First inauguration of Barack Obama

2009 Presidential Inauguration of
Barack Obama

Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the President of the United States.
Date	January 20, 2009; 8 years ago (2009-01-20)
Location	United States Capitol Washington, D.C.
Participants	Barack Hussein Obama II 44th President of the United States —Assuming office John Glover Roberts, Jr. Chief Justice of the United States — Administering oath Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. 47th Vice President of the United States — Assuming office John Paul Stevens Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States — Administering oath United States Congress Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
Website	inaugural.senate.gov

The first inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. The inauguration, which set a record attendance for any event held in Washington, D.C., marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Barack Obama as President and Joe Biden as Vice President. Based on the combined attendance numbers, television viewership, and Internet traffic, it was among the most-observed events ever by the global audience.

"A New Birth of Freedom", a phrase from the Gettysburg Address, served as the inaugural theme to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth year of Abraham Lincoln. In his speeches to the crowds, Obama referred to ideals expressed by Lincoln about renewal, continuity and national unity. Obama mentioned these ideals in his speech to stress the need for shared sacrifice and a new sense of responsibility to answer America's challenges at home and abroad.

Obama and others paid homage to Lincoln in the form of tributes and references during several of the events, starting with a commemorative train tour from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D.C. on January 17, 2009. The inaugural events held in Washington from January 18 to 21, 2009, included concerts, a national day of community service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the swearing-in ceremony, luncheon and parade, inaugural balls, and the interfaith inaugural prayer service. The presidential oath as administered to Obama during his swearing-in ceremony on January 20 strayed slightly from the oath of office prescribed in the United States Constitution, which led to its re‑administration the next day.