The Historic ‘Firsts’ Of Inauguration Day 2021

Topline

New faces in the White House and the Senate on Wednesday mark milestones for diversity and representation in the U.S. government.

Key Facts

President Joe Biden is the second Catholic president in U.S. history, following fellow Irish-American John F. Kennedy. 

Vice President Kamala Harris represents multiple historic firsts—she is the first woman, person of South Asian descent and African-American to serve in the role.

Harris’ husband Doug Emhoff—or the Second Gentleman—is the first spouse of a president or vice president to be Jewish.

Other historic swearing-ins Wednesday included Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock of Georgia, the first Jewish and second Black senator, respectively, to be elected by a Southern state since Reconstruction.

Former California Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn in Wednesday to take Harris’ Senate seat, becoming California’s first Latino senator.

Key Background 

Wednesday’s inauguration went off without a hitch, despite violent threats. While the festivities were scaled down because of the coronavirus pandemic, notable former White House residents like the Clinton, Bush and Obama families attended the swearing in ceremony. Notably absent were former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, who snubbed the inauguration in favor of flying back to Florida, where they reportedly plan to reside.

Further Reading

Inauguration Live Updates: Biden Sworn In As 46th President (Forbes)

Democrats Take Control Of Senate As Ossoff And Warnock Are Sworn In (Forbes)

Kamala Harris Shatters Glass Ceiling As First Woman Vice President-Elect And Other ‘Firsts’ Of The U.S. 2020 Election (Forbes)

Kamala Harris Makes History As First Female, Black, Asian American Vice President (Forbes)2

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