude the message.
Former U.S. President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, and former U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.Chip Somodevilla/Getty
President Joe Biden signed executive orders in the Oval Office soon after he was sworn in last month.Evan Vucci/AP/Shutterstock
When he arrived in the Oval Office on Wednesday afternoon to begin his presidential duties, Biden confirmed to reporters that Trumpleft him a notein the Resolute Desk before departing for Florida, a gesture that came after months of Trump refusing to accept the election results.
“The president wrote a very generous letter,” Biden said. “Because it was private, I will not talk about it until I talk to him. But it was generous.”
source: people.com
