The Themes
President Donald Trump delivered a strikingly populist speech, with a hefty dose of words aimed at inspiring pride in American ideals. In theme, it was similar to President Ronald Reagan's first inaugural address. Other themes are often a reflection of the state of the union, as with President Barack Obama's focus on the economy in 2009.
How Donald Trump’s inaugural address
compares with the first inaugural
of the past six presidents
Each block represents a word;
color indicates the theme of that section
Donald Trump 2017
16% of his speech centered
on the role of government
58% featured
nationalist themes
15% was about the role of the U.S. in the world
9% was about equality
Equality
Government
Economy
Freedom
Nationalism
Responsibility
Peace
World role
Unity
Challenges
Ronald
Reagan ’81
George
Bush ’89
Jimmy
Carter 1977
26% on
responsibility
34% on unity
42%
focused on
nationalism
42% on
nationalism
26%
on U.S. role
in the world
Bill
Clinton ’93
George
W. Bush 2001
Barack
Obama ’09
21% on
the economy
13% on peace
19%
24%
about facing
challenges
focused on
equality
41%
48%
was on
responsibility
was on
responsibility
How Donald Trump’s inaugural address
compares with the first inaugural of the past six presidents
Each block represents a word; color indicates the theme of that section
Ronald
Reagan ’81
George
Bush ’89
Jimmy
Carter 1977
Equality
Government
Freedom
Nationalism
Peace
World role
Economy
26% on
responsibility
Unity
Challenges
Responsibility
34% on unity
Donald Trump 2017
42%
focused on
nationalism
42% on
nationalism
26%
16% of his speech centered
on the role of government
on U.S. role
in the world
58% featured
nationalist themes
Bill
Clinton ’93
Barack
Obama ’09
George
W. Bush 2001
15% was the role of the U.S. in the world
21% on
the economy
13% on peace
19%
24%
9% was about equality
about facing
challenges
focused on
equality
41%
48%
was on
responsibility
was on
responsibility
How Donald Trump’s inaugural address compares with the first inaugural of the past six presidents
Each block represents a word; color indicates the theme of that section
Ronald
Reagan ’81
George
Bush ’89
Jimmy
Carter 1977
Equality
Government
Freedom
Nationalism
Peace
World role
Economy
26% on
responsibility
Unity
Challenges
Responsibility
34% on unity
Donald Trump 2017
42%
focused on
nationalism
42% on
nationalism
26%
16% of his speech centered
on the role of government
on U.S. role
in the world
58% featured
nationalist themes
Bill
Clinton ’93
George
W. Bush 2001
Barack
Obama ’09
15% was the role of the U.S. in the world
21% on
the economy
13% on peace
19%
24%
9% was about equality
about facing
challenges
focused on
equality
41%
48%
was on
responsibility
was on
responsibility
16u (924px)
How Donald Trump’s inaugural address compares with the first inaugural of the past six presidents
Each block represents a word; color indicates the theme of that section
Ronald
Reagan ’81
George
Bush ’89
Jimmy
Carter 1977
Equality
Government
Freedom
Nationalism
Peace
World role
Economy
26% on
responsibility
Unity
Challenges
Responsibility
34% on unity
Donald Trump 2017
42%
focused on
nationalism
42% on
nationalism
26%
16% of his speech centered
on the role of government
on U.S. role
in the world
58% featured
nationalist themes
Bill
Clinton ’93
George
W. Bush 2001
Barack
Obama ’09
15% was the role of the U.S. in the world
21% on
the economy
13% on peace
19%
24%
9% was about equality
about facing
challenges
focused on
equality
41%
48%
was on
responsibility
was on
responsibility
The Words
Some words appear more consistently in inaugural speeches than others. "People" and "government" are commonly invoked. "Freedom" has become especially popular since World War II, while "duty" has diminished since the 19th century.
Frequency of select words in all
inaugural speeches, 1789–2017
Trump
America/
American
Change
Duty
Enemies
G.W. Bush, 2005: 34 times
Free/
freedom
God
James K. Polk, 1845: 50 times
Government
Great
Hope
Law
Peace
People
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 67 times
Power
Rights
Unity
War
Frequency of select words in all inaugural speeches, 1789–2017
Trump
America/
American
Change
Duty
Enemies
G.W. Bush,
2005: 34 times
Free/
freedom
God
James K. Polk, 1845: 50 times
Government
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 28 times
Great
Hope
Benjamin Harrison, 1889: 31 times
Law
Peace
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 38 times
People
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 67 times
Power
Rights
Unity
Warren G. Harding, 1921: 18 times
War
Frequency of select words in all inaugural speeches, 1789–2017
Trump
America/
American
Change
Duty
Enemies
G.W. Bush,
2005: 34 times
Free/freedom
God
James K. Polk, 1845: 50 times
Government
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 28 times
Great
Hope
Benjamin Harrison, 1889: 31 times
Law
Peace
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 38 times
People
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 67 times
Power
Rights
Unity
Warren G. Harding, 1921: 18 times
War
16u (924px)
Frequency of select words in all inaugural speeches, 1789–2017
Trump
America/
American
Change
Duty
Enemies
G.W. Bush,
2005: 34 times
Free/freedom
God
James K. Polk, 1845: 50 times
Government
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 28 times
Great
Hope
Benjamin Harrison, 1889: 31 times
Law
Peace
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 38 times
People
W.H. Harrison, 1841: 67 times
Power
Rights
Unity
Warren G. Harding, 1921: 18 times
War
