Magnificent inaugural ceremonies mark the peaceful transfer of power.  Inaugurals are a time of hope, of reflection on where our country stands, and of celebration, with special events and a grand parade.  Shortly before noon on January 20, 2009, President-elect Barack Obama swore the oath of office, becoming the 44th President of the United States.  He then sought to inspire the nation with a carefully crafted speech.  The day concluded with a round of stops at glamorous inaugural balls.  

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The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) is responsible for all events held at the Capitol.  The JCCIC is a committee consisting of six leaders of the House and Senate established by a congressional resolution (S.Con.Res. 67, approved by Congress in Feb. 2008).  Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) chaired the JCCIC, which has a budget of $1,240,000 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, signed into law by President Bush on Dec. 26, 2007).  To honor the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, JCCIC selected the theme of "A New Birth of Freedom" for the 2009 inaugural.

The final piece is the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), charged with organizing events for the 56th Inaugural.  A PIC is formed every four years after the general election and must accomplish most of its work in a period of just two months.  The 2009 PIC was co-chaired by William Daley, Penny Pritzker, John W. Rogers, Jr., Patrick Ryan and Julianna Smoot.  Emmett Beliveau, who served as the campaign's director of advance, was executive director.  Ultimately the PIC employed over 430 people.  As with the Obama campaign, the PIC announced limitations on fundraising; it did not accept contributions from "corporations, political action committees, current federally-registered lobbyists, non-U.S. citizens and registered foreign agents...[and] will not accept individual contributions in excess of $50,000."  In keeping with the theme of transparency, on Dec. 12 the PIC launched a searchable, public database of donors.  The PIC reported net donations totaling $53.2 million.

In addition to the PIC, JCCIC and AFIC, numerous agencies coordinate on security for the events of inaugural week.  Because the Department of Homeland Security has designated the Inaugural as a National Special Security Event (NSSE), the Secret Service is the lead agency.  Fifty eight agencies coordinated planning for the Inaugural since June 2008; they were organized into 23 subcommitees covering such areas as transportation, air space, water way, venues, and health and human services.  It was estimated that the cost to District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia governments for law enforcement, fire and EMS and transportation could exceed $75 million (letter, emergency declaration for DC, federal reimbursement).

A major concern was the number of people that would attend.  Demand for the approximately 240,000 tickets to the Inaugural ceremony was extremely heavy, and congressional offices were swamped with requests.  The PIC announced in early December that it had arranged to open up the whole length of the National Mall to the public, something which has not been done before.  The D.C. government made plans to park as many as 10,000 charter buses.  Early on there were suggestions in the media that as many as 4 to 5 million people could attend, but later estimates put the number at around 2 million, and the most commonly cited final attendance number was 1.8 million. (LBJ's inauguration in 1965 had been the biggest to date, attracting 1.2 million). 

Events
The Presidential Inaugural Committee built a series of events around the swearing in ceremony. 
On Dec. 10, 2008, the PIC announced the official theme for the Inauguration is "Renewing America's Promise."

Photos
Events and The Big Day

"We Are One: Opening Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial"
After the Swearing In Ceremony
Southern Regional Ball
Other Celebrations-The Green Inaugural Ball, Ohio Democrats, African American Church Inaugural Ball, Lincoln 2.0 Inaugural Ball, Disability Power & Pride Inaugural Ball

Around Town

Accomodations, Meals, Libations-Ritz-Carlton, More, Libations.
Obama Stuff-Political Americana, Official Inaugural Store, Everything Obama Store, more stores, vendors, more vendors, yet more stuff.
Ad Campaigns-Budweiser, Ikea, Pepsi.
Ideas-Organized Labor, More Interest Groups, Religion.
Transportation-Metro, more, yet more.  +
"End of an Error"-Demonstration, Flyers, Banner.
-Art
Shepard Fairey's portrait of Obama installed in the National Portrait Gallery.
"Quilts for Obama" at The Historical Society of Washington, DC.
MANIFESTHOPE: DC Gallery in Georgetown.
DC voting rights flyers near the Convention Center.
"Can & Did" in New York, NY.

Planning and Preparation

-Armed Forces Inaugural Committee.
Dec. 18 briefing
Jan. 11 rehearsal

-Constructing the Inaugural Platform.
Sept. 24, 2008-("First Nail Ceremony") > Dec. 3 > Dec. 10 > Dec. 16 > Dec. 30 > Jan. 9   ...Jan. 22
 
-Constructing the review stand and bleachers for the Inaugural Parade.
Nov. 3 > Nov. 12 > Nov. 19 > Nov. 25 > Nov. 26 >
Dec. 1 > Dec. 12 > Dec. 15 > Dec. 17 > approx. Dec. 22 >  Dec. 26 > Dec. 30 >
Jan. 2 > Jan. 5 > Jan. 9 > Jan. 12 > Jan. 13 > Jan. 19   ...Jan. 21, Jan. 26

-More Parade preparations.
Hargrove Inc. prepares décor and floats.
Preparing the organized labor float.
The George Washington University float.

-Odds and Ends
Up go the bunting and flags.
Briefing on Inaugural planning and preparations.

Recent Inaugurations
2004 Inauguration: "Celebrating Freedom-Honoring Service"
2000 Inauguration: "Celebrating America's Spirit Together"

Copyright © 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action