2013 Inauguration

2013 Inauguration

View from the steps POTUS will come down to go to west front to take the oath instagr.am/p/UvzDGlj-1F/

by Dana Bash via twitter 1/21/2013 1:05:19 PM
Obama ends oath with 'So help me God' http://at.cnn.com/GiAAshZ

by CNN Politics via twitter 1/21/2013 1:15:22 PM
CNN reporters were out on the Mall and on Capitol Hill early this morning as attendees lined up:

He gets inaugurated right THERE. #CNN @earlystartCNN instagr.am/p/UviPSHsaFc/
by John Berman on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:13 AM via
Pre-dawn crowd starting to gather on Mall for #Inauguration. We'll talk to people on Mall and parade route.. pbs.twimg.com/media/BBIMlz1CUAAciZP.jpg
by BrianToddCNN on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:13 AM via twitter

Practically overnight they've spruced up the Capitol. New carpets everywhere #cnn instagr.am/p/UvoWkYj-9_/
by Dana Bash on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:13 AM via twitter

Early morning look at platform on west front from house press gallery #cnn instagr.am/p/Uvm0irA52w/
by deirdrewalshcnn on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:13 AM via twitter

View of the Mall at 7th St at 6:29a. Scattered clumps of people already here. pbs.twimg.com/media/BBIU7YHCEAEAExN.jpg
by streitfeldcnn on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:13 AM via twitter

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:17:07 PM
Today's parade is expected to start at around 2:30 p.m. The route begins at the Capitol and ends at the White House. Obama will participate in the parade, then watch the floats and bands from a reviewing stand outside the White House.
#Inauguration fun fact: Thomas Jefferson had the first inaugural parade in Washington in 1801. #inaug2013Starting Point CNNvia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:18 AM

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:20:48 PM
INAUG TIX: its the old counterintuitive reversal. The best spots are brown tickets, farthest gold. And this yr no purple.

by Lisa Desjardins via twitter 1/21/2013 1:21:46 PM
Girl power covering the inauguration in the Capitol rotunda #cnn instagr.am/p/Uv07HGj-2c/

by Dana Bash via twitter 1/21/2013 1:22:08 PM
Inside the #CNN facility on the National Mall instagr.am/p/Uv1TlPEkGJ/

by Anderson Cooper via twitter 1/21/2013 1:25:31 PM
Senators filing into the Capitol hours before #Inaug2013 - spotted so far Sens. Murray and Coburn.

by Jim Acosta via twitter 1/21/2013 1:27:26 PM
Dozens of CNN reporters are stationed across downtown Washington -- CNN's Ashley Killough is on the National Mall:
Walking same route at same time as I did four years ago and there's about half the amount of ppl. #wideopenspaces #cnnAshley Killoughvia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:24 AM
Officials estimated 1.8 million people attended Obama's first inauguration in 2008 but expect only 800,000 or 900,000 to attend this year.

Still, lines at the security checkpoints are long, CNN's Kevin Liptak reports:
Crowd bottleneck entering the mall at 7th street an independence pbs.twimg.com/media/BBIlWJGCYAEMwuy.jpg
by Kevin Liptak on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:26 AM via twitter

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:27:54 PM
Frum: Why inaugural speeches mostly fail http://at.cnn.com/y0RD8jN

by CNN Politics via twitter 1/21/2013 1:30:37 PM
OK, so THIS is bloody cool - tonight, I'll interview Stevie Wonder, on Martin Luther King Day, at Pres Obama's Inauguration Ball. #CNN

by Piers Morgan via twitter 1/21/2013 1:31:18 PM
President Obama is on his way to St. John's Episcopal Church by motorcade. It is across Lafayette Sqare from the White House. This is the first event of the day.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:32:34 PM
As the president heads to St. John's episcopal church, people gather along Pennsylvania Ave. The president will be ceremoniously sworn in on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol around 11:30am EST for a second term. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images)

by Dana Davidsen, CNN 1/21/2013 1:35:28 PM
On Martin Luther King Day, important to note that over ONE MILLION Americans have died from gun violence since his 1968 assassination. RIP.

by Piers Morgan via twitter 1/21/2013 1:38:09 PM
More from CNN's Kevin Liptak reporting from the National Mall:

The streets were crowded by 6:30am EST with large groups headed to the mall, including hundreds of these kids wearing flag hats from the Lead America conference (they come from all over the country). People without tickets were routed all the way to the Southwest Waterfront, then walked the ten or so blocks back up to the mall.

Police positioned guardrails and Metrobuses at the entrance to the mall to siphon people in single file, creating a slight bottleneck -- but almost everyone kept a good attitude as they made their way into the unticketed section.

