On Monday, my editor gave me the idea to create a word cloud using President Obama’s inaugural address, so I was curious to see how his speech compares to others given at past inaugural ceremonies. I found this list of the best presidential addresses handpicked by James Lindsay, director of studies for the Council on Foreign Relations.
Barack Obama (Jan. 21, 2013)
Words that stand out: Must, people, time
Thomas Jefferson (March 4, 1801)
Words that stand out: Fellow-citizens, may, government, principle
Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1861)
Words that stand out: Union, constitution, government, states, people
Abraham Lincoln (March 4, 1865)
Words that stand out: War, God, Union, years
Theodore Roosevelt (March 4, 1905)
Words that stand out: Problems, people, must, life, nation
Franklin D. Roosevelt (March 4, 1933)
Words that stand out: Must, national, people, leadership, helped
John F. Kennedy (Jan. 20, 1961)
Words that stood out: Let, sides, world
Any observations? Which president do you think had the strongest speech?
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