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May 20, 2013
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Inauguration Day 2013
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21 Jan. 2013 9:00 ESTAP Coverage: Welcome to 2013 Presidential Inauguration LiveIt's the second time around for President Barack Obama, and while the festivities are being scaled back somewhat, the ritual pageantry behind one of America's most time-honored traditions will be on full display today. Hundreds of thousands of politicians, entertainers and citizens will be flocking to Washington, D.C., to help Obama celebrate his swearing-in ceremony as the nation's 44th president.
The sun rises behind the Capitol Dome early in the morning before the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:52 AM
And The Associated Press is there. We're providing real-time coverage in words, photos, sounds, video, interactive and graphics of the 57th presidential inauguration, featuring AP reporters and editors, that will put readers in the middle of the story as it develops. Expect analysis, context, color, facts, behind-the-scenes insight and historical content.
Today's coverage will provide a look at what lies ahead as Obama enters his second term and how it will differ from the first. The message then was one of hope and unity , but the last four years have seen a bitterly divided nation come to the fore. We'll be highlighting the old, including photos of many past inaugurations, as well as the new, such as the president's official inauguration playlist, and everything in between. For the latest and most comprehensive coverage of the 2013 presidential inauguration, stay tuned. -
21 Jan. 9:03 a.m. ESTSchedule of inaugural events:
Ceremonial swearing-in
Capitol Hill, 11:20 a.m. EST
by Jaime Holguin on Jan 18, 2013 at 5:27 PM
The order of the program:- Marine BandS.Musical selections: The U.; Lee University Festival Choir, Cleveland, Tenn.Y. 22, Staten Island, N.S.Musical selections: P.Y. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Call to order and welcoming remarks: Sen.Invocation: Myrlie Evers-WilliamsMusical selection: Brooklyn Tabernacle ChoirOath of office administered to Vice President Biden: Associate Justice Sonia SotomayorMusical selection: James TaylorOath of office administered to President Obama: Chief Justice John RobertsInaugural address: President ObamaMusical selection: Kelly ClarksonPoem: Richard Blanco John's Church, Washington Luis Leon of St.Benediction: the Rev.The National Anthem: BeyoncéInaugural Parade
Parade
Viewing stands and bleachers are lined along Pennsylvania Avenue, 2:35 p.m. EST
The Obamas and Bidens participate in a parade featuring floats and vehicles representing about 60 groups.
The Commander in Chief's Inaugural Ball
Washington Convention Center, 6 p.m. EST
The gala honors service members and their families.
The Inaugural Ball
Washington Convention Center, Halls A/B/C, 6:30 p.m. EST
Washington Convention Center, Halls D/E, doors open 7 p.m. EST -
21 Jan. 9:05 a.m. ESTInaugural enthusiasm high, but ...
The mood of this 57th inauguration will be tempered by the:- weak economy
- high unemployment
- aftermath of the Connecticut elementary school shooting
- war in Afghanistan - expected to require U.S. combat forces through the end of next year
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21 Jan. 9:10 a.m. ESTObama sworn in for 2nd term in private ceremony, as required by lawIn the briefest of ceremonies Sunday, with family gathered in the White House, Obama took the oath of office shortly before noon, as required by law. With his left hand on a family bible held by first lady Michelle Obama, the 44th president raised his right hand and repeated the time-honored words read out by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.Obama took the oath in the White House Blue Room Sunday where portraits of Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and John Tyler grace the walls. He placed a hand on a Bible held by his wife. His daughters stood nearby.by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 12:06 AM
The intimate swearing-in met the legal requirement that presidents officially take office on Jan. 20. Because that date fell on a Sunday this year, the traditional public ceremonies surrounding the start of a president's term were put off to Monday, which coincides this year with the birthday of revered civil rights leader Martin Luther King. -
21 Jan. 9:17 a.m. ESTInauguration by the numbers: From 4 miles of snow fencing to 10,000 eggs
About 600,000 to 800,000 people are expected on the National Mall when Obama is sworn in for his second term, D.C. officials say — far fewer than the 1.8 million who huddled in the cold in 2009 to see the nation's first black president say the oath. Still, it's a massive undertaking that will bring the city to a virtual standstill.
by Jaime Holguin on Jan 18, 2013 at 3:59 PM
A look at the numbers:- 4: Miles of snow fencing erected outside the Capitol.