With hours to go until the program begins, people are standing packed in relatively tightly, watching a video program with trivia questions and taped messages from celebs and Obama supporters.

by Dana Davidsen, CNN 1/21/2013 1:40:21 PM
Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill, have arrived at the church service. The tradition of attending an inauguration day worship service began in 1933 with FDR.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:40:38 PM
More about the church where Obama and Biden are attending a worship service with their families from CNN's Dan Merica:
Fun fact about St. Johns Episcopal: The pews of the church have kneel cushions with the name of every president inscribed on them.danielpmericavia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:41 AM

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:41:39 PM
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live from the parade route describing some of the floats which will travel the approximately two-miles from the Capitol to the White House. More on the parade and the other events to come today in our interactive schedule: www.cnn.com

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:44:05 PM
Pres Monroe first refused to pick what pew the president would receive at St. John's. He worried it would violate church and state.

by danielpmerica via twitter 1/21/2013 1:44:20 PM
CNN's Martina Stewart reports authorities at the blue gate are admitting people with blue, orange, red and green tickets. The blue checkpoints would be some of the closest ones to the downtown transportation hub of Union Station.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:51:54 PM
CNN White House Correspondent Brianna Keilar snapped this photo of the president's limo, known as "The Beast" parked outside the church where Obama and his family are.
The Beast @ St. John's Church, Lafayette Square instagr.am/p/Uv4I2wOSOW/
by Brianna Keilar on Jan 21, 2013 at 8:53 AM via twitter
Later today, Obama is expected to ride in his limo up to the Capitol for the ceremonial swearing in. He is also expected to return to the White House in the limo, riding at the head of the inaugural parade.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 1:55:44 PM
CNN's Ashley Killough reports from the National Mall:

There is so much open space on the mall right now that dozens upon dozens are laying down on blankets. Some are playing games, some are napping.

Also, there's one guy in camouflage uniform hoisting up a pole with the American flag and a "Don't tread on me flag," the symbol of the tea party. He's causing quite a stir, as some people have gathered around to argue with him. However, he's in a different gated section so I can't talk to him.

Another trend I've noticed is that many of the people I've talked to live in the DC area and didn't travel.
Here's the map of the mall provided by the Presidential Inaugural Committee showing the areas of the Mall which are open to people who don't have tickets for the Capitol grounds:
from the Presidential Inaugural Committee
by Gregory Wallace, CNN on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:00 AM

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:03:37 PM
What did President Obama do on the first morning of his second term? CNN White House correspondent Brianna Keilar reports that before heading to St. John's for church, the president exercised then received his daily presidential briefing. Afterwards, he ate breakfast with his family, according to a source familiar with the president's plans.

by Dana Davidsen, CNN 1/21/2013 2:06:16 PM
US Watchdog: Israel is only free state in Mideast.
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=300287

by Ari Fleischer via twitter 1/21/2013 2:08:17 PM
President Obama is sitting with his family in the front row at St. John's Episcopal Church, according to reporters who are inside the church. At the other end of the row is Vice President Biden.

It is a full house, the pool reporter says, and the service is being led by Dr. Luis Leon, who will also deliver the benediction at the inauguration ceremony today. CNN's Lisa Desjardins and Eric Marrapodi reported last week:
León’s benediction will mark his second appearance on the inauguration stage. In 2005 he delivered the invocation for the President George W. Bush’s second inauguration.
"You don't get used to this. I'm just as nervous now as I was the first time,” León said. “From the moment someone asks you to do that, your wheels are spinning with what to say. So my wheels were spinning now."
Leon began the service this morning with a special welcome to Obama, the first lady, and the vice president, according to the pool reporter.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:10:16 PM
CNN Washington Bureau Chief Sam Feist is in the control room this morning as Wolf Blitzer and Anderson Cooper anchor coverage Live on CNN:

View from the #CNN control room. Inauguration coverage underway with @wolfblitzer and @andersoncooper. pbs.twimg.com/media/BBI4EsSCQAEphl6.jpg
by Sam Feist on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:11 AM via twitter
Not by a television? Watch at CNN.com/Live.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:12:23 PM
From the pool report:

According to a White House official, the first lady is wearing a navy Thom Browne coat and dress with a J.Crew belt and shoes. Her cardigan is designed by Reed Krakoff and her necklace by Cathy Waterman. Her outfit will go to the National Archives after the inauguration activities.

Their eldest daughter, Malia, is wearing J.Crew and Sasha is wearing a Kate Spade coat and dress.

by Dana Davidsen, CNN 1/21/2013 2:14:25 PM
Dressed up and ready to go: The inaugural date night one senator saved http://at.cnn.com/ri9LGvp

by CNN Politics via twitter 1/21/2013 2:15:43 PM
Some of the brains behind this operation -- shout out to #cnn producers!!! #behindthescenes instagr.am/p/Uv7d7IwJU7/

by Brooke Baldwin via twitter 1/21/2013 2:19:24 PM
Some thoughts about what Obama will say in his inaugural address, which he will deliver after being sworn in at noon:

CNN Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger: "This will be a lot of poetry and I think the State of the Union address is going to be the prose where he really lays out the agenda."

