(triumphant orchestral fanfare)
It was a day of momentous and historic firsts,
as the world watched Barack Obama sworn in
as the 44th President of the United States.
The multitude followed every moment of the day
on huge monitors.
Before facing the massive crowds,
Obama stopped by the White House.
Sir!
President Bush called out, "Sir,"
as the president-elect climbed out of his limo.
The Obamas were greeted warmly
on the portico of the White House
by President and Mrs. Bush.
Michelle Obama had a gift for the first lady,
telling her, "This is for your new home.
"It's a journal inscribed with today's date and a pen."
They posed together for pictures
and as they entered the White House,
President Bush could be seen giving his successor
a friendly slap on the back.
By 10 a.m., the National Mall was packed
with a sea of humanity estimated at two million people
seeking to witness history being made.
Vice President Cheney left the White House in a wheelchair
because he had pulled a muscle packing his belongings.
The two first ladies emerged from the White House together,
followed by the two presidents,
who rode side-by-side in the motorcade
to the Capitol for the inauguration.
All along the route, the motorcade was greeted
with waving flags, cheers, and salutes.
The TV audience had an unusual glimpse
behind the scenes inside the Capitol
as former presidents prepared to take their seats.
The first President Bush and Barbara Bush
wore purple scarves to symbolize national unity,
the combination of both red and blue.
There were warm greetings behind the scenes
between the Bushes and the Clintons.
But look at this, an apparent snub,
as President Carter and his wife Rosalyn
seem to ignore the Clintons,
walking right by without a greeting.
And this was our first glimpse of the Obama children,
Sasha and Malia.
Malia Obama and Sasha Obama.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the president-elect of the United States, Barack H. Obama!
And this was the rapturous welcome
for President-elect Obama as he emerged from the Capitol.
(audience cheering) (bright orchestral fanfare)
♪ My country 'tis of thee ♪
Aretha Franklin sang My Country 'Tis of Thee
as the atmosphere of electric anticipation
mounted among the crowds.
The nation's first Catholic vice president,
Joe Biden, took his oath of office.
That I will support and defend
the Constitution of the United States.
And then, a moment to be etched in history:
America's first black president
took the solemn oath of office on the Bible held by Michelle
that Lincoln used in his inauguration.
There was a moment of nerves as the Chief Justice
flubbed the words of the oath of office.
I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear--
That I will execute
the office of president to the United States faithfully.
That I will execute--
Faithfully the office
of president of the United States.
The office of president of the United States faithfully.
And will, to the best of my ability--
And will, to best of my ability--
Preserve, protect,
and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Preserve, protect, and defend
the Constitution of the United States.
So help you God?
So help me God.
Congratulations, Mr. President.
Thank you, sir.
(audience cheering)
As Hail to the Chief
and cannonfire echoed across the mall,
there was a thumbs-up for the new president
from daughter Sasha and a hug from her sister Malia.
Obama, Obama! Thank you.
In a somber inaugural speech,
President Obama challenged America to reunite
to meet the tough challenges of the future.
Today, I say to you that the challenges we face are real,
they are serious, and they are many.
They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.
But know this, America: They will be meet.
(audience cheering)
♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪
And the new president and first lady
joined in a moving rendition of the national anthem.
♪ And the home of the brave ♪
(audience cheering)
There was a triumphant parade back to the White House,
with the Obamas walking Pennsylvania Avenue,
acknowledging the ecstatic support of the crowd.
Minutes later, the children joined them
and they made their first official appearance as a family
on the parade-viewing stand.
(bright marching band music)
Then it was back to the White House
and the hard work of leading the nation begins.
(audience cheering)
("Hail to the Chief")
A crowd of historic proportions,
two million strong, descended on the nation's capital
to see Barack Obama sworn in as 44th president,
and a sea of famous faces were on hand for the eventful day.
There was Obama's number-one supporter, Oprah Winfrey,
with best friend Gayle King
and longtime love Steadman Graham.
Beyonce looked beautiful standing between P. Diddy
and husband Jay-Z.
Dustin Hoffman was on hand
and director Steven Spielberg was bundled up in a scarf.
Boxing legend Muhammad Ali was there to witness history
and so was basketball great Magic Johnson.
And Aretha Franklin wore quite a hat.
That's Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore
showing us their tickets.
That is the best thing I could possibly buy today.
Actor Tim Robbins
played with an Obama hand-puppet.
The country's most famous political power brokers
were all present.
All four former presidents were on hand.
George Bush, Sr., was limping and carried a cane.
The Bush twins, Barbara and Jenna, looked lovely.
Michelle Obama arrived with Laura Bush.
New First Daughter, 10-year-old Malia,
had her ever-present camera
to take pictures of Dad's big day.
Straight that way and to the back.
Security was extraordinary.
An army of police kept the peace.
(audience cheering)
The sea of people was in good spirits
and chants of Obama filled the air.
Obama, Obama!
The mood for some
turned from elation into frustration,
as the long wait for access to the National Mall
stretched on and the crowd started to chant,
"Let us in, let us in."
Let us in!
Cops struggled to control the chaos.
I will need to see your silver tickets in the air!
This man gave up
after waiting for three hours to get in.
There were people pushing fences over
and running over to the Ulysses S. Grant statue
and people getting hurt and stuff.
And this ticket-holder was in tears.
We work for a labor union.
We have been walking and walking, and this is not right.
Let's move it. (laughing)
April Woodard was in the thick of it.
I think is as close as I'm going to get.
I'm supposed to be over there by the field,
but right now they've blocked it off
so we can't get any further.
It took her nearly three hours
to make her way five miles through the crowd.
Deborah Norville inched along through traffic
with Missouri Senator Kit Bond.
I've never seen the crowds
and the enthusiasm that we've seen here.
Next stop, inauguration!
Security was tight for everyone.
This video is from Deborah's own video camera,
shot from her seat near Obama,
an incredible view of the sea of humanity Obama saw
when he took his historic oath of office.
And God bless the United States of America.
The whole world stopped
to watch Obama's historic swearing-in.
Here's our Megan Alexander.
Massive crowds packed New York's Times Square,
cheering with their eyes glued on the giant monitors above.
And school came to a halt across the land,
as students watched history unfolding.
Thousands of kids crowded into New York's Harlem Armory
for the momentous occasion.
And the celebration's not just in Washington, D.C.
Here in New York at the Harlem Armory,
these students said they wanted to see
history in the making.
This is one day of school they didn't wanna miss.
Barack H. Obama!
The event was carried live
at an IMAX theater in Los Angeles.
Do solemnly swear--
In homes throughout the USA,
people gathered with family and friends for viewing parties
like this one, hosted by Penny Johnson,
who played America's first black First Lady
on Fox's show 24.
(crowd cheering)
This is so special!
Words can't describe it.
(bright orchestral fanfare) (audience cheering)