The inauguration of a president is one of the most sacred and cherished traditions in United States history. It is the one moment that happens every four years. In case of a death or resignation, there are times in which this ceremony will occur before a four-year period.

Since the writing of the Constitution and the first inaugural address given by George Washington on April 30, 1789, we have had a traditional inauguration every four years (Today in History – March 4, 2021).

Throughout history, the content of the speech along with location, method of delivery, and date have all changed. Through their speech, presidents can show how they feel about the state of the nation as well as represent larger public sentiment (Teten 2003). 

Much of the history of the United States involves the fight for racial justice and racial equity, making it a talking point for several presidents. An inaugural address presents each president with the opportunity to talk about several issues, allowing them to speak about policies either explicitly or implicitly (Çinar, Stokes, and Uribe 2020).

The question driving my research is: what is the effect of a political party on presidential rhetoric regarding race in inaugural speeches? I will be looking at how each president speaks about race and how that has changed over time.

I find this study important because it develops and continues the conversation surrounding presidential rhetoric. It helps to expand the conversation around presidential racial rhetoric as well, zooming in on a specific address given.