Video: Today Is Inauguration Day

On Jan. 20, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson — wearing a dark jacket, white button-down shirt and thin silver tie — stepped to the podium at the East Portico of the United States Capitol, glanced quickly to his left and took a deep breath.

Johnson was about to deliver his inaugural address, a timeless tradition for American presidents that was often filled with reminders of exceptionalism and promises of an even better tomorrow.

Except now, the United States was badly wounded, still reeling from the assassination of President John F. Kennedy two years before, the anguish of the Civil Rights Movement and the seemingly endless conflict in Vietnam.

Johnson began.

“My fellow countrymen, on this occasion, the oath I have taken before you and before God is not mine alone, but ours together. We are one nation and one people. Our fate as a nation and our future as a people rest not upon one citizen, but upon all citizens.

This is the majesty and the meaning of this moment.

For every generation, there is a destiny. For some, history decides. For this generation, the choice must be our own.

Even now, a rocket moves toward Mars. It reminds us that the world will not be the same for our children, or even for ourselves in a short span of years. The next man to stand here will look out on a scene different from our own, because ours is a time of change — rapid and fantastic change bearing the secrets of nature, multiplying the nations, placing in uncertain hands new weapons for mastery and destruction, shaking old values, and uprooting old ways.

Our destiny in the midst of change will rest on the unchanged character of our people, and on their faith.”

Over 22 minutes, Johnson used the word “Our” 37 times and “We” 34. He spoke slowly but confidently, with poise and with purpose. He was humble and nostalgic, practical and methodical. There were no cliches, no bombastic language and ultimately no wasted words.

While much has changed since that day 56 years ago, a lot hasn’t. The past weeks have been filled with uncertainty and unrest, turbulence and tumult. Grounds for despair have at times been more conspicuous than reasons for optimism.

Whether today day brings us hope and newfound pride or simply increases skepticism and fear, we might be wise to reflect on Johnson’s speech from that day and remind ourselves of the 11-word pledge that he made to his team, the United States of America, that we can make to our own.

“I will lead. And I will do the best I can.”

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