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NRI Bobby Jindal Sworn in as Louisiana's Governor on Jan 14, 2008

 

Bobby Jindal sworn in as Louisiana’s 55th governor

  • First non-white governor since post-Civil War Reconstruction
  • The first NRI (Indian-American) governor a U.S. state.
  • He is the first governor from Baton Rouge since the 1920s
  • The youngest governor in the nation.

 

Louisiana, Jan 14, 2008
Satnam Grewal

NRI (non-resident Indian) Bobby Jindal, 36, the first nonwhite governor, the youngest governor in the nation was sworn in as Louisiana's 55th governor at 12:07 p.m.

Pascal Calogero, chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court, administered the oath making Jindal the first nonwhite governor in Louisiana and fourth Republican state chief executive since Reconstruction. He is the first governor from Baton Rouge since the 1920s. He was born in Baton Rouge and raised in the Kenilworth neighborhood.

“Under the spotlight of the world, with generosity from many and a clear call to common purpose. We have the opportunity to make lasting and positive change,” he said to the crowd of about 2,000 under clear blue skies.

He promised economic reform, better educational system, government reform, and real recovery in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Jindal promises a new opportunity for the state especially while still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana is rich in resources but very poor in income, per capita.

Today, let me express my absolute humbleness that I feel for the opportunity to be the Governor of the State of Louisiana.

I, Bobby Jindal, take the oath of office as my bond. My obligation is to you the people of this state and not to any political party, nor to any region exclusively nor to any special interest group or groups.

When I first embarked upon this journey in trying to become Governor of Louisiana, I lost an election to a very graceful and feisty woman, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco. She has led this state through its worst disasters in history, Katrina and Rita and today due to her leadership; we are poised to be a leader in this great nation.

I personally thank Governor Blanco for her guidance during very tough times and for her willingness to make my administration as successful as possible. While in the past, we have disagreed on various issues which will always be the case between elected officials in government, I have immensely enjoyed working with her. I wish her the very best in the next stage of her life. On behalf of Louisiana, she, her family and her administration has our deepest and most sincere gratitude.

 

Bobby Jindal, with his wife, Supriya, at his side, is sworn in as Louisiana's 55th governor.