- 147: Horses participating in the inaugural parade.
- 1,000: Gallons of chili being prepared for the week by Ben's Chili Bowl, the landmark diner Obama visited before his inauguration in January 2009.
- 1,100: Portable toilets to be available along the parade route.
- 10,000: Eggs that chefs at the Willard InterContinental Hotel will use during the week. Enjoy a little cheddar in your omelet? The hotel will have 600 pounds of cheese on hand.
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21 Jan. 9:25 a.m. ESTFirst lady wears Thom Browne coat and dress for 2nd inaugural
First lady Michelle Obama is greeted by Rev. Luis Leon at St. John's
Church in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, as the first family arrived
for a church service during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)by Kellen Henry edited by Jaime Holguin 9:22 AMFirst lady Michelle Obama is wearing a navy Thom Browne coat and dress.
The fabric for the first lady's Inauguration Day attire was developed based on the style of a man's silk tie. The belt she is wearing is from J.Crew and her earrings are designed by Cathy Waterman. She is also wearing J.Crew shoes.At the end of the inaugural festivities, the outfit and accompanying accessories will go to the National Archives.
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21 Jan. 9:36 a.m. EST"The President's Pew" at St. John's Episcopal ChurchSt. John's Episcopal Church, across Lafayette Park from the White House, where President Barack Obama and his family will worship before the public inauguration ceremony, is known as "The Church of the Presidents." Since its first service in October 1816, every U.S president has attended a regular or occasional service.
by Kellen Henry on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:03 AMPew 54 is known as "The President's Pew" and is reserved for the president whenever he attends. Located across from the White House on the other side of Lafayette Park, Obama and his family attend services there occasionally.
Stain glass window in the interior of St. John's Church in Washington on April 30, 2002by Kellen Henry on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:29 AMJames Madison is the president who chose pew 54, which is about halfway back in the church. There is an 18th-century prayer book in the pew that many presidents have autographed.AP's Darlene Superville and Jim Kuhnhenn report Madison's wife, Dolly, was baptized and confirmed at the church. It was built in 1816 by Benjamin Latrobe, the architect who also worked on the Capitol and the White House. -
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Inauguration security measures21 Jan. 9:49 a.m. EST
A large crowd waits to be screened by security. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)by Caleb Jones on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:31 AMSpectators heading to Monday's events are facing tight security. Screening lines in some places stretched a block.
The Secret Service, the lead law enforcement agency for the event, says there are so far no problems to report.
Officials are expecting far smaller crowds than the record-breaking turnout of 2009. A spokesman for the Metro transit system says 113,000 riders had boarded trains as of 8 a.m. Officials also hope more signs, and additional metal detectors, will ease congestion.
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21 Jan. 9:53 a.m. ESTObamas, Bidens arrive at churchby Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:32 AM
President Obama and his family, along with Vice President Joe Biden, arrived at St. John's Episcopal Church on a crisp and clear morning in the nation's capital. Known as "The Church of the Presidents", St. John's is located just across from the White House on the other side of Lafayette Park. -
What a difference 4 years makes
21 Jan. 9:58 a.m. EST
Michael Oreskes, AP senior managing editor for U.S. News, weighs in on the difference between Obama's two terms at the hinge point:
January 2009 was bitterly cold, but the country's mood about the new president it had elected was warmly congratulatory. Today, the weather in Washington is nippy but nicer and the mood is, well, older and wiser like the new president himself.
Crowds aren't as big, hardly a surprise for a second inaugural. Yet there is still a sense of history, magnified by the decision to delay the formal inaugural until today, Martin Luther King Day. But there is also a palpable sense among Obama's supporters that bending that arc of history takes a lot more work than they might have thought four years ago.
