Reflections of the mood, stage before Obama’s inauguration
Jan 20, 2009
When Barack Obama was officially sworn in as America’s 44th President yesterday, an estimated 1.5 billion people around the globe tuned in to watch, while an estimated 4 million people crammed into Washington to be part of the action live.
When Barack Obama was officially sworn in as America’s 44th President yesterday, an estimated 1.5 billion people around the globe tuned in to watch, while an estimated 4 million people crammed into Washington to be part of the action live.
Obama, a huge admirer of Abraham Lincoln, modelled his own inauguration heavily on that of ‘Honest Abe’, who led America from 1861 until his assassination in 1865 and is regularly voted the most popular President ever.
The official theme of Obama’s inauguration was ‘A New Birth Of Freedom’, a phrase taken from Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address made during the American Civil War.
This year (2009) marks the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. As the Washington bumper stickers declare: It’s Time To Party Like It’s 1861!
The Secret Service, in charge of security, has refused to comment publicly on arrangements for the event, but all leave has been cancelled.
A total of £10m was used to cover the cost of security. Washington.
Michelle’s dress
It was the $64,000 question. What would Michelle Obama wear? She prefers affordable High Street brands. A Gap dress she wore sold out in hours. A yellow ensemble from J. Crew was such a hit, the store named it its bestselling outfit of 2008.
During the campaign, she favoured Chicago designer Mario Pinto, whose simple sheath dresses flatter the 45-year-old’s athletic 5ft 8in, figure.
A spokeswoman for American Vogue magazine said: “Michelle has the ability to spark a new trend. She is morally obliged to wear an American designer, but it could be J. Crew or Ralph Lauren or a total unknown. She’s cool, either way.â€
A source said: “The final choice will be hers alone. She is mindful of the economic situation so is unlikely to wear a $50,000 dress.†She also needed a ball gown for the 10 inaugural balls she attended that evening.
For the next president, Barack Obama, his presidency was set by the words of his inaugural speech. It was the best opportunity any President ever had of writing himself into the history books.
Adapted from the mailonline
Obama, a huge admirer of Abraham Lincoln, modelled his own inauguration heavily on that of ‘Honest Abe’, who led America from 1861 until his assassination in 1865 and is regularly voted the most popular President ever.
The official theme of Obama’s inauguration was ‘A New Birth Of Freedom’, a phrase taken from Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address made during the American Civil War.
This year (2009) marks the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth. As the Washington bumper stickers declare: It’s Time To Party Like It’s 1861!
The Secret Service, in charge of security, has refused to comment publicly on arrangements for the event, but all leave has been cancelled.
A total of £10m was used to cover the cost of security. Washington.
Michelle’s dress
It was the $64,000 question. What would Michelle Obama wear? She prefers affordable High Street brands. A Gap dress she wore sold out in hours. A yellow ensemble from J. Crew was such a hit, the store named it its bestselling outfit of 2008.
During the campaign, she favoured Chicago designer Mario Pinto, whose simple sheath dresses flatter the 45-year-old’s athletic 5ft 8in, figure.
A spokeswoman for American Vogue magazine said: “Michelle has the ability to spark a new trend. She is morally obliged to wear an American designer, but it could be J. Crew or Ralph Lauren or a total unknown. She’s cool, either way.â€
A source said: “The final choice will be hers alone. She is mindful of the economic situation so is unlikely to wear a $50,000 dress.†She also needed a ball gown for the 10 inaugural balls she attended that evening.
For the next president, Barack Obama, his presidency was set by the words of his inaugural speech. It was the best opportunity any President ever had of writing himself into the history books.
Adapted from the mailonline