President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk down Pennsylvania Avenue en route to the White House, on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, in Washington D.C. Doug Mills/POOL/MCT

By Graham Henderson, Lauren Tyler and Fleur Bailey
Managing Editor, Features Editor and Staff Writer

In front of an record breaking crowd, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States on Jan. 20 in Washington D.C. He is the first black president in the history of the United States.

The President took the oath of office on the same Bible used to swear in President Abraham Lincoln 148 years ago. After some slight confusion while taking the oath from U.S. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Obama launched into his inaugural address.

“On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord,” he said.

While the President chose not to go into specifics, he was clear about about the difficulties facing the nation. “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,” he said. “But know this, America — they will be met.”

Obama was also certain to note America’s diversity. “[W]e know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers,” he said. “[A]s the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself.”

As with his campaign, Obama was hopeful throughout the speech. “Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.”

An estimated 1.4 million people braved the freezing temperatures to witness the historic event, including former presidents George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and outgoing-president George W. Bush.

Despite a few hisses and boos when Bush took the stage, the crowd was cordial as President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama escorted Bush and former first lady Laura Bush to a waiting helicopter after the inaugural address.

The President then signed his first bills to confirm his cabinet before making his way by armored limousine to the National Statuary Hall for a private luncheon.

President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Jan 20. CHUCK KENNEDY/MCT

Thousands gather at Civic Center Plaza

At 7 a.m. this morning, the sun had barely begun to shine when thousands in San Francisco made their way to Civic Center Plaza to participate in the local inaugural festivities.

For many in attendance, this inauguration was the most momentous. “In my opinion this [the inauguration] is the greatest one that has come along,” said John Makely, 70, of Massachusetts. “The whole world is watching.”

“I agree by far this is the most historic inauguration,” said Williams Mill, 43, of San Francisco.

The crowd slowly filed into the plaza in between the bare trees to get a glimpse of the screen placed in front of the steps of City Hall.

People waited anxiously during the seemingly slow processions in Washington. Many were looking among the crowd for friends or relatives. Others were making phone calls.

When former first lady Laura Bush and first lady Michelle Obama emerged from the White House the crowd at Civic Center burst into applause and focused their attention back to the screen.

When Dick Cheney appeared, pushed in a wheelchair, the audience’s reaction at Civic Center was quite the opposite.

The biggest acclamation came when Barack Obama and George W. Bush left the White House steps and made their way to the motorcade.

As the procession made its way down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, the sun made its way over the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

The crowd was delighted when Joe Biden took his oath.  Obama then took his, with a little stumble in his words. Couples kissed, parents kissed their children’s heads, and tears glistened on the faces of many in the early morning sun.

When Obama gave his speech the crowd listened intently to the words of their new president, occasionally interrupting with outbursts of applause.

As the speech ended, the crowd dispersed throughout the plaza.

Helen Barton of San Francisco said that there had never been an inauguration like this one, “This one was special,” she said with a tear-stained face. For the rest of the day, Barton was off to party. “I don’t drink I just want to be out and enjoying this day.”

Rebecca Rae, 35, of San Francisco, with an Obama shirt and black tutu said she felt this excited when Bill Clinton had won his first term but said, “I never sought out an inauguration party!”

‘Change’ rings at the Fireside Bar

It was mimosas, merriment, and babies with Obama buttons at the Fireside bar, at 7th Avenue and Irving Street, which was filled with neighborhood friends eager to watch President Barack Obama’s inauguration.

There was hopeful chatter and the word “change” rang through the air.

Rene Marquardt and Michael Lively brought their 5-month-old daughter, Harper, along to Fireside. “We want her to know that she was a part of this historic event. She went with me to vote for him [Obama] and now she won’t know a time when [not] any one could be President,” said Lively. Harper wasn’t alone as many proud parents brought their babies along to the bar.

Some were still skeptical as Obama began his speech. Tia Barnard, a former Chicago resident, has a wait and see attitude. “He’s still a politician but I think Michelle helped him through Chicago politics. I want to see what he does,” said Barnard.

“This is a historic day, which I hope everyone will follow Obama’s lead,” said Chinetta Kincade, 67, who is black. “We have come a long way and I am touched. I pray he’ll stay strong,”

Students witness history

Over 500 City College students gathered at Ocean campus early on this morning to watch the much anticipated inauguration of Barack Obama.

The event was broadcast at three main locations on the campus — the Diego Rivera Theatre, the Visual Arts Building and the Audiovisual Center at the Rosenberg Library, where it also shown in the foyer on three floors.

Stephanie Lyons, concert and lecture series coordinator for City College organized the broadcast of the inauguration at the Diego Rivera Theatre.

“We’ve been planning this since Obama got elected in November,” Lyons said. “I suddenly realized that we needed to make provisions for students and faculty to witness this moment in history. We were prepared to accomodate about 800 people. I am thrilled that we were able to do this for our students. It’s such a great moment in our history.”

The theater buzzed with electricity and excitement as students and staff piled into the auditorium at 8 a.m. to witness the momentous occasion.

“I’m really excited about this,” said Paul Abuan, 18, a culinary arts student. “I’ve become more and more interested in it because he’s the first black president.”

Silvie Hibdon, 28, a student from the Czech Republic smiled as a couple of hisses were heard when former president Bush appeared on the screen. “As long as Bush is gone it’s good,” she said.

But the room was full of applause and cheers for Obama. One student even shouted out “I love you!” when Obama approached the podium to give his speech. All eyes were glued to the screen throughout the entire ceremony with every ear tuned in to Obama’s words.

“They were an enthusiastic crowd,” Lyons said. “People applauded as if Obama could actually hear them. There were tears, it was emotional.”

The feeling of elation for this long-awaited day was not without a little apprehension from some. Student David Hato, 21, who watched the inauguration at the theater said he has high expectations for the Obama administration.

“I’m more hopeful than skeptical but I’ll believe it all when I see it,” Hato said. “[H]e’s got a lot to prove to me that what he’s talking about is true.”

John Gallo, 37, an oceanography student viewed the ceremony at the library. “I was already at school today but I came here to watch. I voted for Obama, this is a major historical event for our country,” he said.

Lyons summed up the general feeling that has been shared by many at City College, and all over the country.

“It’s a new start for all of us. It’s time for the cynicism to stop, to roll up our sleeves and get to work,” she said. “We need to recognize that the human family isn’t about differences or trying to make everyone be the same, but about just trying again to be more positive. Today we’ve got a new chance to start over.”

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Contributing writer Maahum Chaudhry, News Editor Ellen Silk and Editor in Chief Jessica Luthi contributed to this story.