Events
Inauguration Day 2013
When Barack Obama takes the oath of office on January 21, 2013, it will mark the 57th time that a U.S. president has been sworn in for a four-year term since 1789, when George Washington first took the same oath.
On January 21, Obama will stand before a judge — in this case Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts — and swear the 35-word oath prescribed in Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
(source: U.S. Departmetn of State/IIP)
U.S. Government Documents
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Inaugural Address by President Barack Obama
Each time we gather to inaugurate a President we bear witness to the enduring strength of our Constitution. We affirm the promise of our democracy. We recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenets of our faith or the origins of our names... Source: The White House »
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“Faith in America's Future” Is 2013 Obama Inaugural Theme
Ceremonies for President Obama’s inauguration for a second term will have “Faith in America's Future” as an overall theme.
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Inauguration Celebrates Continuity of American Democracy
When Barack Obama takes the oath of office on January 21, 2013, it will mark the 57th time that a U.S. president has been sworn in for a four-year term since 1789, when George Washington first took the same oath.
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Why Is U.S. Inauguration Day Held in Cold of January?
For nearly 80 years, January 20 has been the day of America’s presidential transition. Because the 20th falls on a Sunday in 2013, President Obama will take the oath of office January 20 in private, and again publicly on January 21 as part of the now familiar inaugural proceedings.
Photo Galleries
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Historic Inaugurations (13 photos)
Every four years, Washington is crowded with visitors eager to personally witness the peaceful transfer of executive power that is a hallmark of American democracy.
Pamphlets
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The U.S. Presidential Inauguration: An Exceptional Tradition
Many U.S. governmental institutions and political traditions support continuity in the midst of change. The laws and traditions surrounding presidential inaugurations are among the best examples of continuity during political change.
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U.S. Presidential Transitions: Second Terms
The roughly 75 days between a U.S. presidential election and the inauguration are as important to a second-term president as they are to a newly elected president, but the priorities are different.
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