msnbc.com:

Remember the inaugural poem? Few do

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:02:34 GMT

Millions watched Elizabeth Alexander read a poem last month at President Barack Obama's inauguration. But few, so far, have wanted to buy it.

Agencies investigate canceled inaugural ball

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 23:59:22 GMT

Federal officials and the Washington, D.C., attorney general are investigating the promoter of a canceled inaugural ball.

Obama campaign head gets big book deal

Wed, 4 Feb 2009 15:36:37 GMT

David Plouffe has agreed to a seven-figure deal to write a book about last year's presidential election. “The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory” will also detail the business lessons of a $1 billion start-up.

Smithsonian wants Aretha Franklin's hat

Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:18:50 GMT

The Smithsonian is collecting Michelle Obama's Inauguration Day ballgown, but now the museum also wants Aretha Franklin's big-bowed hat.

Quartet played inauguration to taped music

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:51:29 GMT

The classical music you heard at President Barack Obama's inauguration was a recording made two days earlier unless you were sitting within earshot of the celebrated performers.

Drum major in hot water after nod to Obama

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:53:47 GMT

An Ohio firefighter has been given a six-month suspension from his role in a pipe and drum band because he nodded to President Barack Obama during last week's inaugural parade in Washington, D.C.

Do-over: Obama retakes oath of office

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:54:43 GMT

After the flub heard around the world, President Barack Obama has taken the oath of office. Again. Chief Justice John Roberts delivered it Wednesday night at the White House — a rare do-over.

Obama urges unity against 'raging storms'

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:25:10 GMT

Barack Hussein Obama claimed his place as America's first black president, summoning a dispirited nation to unite in hope against the "gathering clouds and raging storms" of war and economic woe.

Ceremony is more celebration than solemnity

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:04:08 GMT

For a nation sunk in financial crisis and shaken by recession, the inauguration of the 44th president seemed to have as much boisterous bonhomie as a Big 10 football game on a blustery afternoon. Msnbc.com's Tom Curry reports.

Video: Lights! Camera! Inauguration!

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:46:04 GMT

Jan. 26: NBC's David Weakley offers an insider's look at the years of work it took to televise the inauguration. (Nightly News)

Requests flood in for 'Queen of Soul's' hat

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:32:25 GMT

The calls began to flood Luke Song's Detroit hat shop not long after Aretha Franklin finished belting out "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" at President Barack Obama's inauguration.

She said ‘Yes we can’ to inaugural proposal

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:38:54 GMT

Moments after Barack Obama took the oath of office, Kit Crawford got down on one knee in the middle of the crowd of thousands on the National Mall and made his own promise — to love his girlfriend Megan Kilgas for the rest of their lives.

Nice moves! Obama booty-bumps 9th-grader

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:06:45 GMT

The spotlight was on 14-year-old Victoria Lucas on Tuesday as she danced onstage at the Neighborhood Ball with one special partner: the president. "He was just a very smooth and suave dancer. It was like he was raised on the dance floor," said Lucas.

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Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:06:45 GMT

Newsweek: The hippest ball of the night

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:58:43 GMT

Kanye West? Rosario Dawson? An adorably 'old school' slow dance? Inauguration parties just ain't what they used to be. What went down at the Inaugural Youth Ball?

Beanie Babies sells dolls called Sasha, Malia

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 14:07:14 GMT

The company that made Beanie Babies a craze has released dolls named "Sweet Sasha" and "Marvelous Malia." But they're saying they chose the names because "they are beautiful," not because of any resemblance to President Obama's daughters.

NYT: Obama speech rejects Bush era

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:59:18 GMT

Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address was a stark repudiation of the era of George W. Bush and the ideological certainties that surrounded it.

Slide show: Michelle Obama's effortless style

Thu, 2 Apr 2009 13:07:23 GMT

The first lady looks as sophisticated in designer dresses as she does in outfits from J. Crew.

How long will Obama honeymoon last?

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:41:13 GMT

As Barack Obama takes the oath of office, there is evidence that, as enthusiastic as the public is about the change in power, there are no expectations of quick fixes.

NYT: In first family, a nation of many faces

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 04:21:11 GMT

NYT: When President Barack Obama was sworn in, he was surrounded by an extended clan that would have shocked past generations of Americans and instantly redrew the image of a first family.

