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August 19, 2009
E-mail a friendYOUNG VOICES
Inauguration Observations: VIPs, Private Security and Slaves Built the White House
I have so many things to say about this inauguration (which is still underway) that I thought I'd just keep a list.
• If I had have planned the inauguration, instead of putting Dustin Hoffman, Steven Spielberg and Donna Brazile in the VIP section, I would have reserved that section instead for teachers, firefighters, Iraq war veterans and factory workers.
• It's a great day to be working in private security. According to a Washington Post article from last week, “Building guards will be earning weekend and holiday pay and lots of overtime as hotels, office buildings, museums and other venues are kept open for events or locked down. Executive security details will be working nearly around the clock guarding VIPs.”
• Twelve American presidents owned slaves. Eight of those presidents owned slaves while in office—George Washington (1789 - 97), Thomas Jefferson (1801 - 09), James Madison (1809 - 17), James Monroe (1817 - 25), Andrew Jackson (1829 - 37), John Tyler (1841 - 45), James K. Polk (1845 - 49) and Zachary Taylor (1849 - 50). Further, slaves helped to build the White House that the Obamas are moving into today.
More to come later …