Jan.20,2005VicePresidentCheney,Mr.ChiefJustice,PresidentCarter,PresidentBush,PresidentClinton,reverendclergy,distinguishedguests,fellowcitize:
Onthisday,prescribedbylawandmarkedbyceremony,wecelebratethedurablewisdomofourCotitution,andrecallthedeepcommitmentsthatuniteourcountry.Iamgratefulforthehonorofthishour,mindfulofthecoequentialtimesinwhichwelive,anddeterminedtofulfilltheoaththatIhaveswornandyouhavewitneed.
Atthiecondgathering,ourdutiesaredefinednotbythewordsIuse,butbythehistorywehaveseentogether.Forahalfcentury,Americadefendedourownfreedombystandingwatchondistantborders.Aftertheshipwreckofcommunismcameyearsofrelativequiet,yearsofrepose,yearsofsaatical-andthentherecameadayoffire.
Wehaveseenourvulnerability-andwehaveseenitsdeepestsource.Foraslongaswholeregiooftheworldsimmerinresentmentandtyray-pronetoideologiesthatfeedhatredandexcusemurder-violencewillgather,andmultiplyindestructivepower,andcrothemostdefendedborders,andraiseamortalthreat.Thereisonlyoneforceofhistorythatcanbreakthereignofhatredandresentment,andexposethepreteiooftyrants,andrewardthehopesofthedecentandtolerant,andthatistheforceofhumanfreedom.
Weareled,byeventsandcommonsee,tooneconclusion:Thesurvivaloflibertyinourlandincreasinglydependsonthesucceoflibertyinotherlands.Thebesthopeforpeaceinourworldistheexpaionoffreedominalltheworld.
America‘svitalinterestsandourdeepestbeliefsarenowone.FromthedayofourFounding,wehaveproclaimedthateverymanandwomanonthisearthhasrights,anddignity,andmatchlevalue,becausetheybeartheimageoftheMakerofHeavenandearth.Acrothegeneratiowehaveproclaimedtheimperativeofself-government,becausenooneisfittobeamaster,andnoonedeservestobeaslave.AdvancingtheseidealsisthemiionthatcreatedourNation.Itisthehonorableachievementofourfathers.Nowitistheurgentrequirementofournation‘ecurity,andthecallingofourtime.
SoitisthepolicyoftheUnitedStatestoseekandsuortthegrowthofdemocraticmovementsandititutioineverynationandculture,withtheultimategoalofendingtyrayinourworld.