Slide show: Presidential party

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:59:51 GMT

New First Couple dances night away at inaugural balls; Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige perform.

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Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:59:51 GMT

Kennedy released from hospital after seizure

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:31:47 GMT

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was released from the hospital on Wednesday morning after suffering a seizure during an inaugural luncheon.

Harlem celebrates ‘remaking America’

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:53:53 GMT

On Tuesday, residents of America's first black cultural capital put aside work, school and recession woes to honor the inauguration of President Barack Obama. And as the historic day unfolded, the mood was one of humble exuberance.

Inaugural balls top off historic day

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:15:29 GMT

“At Last” may have been just what President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were thinking Tuesday night as they glided through their first inaugural dance to the Etta James classic.

Chief justice and Obama seal the deal

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:59:38 GMT

Chief Justice John Roberts swore in President Barack Obama with a slightly flawed delivery of the oath, ushering in the important relationship between two men who come from very different political positions.

Japan learns English from Obama speeches

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:38:07 GMT

Obama's speeches are proving a best-seller in Japan — as an aid to learning English. An English-language textbook, "The Speeches of Barack Obama," has sold more than 400,000 copies in two months.

Cosmic Log: Power transfer on the Web

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:05:11 GMT

Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: The Bush era was quickly overwritten by President Obama's slick new White House Web site. So what happens to all that history?

Text of Obama's inaugural speech

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:17:09 GMT

The text of Barack Obama's speech for his inauguration as the 44th president of the United States, as delivered.

Newsweek: Speech less memorable than occasion

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:50:16 GMT

The conventional wisdom is that Obama has risen on the strength of speeches, and it is true that he has given some memorable ones. But sometimes the words he utters mean less than the tableau he creates. Was that true today? Perhaps.

Michelle Obama wears gown by 26-year-old designer

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:42:14 GMT

The wait is over! First lady Michelle Obama chose a white chiffon one-shoulder gown by a 26-year-old designer for the inaugural balls, and her husband clearly approved. "First of all, how good-looking is my wife?" the president asked a cheering crowd.

New president cites old virtues, deep traditions

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:16:28 GMT

Analysis: As he became a precedent-shattering president Tuesday, Barack Obama wrapped himself in America's deepest traditions, invoking God, the Bible, the Founding Fathers, cherished documents and old-fashioned virtues.

First sisters likely to enthrall U.S. public

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:08:38 GMT

President and Mrs. Obama's daughters, Malia and Sasha, have already fascinated the country more than any presidential progeny since the Kennedys. Now they’re likely to fascinate us even more.

Bush twins offer advice for Sasha, Malia

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:05:22 GMT

Just in time for move-in day, the Bush twins offered their best advice Tuesday to Sasha and Malia Obama on living in a "magical place" called the White House.

For older blacks, Obama is dream fulfilled

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:31:52 GMT

On Tuesday, with weathered hands and an excitement that belied their age, older African Americans applauded Barack Obama — and the role they played in sending one of their own to the White House.

Gatherings large and small for inauguration

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:44:38 GMT

Every four years, at noon on Jan. 20, the nation pauses. People slow and stop in airport concourses and outside the windows of electronics stores, watch the oath of office, some of the inaugural address. They move on.

Black churches celebrate Obama victory

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:58:46 GMT

Black churches, long a source of solace and solidarity for African Americans, celebrated Barack Obama's victory on inauguration day, and the beginning of a new era.

Hearts stay warm in frosty Washington

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:39:56 GMT

A vast, excited crowd of more than 1 million bore witness Tuesday to a transfer of American power like none before it.

D.C. monitors terror threats

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Authorities monitored a rush of intelligence leads at the largest security operation in presidential inauguration history, including a possible threat from a radical Islamic terrorist group.

Grade Obama's speech

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:22:50 GMT

How would you rate Barack Obama's inauguration speech?

Bush leaves Washington for Texas retirement

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:07:09 GMT

Leaving the White House for the last time on Tuesday, President George W. Bush blew a kiss out the window of his presidential limousine, a gesture that capped an eight-year administration marked by two wars, recession and the biggest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

In crowd's best seats, they're frisky, reflective

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:32:40 GMT

Covered in blankets against the cold, the front-row guests at President Barack Obama's inauguration were at times reflective, at times feisty.

