African American Denise Alexander became the fourth poet to read at a presidential inauguration.
The tradition of poem reading began with the inauguration of President Kennedy in 1961 when he selected one of his favorite writers Robert Frost to recite a poem.
In 1993, Maya Angelou read for the inauguration of President Clinton, and poet Miller Williams recited for the second Clinton inaugural in 1997.
Ms. Alexander’s brother Mark was a senior adviser to the Obama campaign and transition team.
