Similarities Between Obama And George Washington's Inaugural Address

Have you ever watched the Presidential Inaugural Address? Well, you should because you can learn what the new president wants to do with the country you are living in. I analyzed Barack Obama and George Washington’s Inaugural Addresses. There were many differences and similarities between Barack Obama and George Washington’s that I will further explain in this essay. One difference was that Obama’s speech was about trust while Washington’s was about the citizens rights for the new nation. One similarity is that both speeches talked about what each person wanted to do as president. Barack Obama and George Washington's Inaugural Addresses made a big impact on the country.

Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address was about trust. He talked about how

he would change partisan polarization. Something that is additionally different is that Obama was talking to the citizens of America. Obama tells the citizens that he will restore science and talks about global warming and how he will promote clean energy and use the sun’s energy as a source to fuel our cars and run the factories. Obama additionally tells the citizens about lowering the costs of health cares and make the quality better. Obama discusses the dividing of the nation and how there is so much violence and hatred and that the economy is very bad because of the people's greediness and for the the citizens to make hard choices which become bad. He states, “Our nation's economy is badly weakened, as a result of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also the failure of all of us to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes and jobs have been lost. Businesses have been shuttered. Our health care is too costly. Our schools fail too many students. Each day brings further proof that the ways we use energy, like oil and gas, make our enemies stronger and threaten the health of our planet.” This quote summarizes everything he talked about and shows how the country has really changed. He finally talks about the terrorism and the horrible economy that the country faced. Many of these topics are different in George Washington’s Inaugural Address.
George Washington talked about many things but he was really talking about the citizens rights for the new nation since he was the first president of the United States.

Unlike Obama, George Washington told the Congress it was too much for the president to change partisan polarization which is the cases in which an individual's stance on a given issue, policy, or person is more likely to be strictly defined by their identification with a particular political party. Washington's speech was for the citizens of the Congress. Additionally, his speech talked more about fairness and how there should be no no separate views or local prejejuices. The fourth paragraph states, “There are similar bonds between duty and advantage, and between an honest and generous policy, and the solid rewards of public prosperity and happiness.” This quote explains what honesty and fairness does in his eyes. George Washington goes on more about never giving up and controlling the country in a positive way. Washington talks about how proud he would be to lead this country and he will be president with no reward because he loved it so much. He states in his last paragraph, “I was first honored with a call into the Service of my Country, then on the eve of a difficult struggle for its liberties, the way in which I contemplated my duty required that I should refuse any financial payment. I have in no way changed my determination about this. And as I still have the same point of view which produced this

decision, I must decline any share in the personal salary, which may be necessary to include as a permanent provision for the Executive Department.” This quote explains he will not take a salary, he will do anything to be with this country. Barack Obama does not talk about these subjects unlike George Washington.
Barack Obama and George Washington also have many similarities in their speeches.

Both of these speeches talked about what each person wanted to do as president. Additionally they both talked about equality and how it is very important while being the president of the United States. They both talk about affirming the limits of power and unifying the country. They both relate things to Heaven and what Heaven and the bIble would think of problems. In paragraph 4 of Washington's Inaugural Address it states, “We cannot expect Heaven to smile upon a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right. Heaven itself has ordained these rules. The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, have been tied to this experiment entrusted to the American people.” In paragraph 9 of Obama’s Inaugural Address it states, “We remain a young nation, but in the words of the Bible, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit. We must choose our better history. We must carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation, the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.” This Although Barack Obama and George Washington have many differences in their Inaugural Addresses there are also many

similarities.
To conclude, there are many similarities and differences between Barack Obama and George Washington’s Inaugural Addresses. These similarities and differences have made the speeches who they are. Without the differences, the speeches would be the same and boring. One difference was that Barack Obama talked about trust while Washington’s was about the citizens rights for the new nation. One similarity was they both talked about equality. George Washington and Barack Obama’s Inaugural Addresses told what they were going to do as president and they fulfilled them. As Barack Obama says, “Let us remember we are all part of one American family. We are united in common values, and that includes belief in equality under the law, basic respect for public order, and the right of peaceful protest.”