Bill Clinton – Second Inaugural Address (1997)
President Bill Clinton’s second inaugural address, delivered January 20, 1997, looked toward the new century, calling for national unity and for preparing the United States to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.
Questions you may have include:
- What was the context?
- What were its themes?
- Why is it notable?
The context
Clinton began his second term during a time of relative prosperity, at the close of the twentieth century. The 1997 inauguration also fell on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, which the address acknowledged.
Its themes
The speech used the image of building a bridge to the twenty-first century, urging Americans to prepare for the future together. It emphasized national unity and racial reconciliation, and a balance between the role of government and the responsibilities of citizens.
Why it is notable
The address is remembered for framing the turn of the century as a shared project and for its appeal to overcome division as the nation entered a new era.
Summary
Clinton’s 1997 second inaugural address, delivered on the King holiday amid prosperity, called for unity and reconciliation and used the metaphor of a bridge to the twenty-first century to urge Americans to prepare together for the future.