President Barack Obama begins his second term as the 44th President of the United States today. We will be capturing, collecting and sharing the defining images of Inauguration Day right here as President Obama, the first family, national leaders, celebrities and a crowd of tens of thousands participate in one of our nation's greatest and most iconic traditions.
You can also brush up on some impressive Inauguration facts and figures and even First Lady fashion as the day's events unfold.
12:31 p.m. ET: President Obama and 220 guests leave the inauguration platform for the Inauguration Luncheon inside the Capitol.
So what do you eat after being sworn in as President of the United States and sitting outside for an hour in 35-degree weather? Well, clam chowder and bison for starters. Here's the full menu (with recipes) for today's traditional feast.
12:29 p.m. ET: Let's be honest. At least 25% of people on the Mall are here for the free Beyonce concert.
12:20 p.m. ET: Richard Blanco, presenting the Inauguration poem, is the first Hispanic and openly gay poet to perform this role. Blanco is the son of Cuban exiles, raised in Miami and now living in Maine. The Miami Herald has a feature on him today.
12:13 p.m. ET: Kelly Clarkson, "American Idol" winner and thus true symbol of American democracy in action, follows up the president's speech with "My Country Tis of Thee"
12:11 p.m. ET: President Obama concludes his inaugural address.
12:08 p.m. ET: President Obama: "For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law – for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well...
Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm."
12:02 p.m. ET: President Obama: "The commitments we make to each other – through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security – these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.
We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity."
11:58 a.m. ET: The president's account is live-tweeting his remarks.
We made ourselves anew, and vowed to move forward together. —President Obama
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) January 21, 2013
11:52 a.m. ET: President Barack Obama is sworn-in by Chief Justice John Roberts. The crowd goes wild. And cannon fire and the sounds of tens of thousands of small, American flags being vigorously waved fill the air!
11:47 a.m. ET: "I, Joseph R. Biden, do solemnly swear..." Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor swears-in Vice President Joe Biden.
11:46 a.m. ET: U.S. Park Service has just announced that "The National Mall is now full and closed."
11:44 a.m. ET: I don't know. Just... well... here:
11:40 a.m. ET: This is what happens when the crowd extends halfway to the Lincoln Memorial:
Most people here are just watching this thing on big TVs #inaug2013 twitter.com/A_Grossman/sta…
— Andrew Grossman (@A_Grossman) January 21, 2013
11:33 a.m. ET: Myrlie Evers-Williams, the widow of Medgar Evans, delivers the invocation. History lesson here.
11:28 a.m. ET:
Snapped on Sunday - the #inaug2013 site as seen from the International Space Station. Credit: NASA twitter.com/nowthisnews/st…
— NowThis News (@nowthisnews) January 21, 2013
11:23 a.m. ET: President Obama arrives on the Inauguration platform. Plenty of smiles, waves and kisses for Michelle, Sasha, Malia and his mother-in-law, Marian Robinson.
11:19 a.m. ET: Now and then: Sasha and Malia arriving at the Inauguration today, and four years ago.
11:13 a.m. ET: Performers and politicians have filled up the grandstand: Jay-Z, Beyonce, James Taylor and Bill Clinton are among those with some of the best seats in the house. Beyonce will be performing the national anthem.
10:53 a.m. ET: President Barack Obama arrives in the Carriage Entrance of the Capitol building.
10:44 a.m. ET: The presidential motorcade -- which appears to stretch to Alexandria, Virginia -- departs the White House and makes its way toward the Capitol.
10:28 a.m. ET: Former Republican vice-presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan arrives at the Inauguration. Probably an impressive mix of emotions going through his mind today. Ryan was reportedly booed when spotted exiting the Capitol building today.
10:05 a.m. ET: The significance of President Obama's inauguration coinciding with Martin Luther King Day is not being lost of inauguration attendees, who have gathered around the national memorial to the civil rights leader.
9:40 a.m. ET: Places! Places! Red and white tape marks the spots where the first family and others will stand during the swearing-in. On TV, right to left, it will be Barack Obama ('POTUS'), Michelle Obama ('FLOTUS'), Malia and then Sasha.
9:10 a.m. ET: HLN's Ryan Smith and Robin Meade huddle for warmth as DC early morning temperatures stayed in the low 30s. Three most in-demand Inauguration Day items: American flags, commemorative pins, hot chocolate.
8:57 a.m. ET: Speaking of First Lady fashion, apparently the wardrobe tends to get a bit more interesting in the second term. Who knew? Amanda Sloane has some before and after proof right here.
8:55 a.m. ET: The first family arrives at St. John's church. The day may be all about Barack, but the designer of Michelle's dress -- Thom Brown -- was trending on Twitter before 9:30 a.m.
8:31 a.m. ET: Tens of thousands of people are attending the inauguration. Security lines began early for those lucky enough to snag one of the tickets distributed to the public.
7:15 a.m. ET: Day breaks behind the Capitol building as guests begin to arrive for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. This is the 57th presidential inauguration in U.S. history.
Follow Jonathan Anker on Twitter @JonFromHLN
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