Embassy of the United States

Inauguration 2009

Remarks of President Barack Obama Inaugural Address Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Washington, D.C. January 20, 2009 My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you’ve bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition. Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace...more

Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office to Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States.   Barack Obama Becomes 44th President of the United States America “ready to lead once more,” Obama says in Inaugural Address By Michelle Austein Brooks Staff Writer January 20, 2009 Washington — Shortly after noon EST (1700 GMT) January 20, Barack Obama took the presidential oath of office, becoming the 44th president and first African-American leader of the United

January 18: President-elect Barack Obama retraces Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural path on a train ride from Philadelphia to Washington and welcomes Americans to the inaugural festivities from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

January 19: Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden participate in a day of community service in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

January 20: Obama and President Bush travel together from the White House to the U.S. Capitol. For the first time, the entire National Mall is open to those wishing to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

• Vice President-elect Joe Biden is sworn into office. • Obama takes the oath of office using Lincoln’s Bible, and then delivers his inaugural address from the Capitol steps.

• Obama escorts former President Bush to a departure ceremony; George and Laura Bush leave Washington to return to Texas as private citizens. • Festivities continue, including the 56th Inaugural Parade from the Capitol to the White House and inaugural balls throughout the city.

The Obama Administration

President Barack Obama, first African-American president of the United States, takes the oath of office January 20, 2009. The new administration’s agenda includes revitalizing the U.S. economy, tackling climate change, and completing the mission in Afghanistan. As the first U.S. president to assume office during wartime since the Vietnam era, Obama has made ending the Iraq war responsibly one of his priorities.   Vice President Joe Biden, a longtime member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, brings to the administration decades of legislative and foreign policy experience. Biden’s initial responsibilities will include chairing a national task force to improve the standard of living for working families in the United States.

The President’s Cabinet: Cabinet officials advise the president on any subject relating to their respective offices. The Cabinet is made up of the vice president, the White House chief of staff, the secretaries of each of the 15 executive departments, directors of the Office of Management and Budget, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the U.S. Trade Representative.

Key Advisers

Hillary Clinton Obama asked New York Senator and former first lady Hillary Clinton to become the next secretary of state. If confirmed by the Senate, Clinton will assist the president in formulating and executing U.S. foreign policy. The State Department represents U.S. interests in 260 embassies, consulates and other posts in 188 countries.

Timothy Geithner Obama’s choice for secretary of the Treasury, Timothy Geithner, previously headed the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The Treasury secretary manages the government’s finances and works to ensure the soundness of U.S. and international financial systems.

Robert Gates Obama asked Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who helped shape U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, to remain in his post. Gates oversees U.S. military efforts in combat, humanitarian operations, disaster relief and peacekeeping assistance.

•  The Future Cabinet (America.gov)

A GUIDE TO THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/113868.pdf (PDF file, 50 pages)

eJournal USA: U.S. Presidential Transitions We often read or hear about turmoil before, during, or after elections around the world. An important characteristic of democracy in the United States, however, is the regularly recurring peaceful transfer of power from one president to the next. Americans know when the next presidential election will take place – the Tuesday after the first Monday in November every four years. And power will be transferred to the newly elected (or re-elected) president on January 20 of the following year.

Inside this publication                                 View PDF (2.02 MB)

Barack Obama: 44th President of the United States Barack Obama, elected the 44th President of the United States, has lived a truly American life, and has opened a new chapter in American politics. This publication tells the story of Obama’s life, describes how he captured the presidency, and portrays his vision for the future. It also introduces readers to the Obama family and to the new Vice President, Joseph Biden. View PDF (774 KB) | Get Adobe Acrobat Reader Enlarge Cover

[Korean version] 버락 오바마: 제44대 미국대통령 버락 오바마는 남다른 이력과   대선에서의 승리로 미국 정치사의 새 장을 열었다. 미국 최초의 흑인 대통령인 오바마 대통령은 그 어떤 전직 대통령과도 닮지 않은 삶을 살아왔다. 케냐 출신의 아버지와 미국 대륙 한가운데 출신의 백인 어머니 사이에서 태어난 오바마는 그가 일리노이주 상원의원으로 당선된 해인 2004년 민주당 전당대회 기조연설을 통해 일약 국민적인 관심을 끌게 됐다. 그로부터 단 4년 만에 당내 거물급 후보들과 경쟁하여 민주당 대선 후보로 지명되었으며 마침내 공화당 대선 후보인 존 매케인 상원의원을 꺾고 대통령으로 선출되었다. View PDF (971 KB)

Bio: Barack Obama - An American Life (America.gov) The following is excerpted from the U.S. Department of State publication Barack Obama: 44th President of the United States. Barack Obama’s unique biography and successful campaign for the U.S. presidency have opened a new chapter in U.S. politics. Bio: Barack Obama (change.gov)

Photo Gallery: Historical Inaugurations "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." This is the oath taken by every president of the United States.

Photo Gallery: A Calendar of Inaugural Events Barack Obama’s journey from candidate to president-elect to the 44th president of the United States involves many steps, some legally mandated and some merely traditional.

Road to the White House (America.gov, 12 January 2009) Army Sergeant Derrick Brooks stands in for Barack Obama during an inauguration rehearsal.

Obama Inauguration Will Honor Black Civil War Volunteers (America.gov, 06 January 2009) Washington’s African-American Civil War Memorial honors the conflict’s 209,145 black Union veterans.

USG WEB SITES

Change.gov: Office of the President-Elect

America.gov: Transition - Forming the Next Government

White House Transition page

Official Inauguration web site (Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies)

GAO Web site: Serving the Congress and the Nation

GSA and National Archives web site: Presidential Transition Resources

CRS Report for Congress: Presidential Transitions: Issues Involving Outgoing and Incoming Administrations

http://www.youtube.com/barackobama (Note: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.)

Learn more (America.gov) > Inauguration > Oath of Office Transition FAQs