But as the coronavirus pandemic continues to force most big-ticket national events to scale down, President Joe Biden's inaugural committee decided to take the festivities to TV screens.
The special, which moved swiftly (more or less) between genre-spanning live performances and recorded video segments, was as much a celebration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' ascent to the White House as it was a reflection of the new president's political persona.
Bruce Springsteen kicked off the special with a soulful rendition of "Land of Hope and Dreams," a track suffused with equal parts melancholy and optimism.
"Land of Hope and Dreams," written in 1999, has previously been used in other political contexts.
Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks hosted the special, introducing guests and segments in a no-frills style.
"The practice of our democracy, the foundations of our republic, the integrity of our Constitution, the hopes and dreams we all share for a more perfect union," Hanks added.
Brayden Harrington, the 13-year-old boy who on the final night of the Democratic National Convention shared his story about how Biden helped him with his stutter, appeared in a video segment and read an excerpt from President John F.
Bush appeared in a recorded video to extol the virtues of American democracy and the peaceful transition of presidential power
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