WOMEN MAKE HISTORY AS PELOSI AND HARRIS FLANK U.S. PRESIDENT

WASHINGTON: When US President Joe Biden delivered his debut speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, history was made behind him, with two powerful women taking their places on the rostrum for the first time.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been in the position before during presidential speeches. With the addition this time of Kamala Harris, the nation’s first woman vice-president, the two people seated behind and on either side of Biden, as Americans tuned in on their TV screens for the primetime address, were women.

“Madam speaker. Madam vice-president,” Biden said, turning to the women and clapping as he began his address. “No president has ever said those words from this podium,” he added, “And it’s about time.”

The chamber burst into applause, as first lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff joined in the ovation.

The moment marked a milestone in the nation’s nearly 245year history.