Gov. Deval Patrick kicked off his second term yesterday much more modestly than his historic inauguration on the State House steps four years ago, but no less passionately.
“We must demand more of ourselves than rhetoric that divides us and leadership that kicks every tough decision down the road,” Patrick told a packed House chamber. “We must demand more not just of our public leaders but also of our private ones — and of ourselves as individual citizens.”
Massachusetts’ first black governor made more history Thursday by becoming the state’s first governor to be sworn in by a woman, Senate President Therese Murray.
Just like four years ago, Patrick took the oath on the Mendi Bible, which was presented to John Quincy Adams by the African captives Adams helped free in the Amistad 1841 Supreme Court case.
Unlike his elaborate ball at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center four year’s ago, Patrick capped Thursday night with a celebration at the Boston Public Library.