Those warm congratulations of early 2009 weren't the same as consensus, Obama's supporters learned. The sweep of history met the details of legislative process. The country's center had moved enough to elect, and then re-elect, Obama — but not enough to overwhelm its latent schisms or the way Capitol Hill politics had become polarized.
So Democrats enter this second term knowing that, no matter what, they go from today's celebrations to tomorrow's showdowns. -
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21 Jan. 10:17 a.m. ESTInaugural weather: Cool with a chance of snowIt's cool and there's a steady breeze. Hand-warmers are being sold by street vendors three for $5. In 2009, when temperatures were in the 20s, vendors got $5 for each one.
The sun rises over Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)by ccarlson on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:53 AM
Janice Boyd of Bentonville, Ark., says, "I'm cold, but we came prepared."
In September, while campaigning in Colorado, Obama was talking to a potential voter who mentioned he had been one of the hundreds of thousands of people outdoors at Obama's bone-chilling first inaugural in 2009, when the noontime temperature was 28 degrees. Obama promised: "This one is going to be warmer."
Monday's forecast is for highs around 40 degrees with noon temperatures in the mid- to upper 30s. There's also a 40 percent chance of scattered snow showers. -
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A day pulsing with history
21 Jan. 10:25 a.m. EST
Spectators wave American flags on the National Mall in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, before the start of President Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 10:04 AM
Members of the Lee University Festival Choir and PS 22 Chorus perform before the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 10:08 AM
The crowd starts to fill up the National Mall early in the morning before the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 10:07 AM
A ceremonial Coast Guard honor guard stands in front of the U.S. Capitol before the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 10:05 AM
The sun rises over Capitol Hill looking down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, as Washington prepares for the 57th Presidential Inaugural and the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama's second term. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 10:05 AMPreviousNext1 of 5
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21 Jan. 10:40 a.m. ESTPatriotic love letters to America
Thomas Jefferson, co-author of the declaration of independence and third president of the United States, 1801 to 1809.by Jaime Holguin on Jan 14, 2013 at 4:11 PMSecond inaugurals are often a kind of victory lap speech in a lot of ways, that would go back to Thomas Jefferson in 1805. Presidents are often reflecting on accomplishments of the administration and the challenges that will continue into the second term.
- Presidential historian Leo Ribuffo of George Washington University -
21 Jan. 10:41 a.m. ESTInauguration ceremony steeped in tradition, if not suspense
Sure, today is about history. Inaugurations are a tradition nearly as old as the country itself.
But today's also all for show. It's like so much of our politics these days.
Consider that the president already is one day into his second term. He took the oath of office during a private ceremony on Sunday at the White House to adhere to the Constitution's mandate that presidents start their terms on Jan. 20. Now, he'll do it again in public before hundreds of thousands of people, and millions more watching from home. There will be no suspense. There will be no climax. We know what's going to happen, because it already did.
Just about the only things we don't know:- What exactly the president will say in his inaugural address.
- What designer the first lady will wear to the balls.
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21 Jan. 10:54 a.m. ESTGoing Madisonian: Obama to focus on compromisePresident Barack Obama will channel James Madison and speak about the centrality of compromise, his staff says.
A portrait of U.S. President James Madison by artist Gilbert Stuart. (AP photo)by ccarlson 10:50 AM
"He is going to say that our political system does not require us to resolve all of our differences or settle all of our disputes," says his adviser, David Plouffe, "but it is absolutely imperative that our leaders try and seek common ground when it can and should exist. That's going to be a very important part of the speech."
That is the essence of the system Madison and his colleagues designed and enshrined in the Constitution, a complicated scheme of government that Americans have found frustrating at various times in the nation's history.
It is a comment on our age that a re-elected president needs to use a healthy dose of his widely watched speech to make the case for it all over again.
Michael Oreskes, AP senior managing editor for U.S. News -
21 Jan. 10:59 a.m. ESTHistorical context in mind
President Barack Obama will place his left hand on two Bibles while taking the oath of office - one owned by Abraham Lincoln, which he used while taking the oath four years ago,and one by Martin Luther King Jr.
