The eyes of the world tuned in to watch as Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president this morning just after 12 p.m. EST. Following his oath of office, Obama delivered a touching but frank address that highlighted the challenges the nation faces — particularly the economy — and America's pledge to work with other nations.
Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America. . . . For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise healthcare's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
If you missed the address or want a closer read, you can see a full transcript of the speech here. What did you think of Obama's speech?
To see more pictures from the historic ceremony and morning, read more.
America has witnessed 55 inaugural speeches (43 presidents, plus a dozen two-termers). Test your knowledge of past speeches with our quiz!
Urban Outfitters
WHOO HOOOOO!!!
1I am so excited! I watched in my US history class and then walked across campus grinning like crazy
I just wanted to start skipping! lol
2hurrah!
3I pray that he can pull together one third of the promises he's made. I'm hopeful, but at the same time very wary. The man is too smooth. 2 weeks ago, I was ardently against this man as president. But he's in, and I can't change that. All I can do is hang on and pray the he's able to do as he promises. Good luck and best wishes to Obama, I don't envy ANYONE in that position these days.
4whoohoo!
5It was honest, one of the qualities I feel he embraces. I thought it was cute how he stumbled a bit through the Oath of Office - he was clearly very nervous!
And now the hard work begins...
6Congratulations. Ready to move on to see the work he does in reality.
7About damn time.
8tears of joy.
9wow.
10What a great day. Now not only is it time for him to get to work, but for all of us to get to work especially if we have been complacent in our own lives. The best us will help our communities in the long run.
Today is also my first anniversary so the champagne is extra good with all the celebrating going on around me.
11I thought it was a little weird that the pastor f*cked up the oath and made Obama look bad, but it's ok.
12Happy Anniversary Kia!!!!
13Hurrah! It's about time!
Also, on a side note, I am loving on Michelle's ensemble and Malia's cuteness with her camera.
14awwwww. this makes me happy. i know some of you are not obama fans, but i am very impressed with the comments here. today is a day for celebration and hope, not putting down others for their beliefs. thanks for not raining on the parade of others. we all need to realize this is a momentous occasion, and come together...at least for the day =)
15Congratulations and good luck, Mr President
16
17finally! God Bless the Obama/Biden administration.
18I love it and I wish him and his cabinet, staff, and the American people the best. Like he said, this isn't the time for small pettiness but the time to get together the common good and better cause.
19Today I honor my father...A dream deferred has just been realized. God bless America
20
:) 
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22Congratulations to you all! I have been watching it here in Denmark, where there has been a three hour live broadcast. Everyone here is excited about the change that he represents as the new president of the United States. And the impact it will have on the world working together in common causes...
23I am soo proud to have been alive for this historic moment. I wish Obama, Biden, and their families the best of luck and many blessings. I only hope that he can begin to lay the groundwork for half of the things that he promised.
Like another poster wrote, it is time for us to get to work as well. Our duties as citizens did not stop in the voting booth. We need to hold this administration and all of our leaders and represenatives accountable.
24I think Teddy is sadly gonna bite the dust soon. He collapsed at the inaugural lucheon. Poor thing.
25It's a great day, it was a great speech, Lowry's prayer with humor at the end was just perfect.
26That bit of humor was a Jim Crow slogan from the 1940's...very real.
27I hate to be a downer but I do take issue with the idea that Lowry's prayer was "perfect" - "when white will embrace what is right"
thats pretty offensive.
otherwise, congrats to the Obama admin, I'm amazed at Michelle's ability to keep it together during the oath because I would have been a sobbing mess!
28I knew I had heard it before - I thought it was a perfect twist, coupled with the crowd's "Amen", for ending one era and starting another.
29Wait, I'm missing this, so that was Jim Crow humor?
Can someone explain it to me?
30"That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen."
The crowd thundered, "Amen!"
I guess I'm not as hyper-sensitive about white perfection.
31Its not about white perfection, its about race baiting.
I think if it were John McCain and someone said "when black will embrace whats right" we'd be having a very different conversation.
I thought his election was supposed to change race and the way race is discussed? If thats so then why are we pitting poeple against each other?
Now if it was just a bad joke thats one thing, which is why I don't get how that is meant to be a joke.
32Hausfrau: What you don't know can't hurt you. Amen.
33GK: So if I'm not a civil rights scholar I must be an idiot?
Nice.
34White people can be split up into two groups: racists and Obama supporters.
Now, I would be very offended if I were a white person who voted for Obama to hear it assumed that what I embrace is not "right."
35organic - such a good point!
36Wow, Lowery's little rhyme was really offensive. Did somebody have to approve that?
37No hausfrau, The black experience. From slavery to freedom if you will, that comment was for us who are old enough to remember the pain. I guess with that being said, we as a race of people, lay down our burdon. Please don't take it personal.
38Haus and Org - I think you are taking this whole 'white' thing too personally. To deny that as a whole the white race has suppressed all other minorities over the centuries is silly. Whites are still the majority and I took it in the tone of let the majority do what's 'right' which is not suppress the rights and dreams of other races.
39Amen.
40Amen.
41I think asian people should calm down.
42"To deny that as a whole the white race has suppressed all other minorities over the centuries is silly"
To pretend that I personally have any responsibility for what a "whole" race has done over other centuries is racist in itself. As is pretending that only whites are responsible for doing what is right. He implied that other races only need whites to stop keeping them down in order to succeed. It was a highly inappropriate comment.
43"I think asian people should calm down."
44Haha, I was hoping you'd pop in, Jude. Mellow as always.
45It's my new medication. Keeps me calm. The side effects, however, are unfortunate.
46"Whites are still the majority and I took it in the tone of let the majority do what's 'right' which is not suppress the rights and dreams of other races."
Well-said. I think over the next four years, as a white person, I will give up on all of my plans to suppress the rights and dreams other races.
Amen.
47I think I am with Mich. I tried not to take the comment and blow it out of proportion. but the more I hear it, the more angry it makes me. It basically takes any responsibility for wrong doing away from minorities. What about the minorities also doing what is right. There are a lot of minorities who feel that we owe them better jobs, houses etc. That is wrong and they have a responsibility to do what is right as well. It was crude humor and NOT funny. And those that think it was funny are racists.
48By grouping together all whites in a statement is the same as stereotyping minorities.
49Mich I think you are taking it too personally. That's my opinion. While us individual whites might not be responsible for the atrocities of the past, or the atrocities that still go on (i.e. the KKK and the White Supremacy movements) I don't see the problem with acknowledging them or to be reminded to keep vigilant.
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