57TH INAUGURAL CEREMONIES
BARACK H.
OBAMA
January 21, 2013
JOSEPH R.
BIDEN
FAITH IN AMERICA’S FUTURE
“Faith in America’s Future” commemorates the United States’ perseverance and unity and marks the sesquicentennial year of the placement of the Statue of Freedom atop the new Capitol Dome in 1863. When the Civil War threatened to bring construction of the Dome to a halt, workers pressed onward, even without pay, until Congress approved additional funding to complete the Dome that would become a symbol of unity and democracy to the entire world.
INAUGURAL COMMITTEE
Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Chairman
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV)
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Rep. John A. Boehner (R-OH)
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES
The Swearing-In Ceremony:
Barack H. Obama was sworn-in for his second term as the 44th President of the United States, and Joseph R. Biden was sworn-in for his second term as the 47th Vice President of the United States.
Location:
West Front, U.S. Capitol
Weather:
At noon: Temperature: 40°. Mostly cloudy with broken mid and high clouds. South winds around 10 mph. Turned colder and breezy during the evening behind an arctic cold front.
Bible:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Bible
THE SWEARING-IN CEREMONIES
The Swearing-In Ceremony:
Barack H. Obama was sworn-in for his second term as the 44th President of the United States, and Joseph R. Biden was sworn-in for his second term as the 17th Vice President of the United States.
Location:
West Front, U.S. Capitol
Weather:
At noon: Temperature: 40°. Mostly cloudy with broken mid and high clouds. South winds around 10 mph. Turned colder and breezy during the evening behind an arctic cold front.
Bible:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Bible
OPENING MUSICAL SELECTIONS
PS 22 Chorus—Staten Island, New York
Lee University Festival Choir—Cleveland, Tennessee
“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band
CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOMING REMARKS
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
WATCH HERE
INVOCATION
Myrlie Evers-Williams
WATCH HERE
MUSICAL SELECTION
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
“Battle Hymn of the Republic”
WATCH HERE
VICE PRESIDENTIAL OATH OF OFFICE
Associate Justice of The Supreme Court of the United States
WATCH HERE
MUSICAL SELECTION
James Taylor
“America the Beautiful”
WATCH HERE
PRESIDENTIAL OATH OF OFFICE
Administered to Barack H. Obama
by the Honorable John G. Roberts Jr.,
Chief Justice of the United States
WATCH HERE
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
President Barack H. Obama
WATCH HERE
MUSICAL SELECTION
T
Kelly Clarkson
accompanied by the United States Marine Band,
“My Country ‘Tis of Thee”
WATCH HERE
POEM
Richard Blanco
WATCH HERE
BENEDICTION
The Reverend Dr. Luis Leon
WATCH HERE
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
THE SIGNING CEREMONY
Following the Swearing-In Ceremonies, the President gathers in the President’s Room just off of the Senate Chamber to sign nominations and sometimes memorandums, proclamations, or executive orders. President Obama, surrounded by the JCCIC Members and the Vice President, signs the first official actions of his second term.
THE SIGNING CEREMONY
Following the Swearing-In Ceremonies, the President gathers in the President’s Room just off of the Senate Chamber to sign nominations and sometimes memorandums, proclamations, or executive orders. President Obama, surrounded by the JCCIC Members and the Vice President, signs the first official actions of his second term.
THE INAUGURAL LUNCHEON
Members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies hosted a luncheon in honor of the newly sworn-in President and Vice President. Approximately 200 guests including the new President, Vice President, members of their families, the Supreme Court, Cabinet designees, and members of Congressional leadership attended the event in the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall.
THE INAUGURAL LUNCHEON
Members of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies hosted a luncheon in honor of the newly sworn-in President and Vice President. Approximately 200 guests including the new President, Vice President, members of their families, the Supreme Court, Cabinet designees, and members of Congressional leadership attended the event in the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall.
INAUGURAL PAINTING
Niagara Falls
Ferdinand Richardt
Oil on canvas, 1856
Courtesy of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms,
U.S. Department of State,
Washington, D.C.
Niagara Falls, a painting by Ferdinand Richardt, is a panoramic view of the American Falls and the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara, capturing the sweep of the river.
In the foreground, the sidewheeler Maid-of-the-Mist can be seen navigating the rapids. Completed at a time when America’s history as an independent nation was not yet a century old, Richardt’s painting symbolized to Americans of that era the grandeur, power, and possibility of America.
A Danish artist, Richardt (1819-1895) came to America in 1855. He is best known for his depictions of Niagara Falls and composed this painting in 1856 as the seventeenth in a series. The New York Evening Post proclaimed it to be one of the most accurate views of Niagara Falls ever exhibited. The painting, displayed above the head table, was loaned by the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C.
Presidential and Vice Presidential Gifts
The President and Vice President are presented with gifts by the Congress on behalf of the American people. For the 7th consecutive Inauguration, Lenox Corporation has created the official Inaugural gifts—etched crystal vases.
The images of the United States Capitol and White House are hand cut and etched into the crystal. The crystal bases on which the vases sit are inscribed “Barack H. Obama, January 21, 2013, the Presidential Inaugural” and “Joseph R. Biden, January 21, 2013, the Vice-Presidential Inaugural”.
President Obama will receive the vase depicting the White House and Vice President Biden will receive the vase depicting the United States Capitol. The bowls were designed by Timothy Carder and hand-cut by master glass cutter Peter O’Rourke.
WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
INVOCATION
Reverend Luis Cortés
LUNCHEON
First Course: Steamed Lobster with New England Chowder
Second Course: Hickory Grilled Bison with Red Potato Horseradish Cake & Wild Huckleberry Reduction
Third Course: Hudson Valley Apple Pie with Sour Cream Ice Cream, Aged Cheese & Honey
PRESENTATION OF FLAGS
John Boehner, Speaker,
United States House of Representatives
Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader,
United States House of Representatives
Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader,
United States House of Representatives
PRESENTATION OF THE OFFICIAL INAUGURAL PHOTO
Lamar Alexander,
United States Senate
PRESENTATION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL GIFTS
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
The President and Vice President are presented with gifts by the Congress on behalf of the American people. For the 7th consecutive Inauguration, Lenox Corporation has created the official Inaugural gifts—engraved crystal bowls.
BENEDICTION
Archbishop Demetrios of Americaives
PASS IN REVIEW
President Barack H. Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden, along with Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker, U.S. Army, is commander of the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR), stand on the steps of the East Front to participate in the Pass in Review prior to departing the Capitol for the Inaugural Parade to the White House.
PASS IN REVIEW
President Barack H. Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Joseph R. Biden, and Dr. Jill Biden, along with Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Becker, U.S. Army, is commander of the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR), stand on the steps of the East Front to participate in the Pass in Review prior to departing the Capitol for the Inaugural Parade to the White House.