On January 20, 2021, Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. was sworn in as the 46^th president of the United States on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol, in an event that roughly forty million people viewed virtually. Previous presidents and first ladies, including the Obamas, the Clintons, and the Bushes, were in attendance. Former vice president Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, also made an appearance at the event. Lady Gaga performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Jennifer Lopez performed a medley of “This Land Is Your Land” and “America The Beautiful,” and Garth Brooks concluded the musical performances with his own rendition of “Amazing Grace.” The youngest poet to ever read at a presidential inauguration, Amanda Gorman, read a moving piece entitled “The Hill We Climb.”

Previously, President Biden served as the 47^th vice president of the United States under Barack Obama from 2009-2017. Prior to the vice presidency, President Biden worked as an attorney before representing Delaware in the United States Senate for thirty-six years. At age 78, the Scranton-native Democrat is the oldest person to date to assume the presidency. Biden’s focuses as president appear to be based upon undoing a vast majority of Trump administration policies from the last four years.

Joe Biden’s administration bears a number of firsts. One of President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s dogs, Major, is the first shelter dog to live in the White House. The Biden family adopted Major in November 2018 from the Delaware Human Association. The Delaware Humane Association even hosted a virtual “Indoguration” fundraiser in honor of Major. Major, and the other first dog, Champ, are both German Shepherds. Michael LaRosa, a spokesman for Dr. Biden, said in a statement that “Champ is enjoying his new dog bed by the fireplace, and Major loved running around on the South Lawn” (New York Times). Champ and Major’s predecessors are Bo and Sunny, Michelle and Barack Obama’s Portuguese Water Dogs.

The Biden presidency marks the first, but presumably not the last, time in history in which the phrase “Madame Vice President” will be used. Kamala Harris is not only the first female vice president, but also the first African American and South Asian vice president.

Finally, some may argue that I have yet to discuss the most important outcome of the inauguration: Bernie Sanders and his mittens dominating memes and the world of social media.

For more information regarding the inauguration or the Biden administration (or Bernie and his mittens), please consult the following sources:

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/biden-harris-inauguration-day-2021/index.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvbQR887W0

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bidens-inauguration-everything-you-need-to-know

https://www.thewrap.com/bernie-sanders-mittens-inauguration-memes/