And President Biden in the oval office. His first challenges, none more urgent than the pandemic that claimed 400,000 lives. The action hes taken in his first hours as the nation enters a new chapter. The inauguration of joseph r. Biden jr. This is nbc nightly news with lester holt. Good evening, everyone. America witnessed the birth of a new presidency today, despite a raging pandemic and the threat of domestic terror, joe biden and Kamala Harris took the oaths of office, becoming president and Vice President. The peaceful transfer of power completed. President biden sworn in on the very capitol platform scaled just two weeks ago by a seething mob. The president in his inaugural address calling for unity and for the end to what he called americas uncivil war. A day draped in rich history, of not only the extraordinary circumstances but also the swearingin of the first woman and first woman of color to become Vice President. The Biden Administration wasting no time charting its course