Inaugural speech to be inspiring, urgent

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural address will strive to be aspirational, accessible, simple, inspiring, urgent and confident, transition aides said.

Obama is nearly finished with his speech -- having gone through at least three drafts -- that he will deliver on Tuesday to millions of Americans either watching history unfold on the Washington Mall or on a television set, Politico reported Friday.

"The speech will describe the moment we're in and the spirit required to emerge from this crisis even stronger and more united than before," Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

Obama is collaborating on the writing and editing of the speech with senior adviser David Axelrod and chief speechwriter Jon Favreau, but will have the final say, the Washington publication reported.

Facing a global economic crisis, wars on two fronts and some of the highest expectations and hopes for a president in decades, Obama should do well in articulating his views and aspirations.

"Obama is the most eloquent presidential candidate" since President John F. Kennedy, said Theodore Sorenson, speechwriter for Kennedy's 1961 inspirational inaugural address. "I would think we would hear the most eloquent speech since JFK's 48 years ago."