doi:10.7916/5y0t-fz51Oral history interview with Richard Blanco 2020Blanco, Richardoral historiesmixed materialCuban American poetsCuban Americans--United StatesPresidents--United StatesPresidents--Inauguration.--United StatesHavana (Cuba)Blanco, RichardObama, BarackRichard Blanco discusses his experience writing and performing "One Today," the inaugural poem for the second presidential inauguration of Barack Obama. Blanco describes his development as a poet, and provides details about his engagement with the White House inauguration committee, his reception in the Oval Office by President Obama, and the impact of the experience on his later poetry. Blanco reflects on the intersections between the policies and rhetoric of the Obama administration and his identity as a gay second-generation Cuban American, and the process of incorporating these intersections into "One Today." Blanco also comments on his involvement in the Obama administration's normalization of relations with Cuba, including discussion of his performance at the reopening of the U.S. Embassy in Havana