Delicate dance over president's middle name

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:14:59 GMT

The United States has a new president, that much is certain. What's his name? Well, that depends on what part of his inauguration you saw.

Senator Twitters Obama’s inauguration

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:52:12 GMT

Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri used her close friendship with Barack Obama — and Twitter — to give her constituents a front-row seat at the new president’s inauguration.

Complete text of inaugural poem

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:20:58 GMT

Complete text of "Praise Song for the Day, A Poem for Barack Obama's Presidential Inauguration" by Elizabeth Alexander

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Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:20:58 GMT

New first lady wears Isabel Toledo

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:37:53 GMT

The incoming first lady made an unconventional choice to wear to her husband’s historic swearing-in as president: a dazzling gold sheath and matching coat by Isabel Toledo, an avant-garde "designer's designer" born in Cuba.

Huge crowds mean injuries, EMS headaches

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:56:46 GMT

With a crowd as big as the one on Washington's National Mall, it's inevitable that health problems have become an issue and medical personnel have been challenged already.

Amid new power elite, lobbyists work the crowd

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:19:20 GMT

At star-studded parties across the capital, lobbyists are busy working the crowds. As the nation ushers in a new president, they are rebuilding their networks of influence in the halls of power.

Powell: ‘More to do,’ MLK would tell Obama

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:30:08 GMT

On the morning of Barack Obama’s inauguration, the nation’s first African-American secretary of state reflected on racial progress and speculated about what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have to say to the incoming president.

Newsweek: Alice Walker on Obama's importance

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:12:29 GMT

The author of 'The Color Purple' cautions Obama not to lose himself, or his soul, to the burdens of the office.

Wireless networks inundated with traffic

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:54:30 GMT

Don’t Twitter via cell phone. Don’t send photos or videos using your mobile. And don’t hold your breath waiting to make or receive a call if you’re in the D.C. area. You’re going to be frustrated. And you may have to wait.

It's moving day for 2 families

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:47:05 GMT

By the time the new president and his family return from the inaugural parade, the White House will look as if the Obamas have always lived there.

Crowds test inauguration logistics

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:46:53 GMT

A vast, excited crowd of more than 1 million bore witness Tuesday to a transfer of American power like none before it.

Newsweek: Obama is more like Reagan than Lincoln

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:04:23 GMT

Everybody in the capital is comparing Obama to Abraham Lincoln. But the more recent—and illuminating—comparison is Ronald Reagan. In 1981, Reagan came to town vowing a massive shift in philosophical thinking.

NYT: Hints of new first lady's agenda

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:06:09 GMT

As Michelle Obama prepares to become first lady, a role with the power to influence the nation’s sense of identity, outlines of her style and agenda have begun to emerge.

‘Be Veg’ competes with Tibet outside U.N.

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:36:42 GMT

Obama offers bipartisan salute to McCain

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:47:54 GMT

On the evening before his inauguration, President-elect Barack Obama sped through Washington, attending a series of dinners promoting bipartisanship.

Worldwide hopes soar with Obama

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 03:05:43 GMT

A world made weary by war, recession, joblessness and fear shed its collective burden Tuesday to celebrate the arrival of a new American president.

Kenyans throw party of a lifetime for Obama

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:21:14 GMT

Bulls and goats have been slaughtered for the feast. Beer has been stockpiled. Movie screens and projectors were erected.

Cosmic Log: Obama-mania hits cell networks

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:19:39 GMT

Science editor Alan Boyle's Weblog: A blizzard of cell-phone calling, texting and photo-swapping swept through Washington, but wireless providers said the traffic was about what they expected.

Most of Little Rock 9 head to inauguration

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:42:36 GMT

Trailblazing African-American civil rights pioneers will get a chance to watch in person on Tuesday as Obama breaks the ultimate color barrier and is sworn in as the nation's first black president.

Why wait? D.C. parties for inauguration

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:50:10 GMT

Forget the sold-out balls and celebrity soirees: Ordinary Americans transformed Washington's streets into one giant pre-party Monday stretching from the overflowing inbound trains at Union Station to the banks of the iced-over Potomac River.

Poor Americans get taste of inauguration

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:00:10 GMT

Virginia businessman Earl W. Stafford and his nonprofit foundation have raised more than $1.6 million to pay for hundreds of homeless, poor and underprivileged people to attend an inaugural ball.

