An inaugural address is a plan, and the test of a plan is the result.

CNN: Why inaugural speeches mostly fail

January 2013: Obama becomes the first U.S. president to mention gays and lesbians in an inaugural address and champions same-sex marriage.

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An inaugural address is a plan for what is to come.

CNN: Why inaugural speeches mostly fail

Perhaps it is better suited for a journal entry than an inaugural address, one purpose of which is to reinforce the confidence bestowed upon a newly elected president.

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But even if the ideas are clear and the words crisp, an inaugural address can be deemed "great" only if it is followed by actions that make good on its lofty words.

CNN: Why inaugural speeches mostly fail

Wyeth of Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural - an event remembered for the 16th president's solemn address.

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Obama, near the end of his inaugural address on Monday, made what appeared to be an oblique reference to the partisan battles between himself, the GOP-controlled House and the Senate -- where Democrats have control but do not have a filibuster-proof majority.

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