We return to The Takeaway's Femi Oke who is staked out on the crowded streets of Washington, D.C. She is shoving her microphone in front of anyone who will talk to her (and some who won't) in order to get the pulse of the scene.
Our conversation with the nation continues as we look for reactions to this historic Inauguration. We now turn to Chicago where WBEZ reporter Tony Arnold tells us how Obama's political home town is preparing to watch their Senator become President. The New York Times' Marcus Mabry rides along to give his thoughts on the events.
Beginning at 8:00 a.m. Eastern
11:00 a.m. Pacific
Musical selections (The United States Marine Band)
9:30 a.m. Eastern
6:30 a.m. Pacific
Official video stream begins
11:00 a.m. Eastern
8:00 a.m. Pacific
Official audio stream begins
11:30 a.m. Eastern
8:30 a.m. Pacific
Takeaway Live Blog with John Hockenberry and Adaora Udoji
Approx. 11:30 a.m. Eastern
8:30 a.m. Pacific
Call to Order (Sen. Dianne Feinstein), Invocation (Rick Warren), Music (Aretha Franklin)
Approx. 11:45 a.m. Eastern
8:45 a.m. Pacific
Vice President-elect Joe Biden receives oath of office (Associate Justice John Paul Stevens), music (John Williams (composer/arranger), Itzhak Perlman (Violin), Yo-Yo Ma (Cello), Gabriela Montero (Piano), Anthony McGill (Clarinet))
Approx. 11:56 a.m. Eastern
8:56 a.m. Pacific
President-elect Barack Obama receives oath of office (Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts)
Approx. 12:01 p.m. Eastern
9:01 a.m. Pacific
President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address (expected to last about 20 minutes)
Poem (Elizabeth Alexander), Benediction (Rev. Joseph Lowery), the National Anthem (The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters")
President Barack Obama escorts outgoing president George W. Bush and outgoing vice president Dick Cheney to a departure ceremony
Approx. 1:05 p.m. Eastern
10:05 a.m. Pacific
President Barack Obama attends an Inaugural luncheon
Approx. 1:25 p.m. Eastern
10:25 a.m. Pacific
Outgoing president George W. Bush speaks at Andrews Air Force Base
Approx. 2:20 p.m. Eastern
11:20 a.m. Pacific
President Barack Obama reviews the troops, the Inaugural Parade begins
While Washington, D.C. is the center of attention today, we are gathering reactions to these historic events from across the country. The conversation continues now as we turn to Adam Arlington at KWMU in St. Louis and Susanna Capelouto, news director at Georgia Public Broadcasting in Atlanta.
With all the coverage of the inauguration and all eyes on the president-elect, you would think the whole country was behind the new president. But that's definitely not the case in Oklahoma, where not one single county voted for Barack Obama. Joining us to discuss how Oklahomans are viewing this day is Michael Cross, the State Capital Bureau Chief at KOSU in Oklahoma City.
Hours before Barack Obama was to take the oath of office, a CD of his speeches set to techno music blared out of a boom box sitting on a pile of T-shirts. "How much for the Shepard Fairey watch?" said a customer, leaning over the sidewalk table full of Obama merchandise. The greatness and gravity of the presidency, conjured up today under the Capitol dome, will sit starkly against the moat of junk that has never been seen before for a president.
Obama's popularity and personality have inspired designers and hawkers to take his rock star status to new marketing heights. The new president's smiling face sits behind the hands of clocks. A towel features the former senator dunking a basketball in a Superman suit, with the scoreboard reading "1:20:09." Regular campaign buttons that would have satisfied collectors and politicos of past ages are now neon, handmade and outfitted with glowing backlights.
Norris Gibson knew this would be big business eighteen months ago. "Win or lose, he was going to be a legend," he says. On Monday, he was busily manning tables outside Union Station that are extension of his Web site, myobamashop.com ("The New Presidential Obama Hoodies and Long Sleeves are now available!") He's created more than 150 designs with Obama's likeness, and boasts that he was the first to celebrate the young president using rhinestones on clothing. Caps and ski caps with "OBAMA" in white plastic stones are selling for $12; T-shirts at his stand go for $26.99. The devoted throng stood two or three deep, calling out sizes and styles, while a CD switched to a Gospel-backed version of Obama's Grant Park victory speech.
