First inauguration of Barack Obama
The first inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, at the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. The 56th inauguration, which set a record attendance for any event held in the city, marked the commencement of the first term of Barack Obama as president and Joe Biden as vice president. Based on combined attendance numbers, television viewership, and Internet traffic, it was one of the most-observed events ever by the global audience at the time.
Barack Obama takes the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States.
Preparations at the United States Capitol
One of the one million public invitations to the inaugural ceremony of Barack Obama
One of the color-coded tickets issued by members of the 111th U.S. Congress
United States presidential inauguration
Between 73 and 79 days after the presidential election, the president-elect of the United States is inaugurated as president by taking the presidential oath of office. The inauguration takes place for each new presidential term, even if the president is continuing in office for a second term.
Presidential inauguration at the western front of the U.S. Capitol facing the National Mall (site since Reagan in 1981) – Joe Biden, January 20, 2021
Presidential inauguration with old overhead ceremonial porch at the eastern front of the U.S. Capitol (Lyndon B. Johnson, January 20, 1965)
Second inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt, 1905
President Reagan being sworn in for his second term "privately" on television, January 20, 1985