The Obama Inauguration: A Schedule Of Events
Scottish author Alexander Tytler may have hit the nail on the head when he said that a democracy “simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government,” but the most powerful democracy in the history of the planet is giving it yet another go again today, celebrating the peaceful transfer of power from one President of the United States to the next.
Here’s how the day is scheduled to go down …
(All times Eastern, approximate)
8:25 a.m. – President-elect and Mrs. Barack Hussein Obama leave their temporary residence at Blair House for a prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
8:35 a.m. – Prayer service begins.
9:45 a.m. – Prayer service ends, the Obamas depart for the White House.
10:05 a.m. – The Obamas arrive at White House for coffee with President and Mrs. George W. Bush.
11:00 a.m. – Presidential Motorcade departs for the Capitol.
11:25 a.m. – The Bushes and Obamas proceed to the platform on the West Front of the U.S Capital.
11:30 a.m. – The official inaugural ceremonies begin. For the first time ever, the entire length of the National Mall will be open to those wishing to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
11:32 a.m. - U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein calls the ceremonies to order.
11:36 a.m. - Pastor Rick Warren gives the invocation.
11:40 a.m. – Aretha Franklin takes the stage and performs, her second inaugural performance.
11:46 a.m. - Vice President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice John Paul Stevens.
12:00 noon – Using the Lincoln Bible, Barack Hussein Obama takes the Presidential oath of office, administered by the Chief Justice of the United States, John G. Roberts, Jr. Immediately thereafter, Hail to the Chief is played and howitzers fire a 21-gun salute.
12:02 p.m. – President Obama delivers his inaugural address.
1:00 p.m. – President Obama attends a congressional luncheon inside the Capitol.
2:00 p.m. - Obama participates in the inaugural parade, which begins at the Capitol, and continues along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, where the President and his family watch from a reviewing stand.
4:30 p.m. – The inaugural parade ends.
6:00 p.m. – The first of ten official Inaugural balls begins, with the Obamas scheduled to attend all ten of them.
Enjoy the Obamabration, people!
Comments
By Jason on January 20th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
After reading your opening paragraph with the quote from Alexander Tytler stating that a democracy “simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government†I believe you are misinformed. I would actually agree with Alexander Tytler that a democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It is wrong to say that the United States is a democracy because it is not. The United States is a Republic and there is a huge difference.
By fitsnews on January 20th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Well one thing we know it ain’t anymore is a free market economy …