25,000 deploy for inaugural security

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:48:51 GMT

Security in downtown D.C. was high Monday after officials promised the largest inaugural security operation in history, with 58 federal, state and local agencies working together.

Inauguration: A destination with many paths

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:24:25 GMT

They're coming by car, by train, by plane, by subway, by foot. Barack Obama's inauguration will bring together Americans of all backgrounds, from all corners of the country, all converging on the nation's capital.

Michelle Obama yet to pick inauguration attire

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:36:43 GMT

Come the morning of her husband’s historic inauguration, Michelle Obama will be like many American women, looking in her closet and wondering what to wear: A source says the first-lady-to-be has been too busy to decide.

Video: Tour msnbc.com’s inauguration features

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:09:01 GMT

Jan. 19: Take a look at Video Explorer and Photosynth, new storytelling features on msnbc.com, as demonstrated by NBC News’ Mark Lukasiewicz to MSNBC anchor Tamron Hall. (MSNBC)

Biden shushes wife after slip-up on 'Oprah'

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:37:37 GMT

The wife of Vice President-elect Joe Biden let it slip to Oprah Winfrey Monday that her husband had a pick of two jobs in the Obama administration.

Scoop: Oprah (and show) come to Washington

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:57:34 GMT

Oprah Winfrey finally made a public appearance Sunday night, meanwhile some ticketholder to the taping of her show were in for an upsetting surprise Monday.

Newsweek: Leaders whose charisma changed the world

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:31:13 GMT

Call it charisma, an aura, a gift -- whatever Obama has, other successful leaders have also had it, giving them the ability to galvanize a nation or movement in ways that changed the world.

Schedule of events for Obama's inauguration

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:54:57 GMT

A schedule of some official and unofficial activities surrounding Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20:

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Tue, 20 Jan 2009 03:54:57 GMT

Audacity of Hops: Foodies ride Obama tide

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:07:32 GMT

Barack Obama has inspired chefs and food artisans across the country to create everything from 5,600-cupcake installations of his likeness to Audacity of Hops beer. Some foodies also hope the president-elect can inspire healthy culinary trends and jump-start the restaurant industry.

Video: Lunch fit for a president

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:54:55 GMT

Jan. 19: Chef Shannon Shaffer of Design Cuisine shares the special dishes that will be served at tomorrow’s inaugural luncheon. (Today Show)

Rick Warren's church sees protests

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:45:16 GMT

Gay rights supporters marched outside the church of evangelical pastor Rick Warren, protesting his selection as an inauguration speaker.

Scoop: Stars take unity theme to heart

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:47:34 GMT

The stars all seemed to be getting along at the pre-inaugural concert. Garth Brooks had the audience rocking, Jamie Foxx had them giggling.

FirstPerson: Your photos of inauguration events

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:58:56 GMT

Msnbc.com users attending Barack Obama's inauguration events share their photographs and thoughts

Marc Anthony, J.Lo wow inaugural gala

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:13:18 GMT

Latino singers Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony graced "la alfombra roja" — the red carpet — Sunday to give a Hispanic flair to the inauguration pre-celebration Sunday.

On historic steps, Obama's rise celebrated

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:21:07 GMT

Under the gaze of Abraham Lincoln's statue, Bruce Springsteen belted out "Come on up for the rising," with a martial band right below him and a gospel choir behind him.

Review: Inaugural concert: serious, bit goofy

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:24:58 GMT

The inaugural concert telecast from the Lincoln Memorial had a sense of history and seriousness of purpose — sprinkled with a touch of frat party.

Inauguration view an ode to U.S.'s promise

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:19:11 GMT

When Barack Obama mounts the podium to take the oath and deliver his inaugural address, he will see the symbols of a nation forever struggling to live up to its promise.

Biden worships at church JFK attended

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:52:52 GMT

Vice President-elect Joe Biden worshipped and received communion Sunday at the same Roman Catholic church President John F. Kennedy attended just hours before his inauguration.

Pilot's family going to inauguration

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:37:07 GMT

At the invitation of President-elect Barack Obama, Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the hero pilot of the US Airways plane that landed in the Hudson river last week, and his family will attend Tuesday's inaugural festivities.

