Visualizing the unique, historic diversity of the dais at Biden’s speech

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In the first seconds of his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Biden acknowledged the historic nature of the people who sat behind him.

“Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President,” he began. “No president has ever said those words from this podium. No president has ever said those words. And it’s about time.”

He was referring, of course, to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) — the only woman to have ever held that position — and Vice President Harris, the only woman and person of Black or Asian descent to ever have done so. It was a moment without equal in American history. Continue reading.