Unity

The primary theme of the poem is unity among all Americans. This is a common theme in inaugural poems, as it serves to frame the start of a new presidential term as beneficial for the entire nation. Because the United States operates primarily on a two-party political system, general elections are fraught with polarization between the parties and have grown increasingly vitriolic in nature over the last few decades. Inaugural poets are tasked with both acknowledging this fact about America and encouraging listeners of all political affiliations to perceive a new president as a chance to overcome the boundaries often created during presidential campaigns. For the election of 2008, polarization among Americans was intensified by race, as Barack Obama was the first Black person to win the democratic nomination for president. The country was also living in the wake of the economic recession of 2008 as well as...