President Barack Hussein Obama
By politics.co.uk staff
Barack Obama has been inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States in a truly historic day in Washington.
Up to two million people hit the streets to watch Mr Obama take the oath of office and deliver his inaugural address as he begins his four-year term as commander in chief.
“On this day we gather because we have chosen hope over fear,” he said during his speech.
“We remain a young nation. But the time has come to put aside childish things.
“All are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”
He continued: “Starting today we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin the work of rebuilding America.
“To all other peoples watching today, know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks dignity. And we are ready to lead once more.”
Vice-president elect Joe Biden was also sworn in just before Mr Obama took his oath, around noon local time (17:00 GMT) at the west front of the Capitol.
The theme of today’s events – the new birth of freedom – took its inspiration from Lincoln, who was born 200 years ago. The bible Mr Obama will swear the oath of office on was used by Lincoln himself in 1861.
Mr Obama’s inauguration comes a day after Americans marked Martin Luther King Jr Day, and 46 years after he made his iconic ‘I Have a Dream Speech’ at the Lincoln Memorial.
Tickets for today’s inauguration sold out in record time; while the two million people at the Capitol – a record six times the number that assembled for George Bush’s inauguration – wwere policed by an unprecedented security presence.
Up to 8,000 police officers, 7,500 soldiers and 10,000 national guard will be present in DC, including unknown numbers of FBI and secret service agents.
