Celebrate Poetry!

Inaugural Poets in History - Academy of American Poets 

Five presidents have had poets read at their Presidential inaugurations, "John F. Kennedy in 1961, Bill Clinton in 1993 & 1997, Barack Obama in 2009 and 2013, and Joe Biden in 2021—had poets read at their inaugurations." The poets are Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Miller Williams, Elizabeth Alexander, Richard Blanco, and Amanda Gorman. Check out their poems here.

  Amanda Gorman, 22, was the youngest inaugural poet in the U.S. when she read her poem, "The Hill We Climb" at President Biden's inauguration. Gorman said that reciting poetry helped her overcome a speech impediment (Humphries).

“Amanda Gorman Reads Inauguration Poem, ‘The Hill We Climb.’” YouTube, uploaded by PBS NewsHour, 20 Jan. 2021, youtu.be/LZ055ilIiN4.

Humphries, Monica, Director. Amanda Gorman Used Poetry to Overcome Speech Impediment. Business Insider, 30 Mar. 2021,    https://www.insider.com/amanda-gorman-used-poetry-to-overcome-speech-impediment-2021-3.  

Library of Congress: Frequently Asked Questions about the six Inaugural Poets 

• • Robert Frost recited "The Gift Outright" at John F. Kennedy's 1961 inaugural. Frost recited the poem from memory after he was unable to read the text of the poem he'd written for the inauguration, "Dedication," because of the sun's glare upon the snow-covered ground. A video of Frost reading "The Gift Outright" at Kennedy's inauguration is available through the Hulu Web site.
  • Maya Angelou read "On the Pulse of Morning" at Bill Clinton's 1993 inaugural. A video of the reading is available through YouTube.
  • Miller Williams read "Of History and Hope" at Bill Clinton's 1997 inaugural. A video of the reading is available through YouTube.
  • Elizabeth Alexander read "Praise Song for the Day" at Barack Obama's 2009 inaugural. A video of Alexander's reading is available on YouTube.
  • Richard Blanco read "One Today" at Barack Obama's 2013 inaugural. A video of the reading is available through YouTube.
  • Amanda Gorman read "The Hill We Climb" at Joe Biden's 2021 inaugural. A video of the reading is available through YouTube.