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Barack Obama’s Inauguration
Category: History & Politics Key figures: Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, John Roberts (Chief Justice), Aretha Franklin, Rick Warren
Summary
On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., becoming the first African American to hold the office. The ceremony drew an estimated 1.8 million spectators to the National Mall — a record for any event held in Washington, D.C. — and was watched by tens of millions more around the world. The inauguration’s theme was “A New Birth of Freedom,” a phrase drawn from the Gettysburg Address, chosen to mark the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth year.
The ceremony featured an invocation delivered by evangelical pastor Rick Warren and a musical performance of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” by Aretha Franklin, who became instantly iconic for her grey bow-tied felt hat. The administration of the presidential oath by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts went slightly awry when Roberts misplaced the word “faithfully” in the 35-word constitutionally prescribed oath, causing Obama to pause and repeat the words out of sequence. To eliminate any legal doubt, Roberts re-administered the oath the following day, January 21, at 7:35 p.m. in the White House Map Room — a rare but constitutionally prudent do-over.
In his inaugural address, Obama called for a new era of responsibility, acknowledged the two wars being inherited from the Bush administration, and confronted the ongoing global financial crisis. He spoke of restoring science to its rightful place, rebuilding alliances, and extending an open hand to adversaries willing to unclench their fist. The speech was widely praised for its tone of sobriety and historic gravity, setting high public expectations for the incoming administration.
Significance
Obama’s inauguration marked a transformative moment in American history: the election and swearing-in of the first African American president, 44 years after the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The event drew global attention, with celebrations held in cities around the world. It represented not only a racial milestone but also a generational shift in American politics, as the 47-year-old Obama succeeded the 62-year-old George W. Bush amid two ongoing wars and the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The record crowd and worldwide viewership underscored the intensity of public investment in the transition. The minor oath stumble, and its immediate remedy, became a minor historical footnote that itself illustrated the constitutional seriousness with which the transfer of power was treated.
Sources
- Wikipedia — First inauguration of Barack Obama
- Obama Presidential Library (National Archives) — Presidential Inauguration 2009
- CNN — Obama retakes oath of office after Roberts’ mistake