THE INAUGURATION

of President Barack Obama

JANUARY 20, 2009
WHAT IS HAPPENING TODAY:
The presidential inauguration is
the official day that the President
of the United States is sworn into
office. The purpose of this
inauguration is to honor the
incoming president with formal
ceremonies, including: a
Presidential Swearing-in
Ceremony, an Inaugural Address,
and an Inaugural Parade.

President-elect Barack Obama will

take the oath of office, which
states the following: I do solemnly
swear that I will faithfully execute
the office of the President of the
United States, and will to the best
of my ability, preserve, protect,
and defend the Constitution of the
United States.
INAUGURAL PROGRAM
WHY DO WE CARE? Musical Selections: The United States Marine Band, followed by The San
The peaceful transition of power Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus
through a democratic process is
an exceptional event to witness Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks: Senator Diane Feinstein
and an honor and privilege the
United States fought hard to Invocation: Dr. Rick Warren
achieve and continues to take
pride in maintaining. The cause of Musical Selection: Aretha Franklin
political freedom has been a cause
Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. will be sworn into office by
of many people and nations in
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, the Honorable John Paul Stevens
continued on page 2 continued on page 2

President-elect Obama at Sunday’s Vice President-elect Joseph Biden The Capitol Building - where the
Inauguration Concert inauguration Ceremonies take place
 The Inaugural
Program
(Continued)
Musical Selections John
Williams, composer/
arranger with Itzhak
Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma
(cello), Gabriela Montero
(piano) and Anthony McGill
(clarinet)
President-elect
Barack H. Obama will
take the Oath of Office,
using President Lincoln’s
Inaugural Bible,administered
by the Chief Justice of the
United States, the
Honorable John G. Roberts,
Jr.
Inaugural Address
Poem Elizabeth Alexander
Benediction: The
Reverend Dr. Joseph E.
Lowery
The National Anthem:
The United States Navy
Band “Sea Chanters”
The Inauguration: Why Do We
Care? (Continued)
history. It is remarkable that despite deep political
and cultural divisions our country continues to NUMBERS
honor the foundation of our constitution and the
political process it set forth for choosing our leaders. The number of U.S.
Despite who people voted for in the November presidents there will
election, when Obama takes office he becomes the have been after
president for all US citizens and those of us living in Tuesday:
this country. By witnessing this event we participate
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in a transition in leadership, the beginning of a new
chapter, and gain insight into the philosophy of
leadership to come.
While all Presidential Inaugurations are important,
the inauguration of Barack Obama bears particular The number in millions
significance. He will be the first African-American to of people who may be
hold this highest office. The United States was on hand for the
founded on a system of slavery which specifically inauguration:
kept people of African Descent in servitude, denying
2
them access to the American promise of freedom
and equality. Long after slavery was abolished in our
country, people of African descent continued to be
discriminated against in the law and in society. From
the Abolition Movement in the 1800s through the
Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s through today The projected
people have fought to end discrimination and create temperature in
a just society that welcomes and nurtures all. The Washington D.C.
election of Barack Obama has given many
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Americans and people worldwide the hope that a
new era of American History has begun in which
this cause of equality and justice will finally ring
true.