David Maraniss, author of a biography of Obama, says: "Four years ago there were huge crowds and so much ebullience about the moment and he gave a somewhat of a wintry speech. This time, the crowds are smaller, there are less expectations, and I think he's going to give a much more optimistic speech. I think he feels he's in a much better place today than he was at this same point four years ago."

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:21:11 PM
Right now, Soledad O'Brien is interviewing Angela Bassett near the stage where Obama will take the oath of office later today. Eva Longoria interview coming up shortly on CNN as well.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 1/21/2013 2:22:53 PM
CNN's Ashley Killough is out on the National Mall talking with folks who are there to watch the swearing-in ceremony, which begins at about 11:30 a.m. Some of them have been waiting for hours.
You can't miss these hats: There's a group of 400 high school and junior high students here--all wearing the same red and white striped hats. With an organization called "Lead America," they come from all over the world. Egypt. Saudi Arabia. Georgia. Ohio. Many signed up five months ago, before the election. They've been here since 5 a.m. and they came prepared, as they're now snacking on their boxed lunches--at 9 a.m. What do they think so far? One consensus: It's crowded. But they're not complaining about the music so far, especially Bruce Springsteen. The boss apparently appeals to all ages.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:25:00 PM
CNN's Joe Johns says 113,000 have traveled through the Metro system so far, according to officials. CNN's Shannon Travis is speaking to a family -- three generations who are attending the inauguration together. Authorities say they are expecting 800,000 to 900,000 people to attend today, down from the 1.8 million four years ago.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:28:13 PM
Not an #inaug2013 watcher in sight. Too bad bc they're missing this view of the secured east front of the C instagr.am/p/Uv8tSyAuRR/

by Jim Acosta via twitter 1/21/2013 2:29:44 PM
Thanks for the shout-out, from Wolf Blitzer now on CNN! Thank you to everyone watching on TV, and joining the conversation here.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 1/21/2013 2:31:28 PM
ABC News Political Analysts Matthew Dowd and Donna Brazile spoke with George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America." @ABC

by Donna Brazile via twitter 1/21/2013 2:32:30 PM
Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee are the co-chairs of the Joint Congressional Inaugural Committee. When they ride to Capitol Hill for the ceremony, Schumer will ride with Obama and Alexander will ride with the vice president, Alexander told CNN's Ted Barrett.

Inaugural co-chairs Schumer and Alexander just departed east front of Capitol to go pick up President and VP.Jim Acostavia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:27 AM

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:33:15 PM
“@MoveOn: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 'I Have A Dream' Speech (Full Length) http://j.mp/T9YeMS #mlk #ihaveadream”

by Donna Brazile via twitter 1/21/2013 2:33:26 PM
The U.S. Park Police, which has authority over the National Mall, says in a mass text message that the non-ticketed public viewing ares of the National Mall east of 7th Street NW are full and closed.

The public viewing area also stretches on the Mall from 7th to 12th Street NW and from 15th to 17th Streets NW, the grassy area where the Washington Monument is.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:37:28 PM
CNN's Ashley Killough spoke to Carlos Arieta, a police officer from Atlanta, who was originally scheduled to come work security for the inauguration but found out he was no longer needed:
So he and his wife Sharon, a nurse, decided at the last minute last week to make the drive from Georgia and come to "enjoy as spectators."

"This is history in the making," Sharon said, noting that the second inauguration of the country's first black president falls on Martin Luther King Jr Day.

While they're both former DC-area residents, this is their first inauguration and they say they're surprised to see the throngs of people crowding the Mall.

"But it's nice to see all the different kinds of people," Carlos added, with a look of satisfaction on his face.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:39:38 PM
A look ahead...to the next term. Now that it has officially started, Dan Lothian lays out what is expected to be second term priorities.

by Steve Krakauer, CNN 1/21/2013 2:42:02 PM
Obama and Biden left St. John's Episcopal Church and have arrived at the White House. They are expected to have tea with congressional leaders before heading to the Capitol for the ceremony.

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:42:08 PM
CNN's White House correspondent Brianna Keilar reports as President Obama, his family and Vice President Joesph Biden and his family leave St. John's for the White House.

Reverend Dr. Luis Leon led the service. He called President Obama the "Pastor In Chief" in that he should leverage his power for the benefit of others.

First lady Michelle Obama wore Thom Browne, the designer she also wore at the Democratic National Convention last year.

by Dana Davidsen, CNN 1/21/2013 2:42:38 PM
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a Republican from Virginia, is among the congressional leaders who will have tea -- or coffee -- at the White House with Obama, he tweets:

Headed to the @WhiteHouse with my wife Diana for coffee with the President, Vice President and their lovely wivesGOPLeadervia twitter on Jan 21, 2013 at 9:43 AM

by Gregory Wallace, CNN 1/21/2013 2:44:27 PM
CNN reporting First Lady Michelle Obama wearing navy Thom Browne dress, belt by J. Crew.

by stableford via twitter 1/21/2013 2:45:40 PM