Woods, Ali, Winfield, Mutombo revel in Obama

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:29:50 GMT

Many current, former stars take part in historic presidential inauguration

Marketers look to cash in on Obama mania

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:57:25 GMT

The guys hawking T-shirts and trinkets on the corners of downtown Washington have some new competition in the selling frenzy building up to the inauguration — Corporate America.

'Anything is possible,' Obama tells crowd

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:55:37 GMT

Two days from the White House, the president-elect joined a vast throng Sunday at a roaring, rollicking pre-inauguration celebration staged before marble monuments to past heroes.

Newsweek: Obama's America --Who we are now

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:37:13 GMT

We have a new president. And in a way, he has a new nation to lead, one that's changing almost beyond recognition. Jon Meacham looks at the history of immigration in America, and the forces that allowed a man of mixed race to enter the White House in 2009.

Royal feast: Inaugural lunch dishes

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:06:15 GMT

Celebrate Barack Obama's inauguration by eating the same dishes he, his family and members of Congress will be eating. Chef Shannon Shaffer and Design Catering share the political plates that will be served at the inaugural luncheon.

Inauguration with momentous meaning

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:12:16 GMT

For all the the hoorays and hoopla, the celebration of Obama's inauguration is imbued with meaning that extends beyond the historic ascension of the nation's first black president.

NYT: Poll finds patient faith in Obama

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:25:07 GMT

NYT: As the nation prepares for the inauguration of its 44th president, Barack Obama’s stature with the American public stands in sharp contrast to that of President Bush.

Packing hope, Obama rides rails to D.C.

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:46:55 GMT

Invoking hope and history, President-elect Barack Obama rolled into the capital city Saturday night pledging to help bring the nation "a new Declaration of Independence."

Costly price tag for Obama inauguration

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:20:57 GMT

The price tag for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration gala is expected to break records, with some estimates reaching as high as $150 million.

Obama vows 'celebration' of American spirit

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:49:21 GMT

President-elect Barack Obama said Saturday his inauguration will be more than simply a transfer of power; it should be a celebration of the American spirit.

Shoppers snatch up Obama shirts, hats, undies

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:13:23 GMT

In the frenzy leading up to President-elect Barack Obama’s historic inauguration, consumers are buying up a virtually endless selection of Obama images and phrases on products ranging from T-shirts and hats to skateboards and thong underwear.

History links King holiday, inauguration

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:11:39 GMT

Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday takes on dual meaning for many Americans because it falls on the eve of Barack Obama's inauguration.

Obama releases details of Jan. 21 open house

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:10:46 GMT

Barack Obama plans to open his White House doors to the public on his first full day of his presidency, Jan. 21.

Obama honors Hickman, Tuskegee Airmen

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:36:35 GMT

Barack Obama has said he's standing on the shoulders of George Hickman and his trailblazing colleagues.

Patriotic products: Obama thong anyone?

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:11:11 GMT

Entrepreneurs cash in on the inaugural spirit — hawking merchandise such as Obama puppy shirts, Obama hot sauce and yes, even underwear emblazoned with the President-elect's visage.

No shortage of other shows in D.C.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:56:30 GMT

Washington D.C. doesn’t get to host Mardi Gras or the Super Bowl, so the presidential inauguration is our city's spectacle. It combines revelry with what Ronald Reagan called "a solemn and most momentous occasion; and yet, in the history of our Nation… a commonplace occurrence.”

Obama's half-brother performs in China

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 21:53:25 GMT

About 200 people showed up for a fundraiser Friday at a hotel resort in China where the half brother of President-elect Barack Obama gave a piano concert.

Inauguration cartoons

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:31:10 GMT

Msnbc.com's political cartoonists take a look at the inauguration of America's 44th president, Barack Obama.

Newsweek: D.C. prepares for inauguration

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:11:48 GMT

If the impact of an event can be measured in barricades, fences and rows of portable toilets, then Washington is about to witness either the second Siege of Stalingrad or the Second Coming itself.

NYT: Security net wraps D.C. for inaugural

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 14:42:42 GMT

Authorities have begun to seal off a security zone extending miles from the Capitol, where President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in on Tuesday, drawing on lessons gleaned from recent attacks.

Sworn in: Past presidential inaugurations

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:22:37 GMT

A look back at some of the pivotal moments in past presidential inaugurations.

