CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 1 January 20, 2009 Court of the United States John Paul Ste- the Ways We Use Energy Strengthen Our Ad- Tories
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1182 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 155, Pt. 1 January 20, 2009 Court of the United States John Paul Ste- the ways we use energy strengthen our ad- tories. And we will transform our schools vens, who will administer the oath of office versaries and threaten our planet. These are and colleges and universities to meet the de- to the Vice President-elect. Will you all the indicators of crisis, subject to data and mands of a new age. All this we can do. All please stand. statistics. Less measurable but no less pro- this we will do. Associate Justice JOHN PAUL STEVENS found is a sapping of confidence across our Now, there are some who question the administered to the Vice President-elect the land, a nagging fear that America’s decline scale of our ambitions, who suggest that our oath of office prescribed by the Constitution, is inevitable, that the next generation must system cannot tolerate too many big plans. which he repeated, as follows: lower its sights. Their memories are short. For they have for- ‘‘I, JOSEPH ROBINETTE BIDEN, JR. do Today I say to you that the challenges we gotten what this country has already done, solemnly swear that I will support and de- face are real. They are serious, and they are what free men and women can achieve when fend the Constitution of the United States many. They will not be met easily or in a imagination is joined to common purpose against all enemies foreign and domestic; short span of time. But know this, America— and necessity to courage. What the cynics that I will bear true faith and allegiance to they will be met. fail to understand is that the ground has the same; that I take this obligation freely, (Applause.) shifted beneath them, that the stale political without any mental reservation or purpose On this day, we gather because we have arguments that have consumed us for so long of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over no longer apply. discharge the duties of my office on which I conflict and discord. On this day, we come to The question we ask today is not whether am about to enter. So help me God.’’ proclaim an end to the petty grievances and our Government is too big or too small but (Applause.) false promises, the recriminations and whether it works—whether it helps families Mrs. FEINSTEIN. It is my pleasure to in- wornout dogmas that for far too long have find jobs at a decent wage, care they can af- troduce a unique musical performance: Mr. strained our politics. We remain a young Na- ford, a retirement that is dignified. Where Itzhak Perlman, violinist; Anthony McGill, tion, but in the words of scripture: The time the answer is, yes, we intend to move for- clarinet; Yo-Yo Ma, cellist; and Gabriela has come to set aside childish things. The ward. Where the answer is no, programs will Montero, pianist, performing ‘‘Air and Sim- time has come to reaffirm our enduring spir- end. Those of us who manage the public’s ple Gifts,’’ a composition arranged for this it, to choose our better history, to carry for- dollars will be held to account—to spend occasion by John Williams. ward that precious gift, that noble idea wisely, reform bad habits, and do our busi- (Performance by Mr. Yo-Yo Ma, Mr. An- passed on from generation to generation, the ness in the light of day—because only then thony McGill, Ms. Gabriela Montero, and Mr. God-given promise that all are equal, all are can we restore the vital trust between a peo- Itzhak Perlman.) free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their ple and their Government. Mrs. FEINSTEIN. It is my distinct honor full measure of happiness. Nor is the question before us whether the to present the Chief Justice of the United (Applause.) market is a force for good or ill. Its power to States, the Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr., In reaffirming the greatness of our Nation, generate wealth and expand freedom is un- who will administer the Presidential oath of we understand that greatness is never a matched. But this crisis has reminded us office. Everyone, please stand. given. It must be earned. Our journey has that without a watchful eye, the market can The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, never been one of shortcuts or settling for spin out of control and that a nation cannot JOHN G. ROBERTS, JR., administered to less. It has not been the path for the faint- prosper long when it favors only the pros- the President-elect the oath of office pre- hearted, for those who prefer leisure over perous. The success of our economy has al- scribed by the Constitution, which he re- work or seek only the pleasures of riches and ways depended not just on the size of our peated, as follows: fame. Rather, it has been the risk takers, the gross domestic product but on the reach of ‘‘I, BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, do sol- doers, the makers of things, some celebrated our prosperity, on the ability to extend op- emnly swear that I will faithfully execute but more often men and women obscure in portunity to every willing heart—not out of the office of President of the United States their labor who have carried us up the long charity but because it is the surest route to and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom. our common good. protect, and defend the Constitution of the For us, they packed up their few worldly pos- (Applause.) United States. So Help me God.’’ sessions and traveled across oceans in search As for our common defense, we reject as THE CHIEF JUSTICE. Congratulations, of a new life. For us, they toiled in sweat- false the choice between our safety and our Mr. President. shops and settled the West, endured the lash ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with (Applause.) of the whip, and plowed the hard earth. For perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Ladies and gentlemen, it us, they fought and died in places like Con- a charter to assure the rule of law and the is my great personal honor to present the cord and Gettysburg, Normandy and Khe rights of man, a charter expanded by the 44th President of these United States, Sahn. blood of generations. Those ideals still light Barack Obama. Time and again, these men and women the world, and we will not give them up for (Applause.) struggled and sacrificed and worked until expedience sake. And so to all the other peo- The PRESIDENT. Thank you. Thank you. their hands were raw so that we might live a ples and governments who are watching My fellow citizens, I stand here today hum- better life. They saw America as bigger than today, from the grandest capitals to the bled by the task before us, grateful for the the sum of our individual ambitions, greater small village where my father was born, trust you bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices than all the differences of birth or wealth or know that America is a friend of each nation borne by our ancestors. I thank President faction. and every man, woman, and child who seeks Bush for his service to our Nation, as well as This is the journey we continue today. We a future of peace and dignity and that we are the generosity and cooperation he has shown remain the most prosperous, powerful Nation ready to lead once more. throughout this transition. on Earth. Our workers are no less productive (Applause.) Forty-four Americans have now taken the than when this crisis began. Our minds are Recall that earlier generations faced down Presidential oath. The words have been spo- no less inventive, our goods and services no fascism and communism not just with mis- ken during rising tides of prosperity and the less needed than they were last week or last siles and tanks but with sturdy alliances and still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the month or last year. Our capacity remains enduring convictions. They understood that oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and undiminished, and our time of standing pat our power alone cannot protect us, nor does raging storms. At these moments, America and protecting narrow interests and putting it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they has carried on not simply because of the off unpleasant decisions—that time has sure- knew that our power grows through its pru- skill or vision of those in high office but be- ly passed. Starting today, we must pick our- dent use. Our security emanates from the cause we, the people, have remained faithful selves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again justness of our cause, the force of our exam- to the ideals of our forebears and true to our the work of remaking America. ple, the tempering qualities of humility and founding documents. So it has been. So it (Applause.) restraint. We are the keepers of this legacy. must be with this generation of Americans. For everywhere we look, there is work to Guided by these principles once more, we can That we are in the midst of crisis is now be done. The state of our economy calls for meet those new threats that demand even well understood. Our Nation is at war action, bold and swift. And we will act, not greater effort, even greater cooperation and against a far-reaching network of violence only to create new jobs but to lay a new understanding between nations.