Story at a glance
- President Biden addressed his first joint session of Congress on Wednesday night.
- It was the first time two women were seated behind the president as vice president and House speaker.
- The speech came the night before Biden’s 100th day in office.
As President Biden addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time on Wednesday night, a historic first took center stage: two women seated behind the president.
Flanked by Vice President Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Biden started his address by thanking both “Madam Speaker” and “Madam Vice President,” noting, “No president has ever said those words, and it’s about time.”
America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.
The two women made history — Harris as the first female, as well as Black and South Asian, vice president, and Pelosi as the first female House speaker. Even in the face of another white, male president, the presence of two women — one a woman of color — as top government officials behind the president marked a progression toward diversity.
The rest of Biden’s speech, which took place the night before his 100th day in office, was spent addressing the coronavirus pandemic and his $2 trillion infrastructure plan, as well as his goals for the next 1,362 days.
READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA
SOCCER STAR MEGAN RAPINOE TAKES ON NBA STAR DRAYMOND GREEN OVER WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT
THESE 10 INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN SHOULD BE HOUSEHOLD NAMES—HERE’S WHY THEY ARE NOT
WHO SAYS ONE-THIRD OF ALL WOMEN ENCOUNTER PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE
CHLOE ZHAO BECOMES FIRST ASIAN FEMALE DIRECTOR TO TAKE HOME A GOLDEN GLOBE WITH HER FILM ‘NOMADLAND’
PARK POLICE TAPS FIRST BLACK FEMALE CHIEF
changing america copyright.