United States - Politics - Government - Presidential - Society and Culture

Fine wines will wash down inaugural lunch

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:15:30 GMT

After Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th president of the United States, guests at his inaugural luncheon will be treated to seafood stew, duck and pheasant, sponge cake and some of California's finest wines.

How big will inaugural crowd be? Do the math

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:47:32 GMT

Almost as soon as Barack Obama was declared the winner of the Nov. 4 election, projections about the number of people who would assemble at to watch his inauguration began to skyrocket.

Chuck Todd on ‘How Barack Obama Won’

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:26:47 GMT

The NBC News political director provides a state-by-state guide to how Obama achieved his victory, as well as a toolbox for understanding the political implications of the 2008 presidential election. An excerpt.

Quiz! Test your inauguration knowledge

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:52:14 GMT

How much do you know about presidential inaugurations? Take our interactive video quiz and put your smarts to the test.

Slide show: Gown and country

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:23:31 GMT

It's not an inauguration without glamorous galas – and fabulous first lady fashions to match. Here's a look back.

Bush declares emergency for inauguration

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 10:39:52 GMT

President George W. Bush on Tuesday declared an emergency in the District of Columbia that will let the nation's capital tap deeper into federal coffers for Barack Obama's inauguration.

Some blacks choose inauguration over work

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:24:18 GMT

Asante Bradford gave his bosses nearly three months notice that he would not be at his desk on Jan. 20.

Street artist’s star rises with Obama portrait

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:26:12 GMT

Obama portrait’s stunning use of color and seemingly Warhol-inspired use of imagery has transformed one of the leaders of Los Angeles’ street art movement into a national star.

Judge doesn't ban 'God' in inaugural oath

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:22:36 GMT

A federal judge on Thursday refused to order the words "so help me God" taken out of President-elect Barack Obama's oath of office next week or to prevent ministers from praying at the inauguration celebration.

PARADE: Great inaugural moments

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:07:51 GMT

On Tuesday, Senator Barack Obama will become our 44th President. Inauguration Day is arguably America’s greatest moment, a time of new hopes and new beginnings.

Inauguration lines to remember

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:12:42 GMT

Words, reflections, wisdom from past presidents

D.C. will be star-studded for Inauguration

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:40:19 GMT

If you thought the Golden Globes was a party, just wait until you see Barack Obama's inauguration. Next week, Washington will look a lot like a colder version of Hollywood.

It’s not a day, it’s an Inauguration extravaganza

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:43:38 GMT

The inauguration of the new president is a national celebration, resplendent with pageantry and pomp. But as the recession continues to grow and the government is called to bail out corporations and citizens, organizers seek to find the proper tone.

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Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:43:38 GMT

Inauguration Day weather often nasty

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:12:11 GMT

"I knew it would be a cold day when I was made president," William Howard Taft joked just a century ago, taking office in 1909 in what has been described as the worst inaugural weather ever.

Newsweek: Should presidents invoke God?

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:19:13 GMT

While a lawsuit filed to remove the word "God" from the Obama inauguration is being derided by some as frivolous, Newsweek’s Lisa Miller argues that it offers an important lesson.

History calls on Obama to uncork great speech

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:19:39 GMT

The pressure's on for Barack Obama, orator.

Obama's inauguration by the numbers

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:48:38 GMT

One ton each of chocolate and cheese. About 1,500 cases of beer. Eight hundred pounds of bison.

Gay bishop invited to inauguration event

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:25:46 GMT

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop will say a prayer at the Lincoln Memorial for one of President-elect Barack Obama's first inauguration events.

Bush to give farewell address Thursday night

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:03:41 GMT

The White House says President George W. Bush will deliver a farewell address to the U.S. on Thursday night.

Obama's inauguration gets a test run at Capitol

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:35:58 GMT

Derrick Brooks puts his left hand on the book and raises his right, ready to take the oath of office. Dozens of cameras capture this moment in history, even though Brooks is wearing a name card reading "Pres.-elect Obama."

Inauguration coverage will be onscreen, online

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:56:02 GMT

In all their planning to cover Barack Obama's inauguration as the nation's 44th president, television networks have paid particular attention to those who will spend the day at a computer, not a TV.

MTV to broadcast ‘Youth Inaugural Ball’

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 02:44:01 GMT

MTV will be broadcasting from President-elect Barack Obama's "Youth Inaugural Ball" on Jan. 20. The new president is scheduled to speak at the event.

