At noon Jan. 20, Donald Trump was inaugurated at the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. As one of the most contentious elections in recent history, the 45th race for president elicited a wide range of reactions ranging from extreme excitement to abject terror.

Many liberal and Democratic citizens find the new president’s attitudes concerning race, religion, identity, policy, and more to be extremely concerning.

“I don’t think minorities or other small groups will feel very safe or included in their own communities,” said junior Mel Ozturk. In light of the extreme emotions however, APUSH substitute teacher David Dodrill brings a little perspective to the situation with a short lesson from history.

Dodrill reminds students that in the beginning of the 20th century, Theodore Roosevelt was regarded as crass, controversial, and ill-suited for the presidency. As a president however, Roosevelt tackled the issue of big business, protected a record amount of wilderness as national monuments, and generally created positive change through Progressive ideals. Dodrill urges students to remember that this is not the first time in history a president has been controversial.