ElectedbytheAmericanpeopletothehighestofficeknowntoourlaws，IappearheretotaketheoathprescribedbytheConstitution，and，incompliancewithatime-honoredcustom，toaddressthosewhoarenowassembled.

TheconfidenceandrespectshownbymycountrymenincallingmetobetheChiefMagistrateofaRepublicholdingahighrankamongthenationsoftheearthhaveinspiredmewithfeelingsofthemostprofoundgratitude；butwhenIreflectthattheacceptanceoftheofficewhichtheirpartialityhasbestowedimposesthedischargeofthemostarduousdutiesandinvolvestheweightiestobligations，IamconsciousthatthepositionwhichIhavebeencalledtofill，thoughsufficienttosatisfytheloftiestambition，issurroundedbyfearfulresponsibilities.Happily，however，intheperformanceofmynewdutiesIshallnotbewithoutablecooperation.ThelegislativeandjudicialbranchesoftheGovernmentpresentprominentexamplesofdistinguishedcivilattainmentsandmaturedexperience，anditshallbemyendeavortocalltomyassistanceintheExecutiveDepartmentsindividualswhosetalents，integrity，andpurityofcharacterwillfurnishampleguarantiesforthefaithfulandhonorableperformanceofthetruststobecommittedtotheircharge.Withsuchaidsandanhonestpurposetodowhateverisright，Ihopetoexecutediligently，impartially，andforthebestinterestsofthecountrythemanifolddutiesdevolveduponme.

InthedischargeofthesedutiesmyguidewillbetheConstitution，whichIthisdayswearto“preserve，protect，anddefend.”FortheinterpretationofthatinstrumentIshalllooktothedecisionsofthejudicialtribunalsestablishedbyitsauthorityandtothepracticeoftheGovernmentundertheearlierPresidents，whohadsolargeashareinitsformation.TotheexampleofthoseillustriouspatriotsIshallalwaysdeferwithreverence，andespeciallytohisexamplewhowasbysomanytitles“theFatherofhisCountry.”

TocommandtheArmyandNavyoftheUnitedStates；withtheadviceandconsentoftheSenate，tomaketreatiesandtoappointambassadorsandotherofficers；togivetoCongressinformationofthestateoftheUnionandrecommendsuchmeasuresasheshalljudgetobenecessary；andtotakecarethatthelawsshallbefaithfullyexecuted——thesearethemostimportantfunctionsintrustedtothePresidentbytheConstitution，anditmaybeexpectedthatIshallbrieflyindicatetheprincipleswhichwillcontrolmeintheirexecution.

ChosenbythebodyofthepeopleundertheassurancethatmyAdministrationwouldbedevotedtothewelfareofthewholecountry，andnottothesupportofanyparticularsectionormerelylocalinterest，IthisdayrenewthedeclarationsIhaveheretoforemadeandproclaimmyfixeddeterminationtomaintaintotheextentofmyabilitytheGovernmentinitsoriginalpurityandtoadoptasthebasisofmypublicpolicythosegreatrepublicandoctrineswhichconstitutethestrengthofournationalexistence.

InreferencetotheArmyandNavy，latelyemployedwithsomuchdistinctiononactiveservice，careshallbetakentoinsurethehighestconditionofefficiency，andinfurtheranceofthatobjectthemilitaryandnavalschools，sustainedbytheliberalityofCongress，shallreceivethespecialattentionoftheExecutive.

AsAmericanfreemenwecannotbutsympathizeinalleffortstoextendtheblessingsofcivilandpoliticalliberty，butatthesametimewearewarnedbytheadmonitionsofhistoryandthevoiceofourownbelovedWashingtontoabstainfromentanglingallianceswithforeignnations.Inalldisputesbetweenconflictinggovernmentsitisourinterestnotlessthanourdutytoremainstrictlyneutral，whileourgeographicalposition，thegeniusofourinstitutionsandourpeople，theadvancingspiritofcivilization，and，aboveall，thedictatesofreligiondirectustothecultivationofpeacefulandfriendlyrelationswithallotherpowers.Itistobehopedthatnointernationalquestioncannowarisewhichagovernmentconfidentinitsownstrengthandresolvedtoprotectitsownjustrightsmaynotsettlebywisenegotiation；anditeminentlybecomesagovernmentlikeourown，foundedonthemoralityandintelligenceofitscitizensandupheldbytheiraffections，toexhausteveryresortofhonorablediplomacybeforeappealingtoarms.IntheconductofourforeignrelationsIshallconformtotheseviews，asIbelievethemessentialtothebestinterestsandthetruehonorofthecountry.

TheappointingpowervestedinthePresidentimposesdelicateandonerousduties.Sofarasitispossibletobeinformed，Ishallmakehonesty，capacity，andfidelityindispensableprerequisitestothebestowalofoffice，andtheabsenceofeitherofthesequalitiesshallbedeemedsufficientcauseforremoval.

ItshallbemystudytorecommendsuchconstitutionalmeasurestoCongressasmaybenecessaryandpropertosecureencouragementandprotectiontothegreatinterestsofagriculture，commerce，andmanufactures，toimproveourriversandharbors，toprovideforthespeedyextinguishmentofthepublicdebt，toenforceastrictaccountabilityonthepartofallofficersoftheGovernmentandtheutmosteconomyinallpublicexpenditures；butitisforthewisdomofCongressitself，inwhichalllegislativepowersarevestedbytheConstitution，toregulatetheseandothermattersofdomesticpolicy.IshalllookwithconfidencetotheenlightenedpatriotismofthatbodytoadoptsuchmeasuresofconciliationasmayharmonizeconflictinginterestsandtendtoperpetuatethatUnionwhichshouldbetheparamountobjectofourhopesandaffections.InanyactioncalculatedtopromoteanobjectsoneartheheartofeveryonewhotrulyloveshiscountryIwillzealouslyunitewiththecoordinatebranchesoftheGovernment.

InconclusionIcongratulateyou，myfellow-citizens，uponthehighstateofprosperitytowhichthegoodnessofDivineProvidencehasconductedourcommoncountry.Letusinvokeacontinuanceofthesameprotectingcarewhichhasledusfromsmallbeginningstotheeminencewethisdayoccupy，andletusseektodeservethatcontinuancebyprudenceandmoderationinourcouncils，bywell-directedattemptstoassuagethebitternesswhichtoooftenmarksunavoidabledifferencesofopinion，bythepromulgationandpracticeofjustandliberalprinciples，andbyanenlargedpatriotism，whichshallacknowledgenolimitsbutthoseofourownwidespreadRepublic.