Cheese cubes? No haute eats at inaugural balls

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:14:58 GMT

A word of advice for anyone attending the inaugural balls scattered throughout the nation's capital on the night President-elect Barack Obama takes office: Eat before you go.

Inaugural headaches may deter crowds

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 18:52:05 GMT

Jim Baca and his wife were all set to travel from New Mexico to Washington for the inauguration. They had booked plane tickets and arranged to stay with friends in Virginia.

Obama family visits Lincoln Memorial

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 03:43:20 GMT

President-elect Barack Obama made an unannounced visit Saturday night with his family to see the Lincoln Memorial, paying tribute to a former president he frequently invokes as an inspiration.

Spider-Man to save Inauguration Day!

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 19:41:28 GMT

Barack Obama will be "nerd-in-chief" when he takes office as U.S. president this month, according to Marvel Comics, which is putting him on the cover of its next "Spider-Man" comic.

Inaugural balls: Glitz, glam — and riots?

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 23:04:34 GMT

Randi Martin will never forget her first inaugural soiree . There were the sequins, the president, the champagne — the riot.

Moon buggy to debut in inaugural parade

Fri, 9 Jan 2009 00:01:07 GMT

Before it gets to space, a moon buggy will make history by being the first to boogie along an inaugural parade.

Readers share their road to the inauguration

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 21:53:24 GMT

Msnbc.com users explain why Obama's swearing-in is a can't-miss event.

Obama's 'Hope' portrait goes to gallery

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 21:45:21 GMT

Even before he takes office, President-elect Barack Obama's image will become part of the permanent collection at the U.S. National Portrait Gallery, the museum announced Wednesday.

Video: Inauguration includes some smelly details

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:34:24 GMT

Jan. 8: Portable toilets will play a very important role when inauguration day hits Washington D.C. later this month, as WRC’s Keith Garvin reports, you may be surprised by how far technology has come to make things a little more comfortable. (NBC News Channel)

Newsweek: The bumpy road to the inauguration

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 16:21:14 GMT

Howard Fineman notes that rather than give Obama a clean, quick coronation, Washington (and especially Obama's own party) seems intent on giving the president-elect as much trouble as possible.

ConsumerMan: Obama coins worth the price?

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:47:14 GMT

For the Obama inauguration, you can find all sorts of souvenirs for sale, including commemorative coins. Are they a good investment? Well, is a t-shirt a good investment?

Coin - World Coins - Commemorative coin - Recreation - Collecting

Bridges, streets being closed for inauguration

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 22:45:31 GMT

Bridges crossing the Potomac River from Northern Virginia into Washington will be closed to most traffic on Jan. 20, the day Barack Obama takes the oath as president.

Feds: Inauguration is attractive terrorist target

Thu, 8 Jan 2009 03:03:00 GMT

The upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama is an attractive target for international and domestic terrorists, but U.S. intelligence officials have no information about specific threats.

Inauguration bound? Bring toilet paper

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:45:09 GMT

Here are some last-minute tips to help the millions making their way to Washington, D.C., to see Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.

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Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:45:09 GMT

Win a trip to the inauguration (she did)

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:28:36 GMT

Florida homebuilder Cynthia Russell won an all-expenses-paid trip to the inauguration for her essay on her economic struggles and her hopes for the new administration. The Presidential Inaugural Committee is giving away nine more trips to those who enter by midnight Thursday.

'Everyday Americans' invited to whistle stop

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 15:34:43 GMT

President-elect Barack Obama has invited a group of "everyday Americans" to join him and Vice President-elect Joe Biden on their Whistle Stop Tour to the nation's capital on the Saturday before Inauguration Day.

Obama congratulates brother-in-law for big win

Wed, 7 Jan 2009 22:15:16 GMT

His inauguration is less than two weeks away and waiting is an economy in turmoil and violence in the Middle East. President-elect Barack Obama still found time to chat with a basketball coach.

Obama's step-grandmother to attend ball

Tue, 6 Jan 2009 19:56:54 GMT

President-elect Barack Obama's Kenyan step-grandmother will be among the millions of people in Washington for the Inauguration.

QVC to sell Obama trinkets from inauguration

Mon, 5 Jan 2009 23:32:49 GMT

The QVC home shopping channel is traveling to Washington to mark President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration — and is bringing along plenty of commemorative coins.