by Sunnyjane
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| Dawn breaking over the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 |
It was a beautiful January day in the Nation’s Capitol, crisply cold and vibrantly sunny. It was a day of pomp and ceremony; luncheons and balls; speeches, prayers, music, and parades. It was a day of spontaneous laughter and joyful tears.
It was a day that swelled the hearts of Democrats and blew apart the minds of Republicans. What a day!
But most of all, it was...
A Day of Images
Nearly two million people crowded onto the National Mall to witness the inauguration of the forty-fourth President of the United States of America. More than thirty-seven million people in the U.S. watched on television, while twenty-seven million Europeans viewed this historic event. Internet traffic to news outlets, social networking websites, and video streams surged to an all-time record.
President-elect Barack Obama and Michelle Obama attended services at St. John's Episcopal Church on the morning of the Inauguration...
...before having coffee at the White House with outgoing-President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.
The Obamas and the Bidens viewed this scene as their motorcade wound its way from the White House to the Capitol for the Inauguration Ceremony. America's historic Transition of Power had begun: As one of its proudest achievements, the U.S. government's presidential transition process stands as an example to be followed by emerging democracies around the world. An unfailingly peaceful and respectful transition of power at the highest level of government stands as a key to the ongoing survival of a free democracy.
The lovely incoming “Ladies” of the Obama Administration, Mrs. Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, made their way down the steps of the west front terrace of the U.S. Capitol. Mrs. Obama firmly held the Lincoln Bible, on which her husband would place his left hand to take the oath of office.
A jubilant Vice President-elect Joe Biden shows his elation with becoming part of the Obama Administration as he strides toward the bottom of the long stairway to the podium.
The soon-to-be President begins his walk into history as he...
...takes the final steps toward his family and the American people.
Senator Joseph Robinette Biden takes the Oath of Office to become Vice President of the United States. His left hand rests firmly on a weighty Bible that has been in his family since 1893.
At exactly noon, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts attempted to administer administered the Constitutionally mandated Oath of Office for President of the United States: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Michelle Obama held the 148-year-old Lincoln Bible for the swearing-in ceremony. It is the first time it has been used for a presidential inauguration since it was purchased especially for Abraham Lincoln's inauguration in 1861.
And as soldiers in Afghanistan watched Mr. Obama take the oath...
And as soldiers in Afghanistan watched Mr. Obama take the oath...
...the cheering crowds in Washington did not contain their enthusiasm for the new Mr. President.
President Barack Obama delivered his Inaugural Address, whose theme was A New Birth of Freedom, a phrase from the Gettysburg Address.
The President referred to ideals expressed by Lincoln about renewal, continuity and national unity, stressing the need for shared sacrifice and a new sense of responsibility to answer America's challenges at home and abroad.
And Sasha seemed to think her Dad aced it!
President Obama and Vice President Biden, accompanied by Mrs. Obama and Mrs. Biden, said
After addressing guests at a luncheon in the Capitol's Statuary Hall, it was time for a walk and a parade!
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Thousands marched in President Obama's Inaugural Parade as...
the Obamas and
the Bidens "walked the walk."
First Daughters, seven-year-old Sasha and ten-year-old Malia, had great fun at Dad's parade.
The First Lady gave marchers a thumbs-up and the President made the “hang loose” sign to the Punahou School Marching Band (his high school) from the reviewing stand in front of the White House.
While the President and First Lady danced at ten different Inaugural Balls,
Vice President and Mrs. Biden did a little toe-stepping themselves!
What a Day!
An Important Issue is Settled
Out of “an abundance of caution,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts was ushered into the Map Room of the White House on Wednesday night to re-administer the oath of office to President Obama because the original oath on Tuesday had a word out of sequence. The chief justice was wearing a court robe. “Are you ready to take the oath?” Roberts asked. “I am,” Obama replied, “and we're going to do it very slowly.”
End Note
Let's make sure there's another Obama inauguration in Washington on January 21, 2013. We need and deserve a president who actually cares about ALL Americans, not just the One Percent.
To tweet this happy news:
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