Just outside the Greyhound Bus Terminal, Darin White was pushing sequined T-shirts for $45. "I think there will be enough folk here that there will be nice sales all across the city. It'll be a great Obama Day," he said, further reinforcing his brand.
Obama-mania is hitting the world as the inauguration of the 44th President gets underway. But outside of the United States, change has already started to come to Iraq. For a look at how Iraqis are viewing the change in power in the United States, we are joined by BBC Correspondent Jonny Dymond from Baghdad.
President-elect Obama has said he was inspired to climb the steps of the White House by the brave act of nine black Arkansas teenagers who made their way up the steps of Central High School in 1957 defying segregationists. Today, Obama will reach that highest of goals. Ernest Green is one of the Arkansas high school students who integrated Central High and will be a guest of honor at the inauguration this morning. He gives us his take on today.
The streets and sidewalks of Washington, D.C. are filling up with excited people from across the nation and around the world as the final preparation for Barack Obama's swearing in as president get underway. We check in with Capitol News Connection's Todd Zwillich who is on the podium waiting for the President-elect, Femi Oke who is on the increasingly crowded sidewalks of D.C., and the New York Times' Marcus Mabry.
As we continue with our national conversation on today's historic events, we turn to New Orleans and Times-Picayune columnist Lolis Eric Elie who says that as Barack Obama ascends to the presidency his hopes are up...but so is his guard.
In one of the longest presidential campaigns in history, some people didn't believe Obama would be president until all the votes were in. Others believed from the moment they saw him at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. But when did Barack Obama believe he would be president? We take a look back at his speeches and appearances and try to figure out when he believed.
The Takeaway's look at how the inauguration is viewed across America continues with Dan Moulthrop, host of The Sound of Ideas on WCPN in Cleveland, and Johanna Sailor, a reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. They'll discuss the particular perspectives of their corners of the nation on this historic day.
The seemingly unflappable soon-to-be President Barack Obama has all eyes on him today, but by now he should be pretty used to the attention. For the past 77 days since the election he has projected the calm, cool and collected image of a man who today will formally inherit the many burdens that plague this nation. New York Times reporter Peter Baker has a piece in today’s paper about what those 77 days say about the President-elect.
We are listening in on the conversations happening in Washington, D.C. and across the nation as Barack Obama's inauguration brings millions of together from every corner of the country. Amy from Concord, New Hampshire shared her story and it speaks to both the optimism and sense of hope for today.
Soon-to-be President Barack Obama faces an enormous challenge today, namely living up to his own reputation as a remarkable speechwriter and orator. For a look at what message he should deliver, and what themes he'll have to uphold as the nation's 44th president, we are joined by Marcus Mabry. Marcus Mabry is the International Business Editor for The New York Times. He’s been a recurring voice throughout our election coverage and he joins us from Washington, D.C. today to weigh in on this historic moment.
The Takeaway's Andrea Bernstein is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. right now waiting and waiting. She joins us for a report on what she's seeing, who she is meeting, and what the mood in Washington is like right now.
Chaos has embarked upon our nation's capitol today and no one knows that better than Capitol News Connection's Todd Zwillich. He joins us from one of the best seats in the business for today’s festivities. Being a Washington insider he used his credentials to secure a prime seat a mere 50 yards from where the soon-to-be President will be sworn in. All he has to do now though is wait and while he waits, he’s met quite a cast of characters.
This morning The Takeaway is reaching out across the country to see how the inauguration is resonating in local communities. We'll start with Detroit and Atlanta, majority black cities with rich African-American cultural traditions. William Boone, professor of political science at Clark Atlanta University, and Sarah Hulett, Detroit reporter for Michigan Radio, join John and Adaora with perspectives on the inauguration and their home towns.
We asked our listeners and contributors to give us their thoughts on what the Inauguration of Barack Obama means to them. We got answers from across the nation.
WNYC's own Terrance McKnight is in Washington, D.C. to witness the Inauguration of Barack Obama. We asked him to craft an essay on the subject of what this Inauguration means to him. Listen to his take on this historic day.
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