President Barack Obama rests his hand on President Lincoln's Inaugural Bible while taking the oath during his first inauguration.by Jaime Holguin on Jan 14, 2013 at 5:15 PM
Their selection is especially symbolic because Obama's second inauguration comes on the federal holiday marking King's birthday and in a milestone anniversary year involving both men.
It was 150 years ago when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery, and 50 years ago when King delivered his "I Had a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial - a monument that will be straight ahead in Obama's sight as he speaks to his country.
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21 Jan. 11:07 a.m. ESTSecond time around: The inaugural speech
Crowds congregate in The National Mall for the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)by Kellen Henry on Jan 21, 2013 at 10:46 AM
President Barack Obama gives his inaugural address to a worldwide audience from the U.S. Capitol in 2009. (AP Photo/Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Meneguin, Department of Defense/US Air Force)by kmahabir on Jan 11, 2013 at 1:41 PMPreviousNext1 of 2
- 600,000 to 800,000: The number of people officials estimate will crowd onto the National Mall for the oath-taking ceremony (In 2009, a record 1.8 million people filled the nation's capital)
- 16: The number of presidents before Obama who have given a second inaugural address
- 135: Number of words in George Washington's second inaugural speech
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21 Jan. 11:14 a.m. ESTThe inauguration: Almost time
Former presidents and celebrities. Supreme Court justices. Politicians of all stripes. And masses of American humanity.
It's almost time for the presidential inauguration. Bands are playing, and everyone's almost ready for the way that Americans renew the executive-branch portion of their democracy _ and renew the promises of their country - as they have for more than 200 years. -
AP PHOTOS: Notable inauguration arrivals
21 Jan. 11:16 a.m. EST
While most Americans will catch glimpses of President Barack Obama's second inauguration festivities from their living room TVs or on the Internet, a privileged set of celebrities and special interests will get up close — in exclusive soirees just blocks from the ceremonies. Here's a look at the A-listers streaming in:
Jay-Z and Beyonce arrive at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)by Kellen Henry 11:15 AM
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton speak with former President Jimmy Carter at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
John Mayer and Katy Perry arrives for the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Rev. Al Sharpton arrives for the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capito. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Actress Eva Longoria arrives on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for the Presidential Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Win McNamee, Pool)
Kelly Clarkson arrives with Brandon Blackstock for the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and wife Amy Rule arrive on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington for the Presidential Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing-in ceremony. (AP Photo/Win McNamee, Pool)
American singer James Taylor arrives with his wife Caroline for the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., arrives at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)PreviousNext1 of 9
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21 Jan. 11:18 a.m. ESTVoices from the crowd
People who are attending the inauguration tell the AP why they felt it was important to be there.People from across America gathered in Washington Monday morning in anticipation of the second inauguration of President Barack Obama.by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 11:00 AM -
21 Jan. 11:25 a.m. ESTHitting their marks
Placemarks are set on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington in preparation for President Barack Obama's ceremonial swearing in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Win McNamee, pool)by Kellen Henry on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:19 AM -
21 Jan. 11:29 a.m. ESTPresident Obama arrives for swearing-in
President Barack Obama arrives for his ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 11:28 AM -
21 Jan. 11:32 a.m. ESTWho's absent from the inaugural ceremonies?
by Kellen Henry 11:31 AMSecretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki will not attend the ceremonies at the Capitol for security reasons. He would be the successor to head the government should catastrophe strike at the Capitol.
