Transcript click here to hear the speech

Presented for:
Xxxxxxxxxx
By
Wendy Simmons
Information Resource Officer,
U.S. Embassy
Bangkok, Thailand
A
peaceful transfer of power is a hallmark of
American democracy
 Americans
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expect elections to be
peaceful, clean and fair
the outgoing officials to work with the incoming
administration
the incoming officials to be civil toward the
outgoing administration
© AP Images/Rick Bowmer
Why is this man
smiling??

The longest presidential
campaign in U.S. history ended.

A record 130 million Americans
cast ballots.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden
were elected 44th president and
vice-president of the United
States.
 Transforming
event for all Americans,
particularly African Americans over 50
 Biography
of the President-elect show his
roots on three continents, Europe (mother /
grandparents), Africa (father) and Asia (stepfather)
 His
previous work was in low-income
communities of Chicago
women for barack obama
 Obama
comes from a generation after the
1960s & appeals to young people
 Many
campaign workers were young people,
the issues he talks about impacts them
 Followed
their use of technology for
information, organizing and fundraising
 13
million e-mail addresses
 Almost 4 million individual donors (online)
 200,000 local events organized online
 35,000 local groups organized
 1 million signed up for text messages
 3.2 million friends on Facebook
 And it won’t end here …
The 20th amendment to the U.S. Constitution specifies that the term
of each elected president of the United States begins at noon on
January 20 of the year following the election. Each president must
take the oath of office before assuming the duties of the position.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm)
that I will faithfully execute the
office of President of the United
States, and will to the best of
my ability, preserve, protect and
defend the Constitution of the
United States.“
- The Presidential Oath of Office
www.america.gov
“With malice toward none, with charity for all … let us strive on to
finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for
him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan,
to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among
ourselves and with all nations.”
"This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of
all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—
nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert
retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness
and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which
is essential to victory.“
http://www.iipgir.state.gov/shortcut.cfm/CYK2 (click here to hear the speech)
“The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our
country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the
world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask
what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what
America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
http://www.iipgir.state.gov/shortcut.cfm/CYK2 (click here to hear the speech)
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Obama and Biden families arrive by train January 17th
Celebrate Martin Luther King Day January 19th
January 20th begins with a prayer breakfast
Obama and Bush travel together from the White
House to the U.S. Capitol
Joseph Biden and Barack Obama take the oaths of
office on the Capitol steps at noon.
The new president gives his Inaugural address.
Lunch for new administration hosted by the Congress
Inaugural parade with representation of each state
George W. Bush and Laura Bush leave the city as
private citizens
Inaugural balls and parties
 Millions
will come to Washington DC for
inauguration on January 20th / MLK Day on
January 19th
 Weather is unpredictable
 Largest crowd ever in a city that is used to
large crowds
 Security and logistics specialists have been
working for months
 Hotels, catering, and transportation will be
working overtime
Choosing his team:
 The president-elect spends much of his time during the
transition choosing a Cabinet and other top advisors.

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Cabinet officials are advisers and directors of various government
agencies, such as the State Department, the Department of
Defense and the Treasury.
The U.S. Senate must review and confirm Cabinet nominations
following the inauguration.
The president appoints thousands of people to federal
agencies in lower jobs who do not need approval
 More than 2.6 million civil service employees continue in
their jobs, ensuring continuity of government operations
Ensuring the country’s security:
 Since the election, military and intelligence officials
provide Obama the same briefings they provide President
Bush

 Turmoil
in the international financial system
 A national economic recession
 First wartime presidential transition in 40
years
 On going military involvement in Iraq and
Afghanistan, fighting extremism
Please join me
in wishing them
good luck!
Thank you!