The History Of Inaugurations and Obama's First Days In Office

Inaugural speeches: Some have slipped our minds completely, yet others will remain with us through our nation's history, from the speeches of FDR, JFK to Ronald Reagan. So what can we expect today? Political Analyst Nick Ragone drew upon our inaugural history to predict how Barack Obama's speech will resonate with Americans today.

According to Ragone, Obama is considered by Americans as a great speaker, so a great speech is expected from him. Said Ragone, "The key is to capture the moment." He remarked that our future president has a very distinct voice -- "We all know Obama's speeches."

Ragone looked back on past memorable speeches, such as FDR's. His famous line, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself" caused the American public to rally around him and make his first days in office extremely auspicious. Similarly, John F. Kennedy's line, "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country" was effective as a bold warning against the Soviets that we would win the war. Also memorable is Reagan's speech, which helped turn around the economy by bolstering Americans' spirits.

In addition, Ragone looked ahead on the first 100 days of the Obama presidency, predicting a "Six-month honeymoon period" with plenty of bipartisan support for our future president.

As far as international affairs go, such as American dealings in Israel, Gaza, and the Mumbai bombings, Ragone asserts that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be given a fast start to hone our relations with other countries--"a big challenge."

Ragone also spoke of the legacy that George W. Bush will leave behind, allowing that it will be mixed. According to the political analyst, Bush has tried to make amends with disgruntled Americans with his farewell address and recent press conference, but the question of whether or not our troops should have been in Iraq will linger.

Ragone predicts that a memoir by Bush will probably be produced in which he tries to further clear his reputation. In the mean time, he thinks it best that Bush stay out of politics and keep a low profile. He says this is something our former Vice President Dick Cheney should likewise do, as he has been one of the most unpopular Vice Presidents of the United States to date.

Nick Ragone's book, President's Most Wanted is available in stores now.

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