The absence of a Cabinet secretary maintained a long-standing tradition that one member not attend the inaugural ceremonies. -
21 Jan. 11:35 a.m. ESTThe moment, and the president, has arrivedPresident Barack Obama is on the podium, greeting supporters and colleagues, and ready to be
President Barack Obama arrives at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Pool)by ccarlson 11:33 AM
inaugurated for his second term _ or, at least, "inaugurated," since the official ceremony was conducted Sunday indoors. Today's ceremony is the public version. -
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21 Jan. 11:53 a.m ESTThe speech: Don't expect a partisan pitch
AP National Political Editor Liz Sidoti's pre-speech take on the inaugural:
President Barack Obama will be in his element when he steps to the podium to deliver his second inaugural address. He plans to lay out a broad vision for the country's future. These speeches are traditionally heavier on prose than on policy, and devoid of many details. And Obama is expected to keep with that formula, focusing on America's founding values and their importance to the country of today.
Don't expect a partisan pitch. But make no mistake: this speech — like so many others before it — will be political, to a certain degree.
The president will be speaking to an America whose citizens are divided, and who fear their nation is in a perpetual — if not irreversible — state of decline. He will be speaking at a time of political paralysis, deep polarization and a resounding lack of faith in the institution of government. And he will be speaking at the start of a period in which he hopes to tackle a slew of thorny issues — taxes, guns, immigration and other issues — even as Republicans control the House.
So, expect Obama to do what he's been known for since he burst onto the national stage — pepper his remarks with strong notes of resolve and the notion of a can-do America.
President Barack Obama, followed by Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, arrives on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013, for his ceremonial swearing-in ceremony during the 57th Presidential Inauguration. (AP Photo/Win McNamee, Pool)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 11:44 AM
With the country's grim backdrop and knowing what we know about Obama, it's hard to see how the president doesn't take advantage of the platform he has to issue an urgent call to action for Americans and their political leaders to come together to try to break Washington's gridlock and solve the country's big looming problems. -
21 Jan. 11:57 a.m. ESTTweetEach time we gather to inaugurate a president, we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. —President Obama
Barack Obamavia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 11:57 AM
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21 Jan. Noon ESTBiden takes the oath, perhaps not for the last time?
President Barack Obama, center and Beau Biden, Attorney of Deleware, right, watch as his father Joe Biden is sworn in at the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)by Jaime Holguin on Jan 21, 2013 at 11:56 AM
The nation's No. 2 was sworn in a second time, for a second term.
Like President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden took his oath of office during a private ceremony on Sunday. This one was for the masses.
Biden, a former Delaware senator, has attended a bunch of inaugural festivities.
The next one he attends may be his own if he decides to run for president in 2016 _ and wins. He's certainly keeping the door open to a future presidential run.
Liz Sidoti, AP National Political Editor
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21 Jan. 12:09 p.m. ESTObama's speech began with look backPresident Barack Obama began his second inaugural address with a lot of quotations from
President Barack Obama speaks during the ceremonial swearing-in at the U.S.
Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Monday, Jan.
21, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)by ccarlson on Jan 21, 2013 at 12:03 PM
— and invocations of — the nation's founding documents. It was an interesting approach, one keyed to a dominant question in the national conversation these days: Where is this republic headed, and is it the right direction? Obama began by re-invoking the foundational principles of the republic — and asking people to hear him
Ted Anthony, AP editor-at-large -
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21 Jan. 12:14 p.m. ESTTweetSome words not included in Obama's prepared remarks:Guns. Republican. Partisan. Debt (tho there is one reference to the "deficit")
cbabingtonvia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 12:12 PM
- Charles Babington covers Congress and politics for The Associated Press. -
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21 Jan. 12:24 p.m. ESTInvoking civil rights, "the star that guides us"
President Barack Obama emphasized three prongs of civil rights, declaring, "We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths — that all of us are created equal — is the star that guides us still."
He went further, with direct mentions of equality regardless of race, gender and sexual orientation. He referenced both Selma and Stonewall — landmark events for black and gay Americans, respectively — and talked of our country finally seeing its wives and mothers earning an "equal living" for the work that they do.
"It is our generation's task to carry on what those pioneers began," he said on this day, which is also Martin Luther King Day in the United States.
Liz Sidoti, AP National Politics Editor
Joe Morton of New Orleans with Obama hat and scarf. AP Photo/Caleb Jonesby ccarlson on Jan 21, 2013 at 12:06 PM
