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Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library
President Ronald Reagan is sworn in for his second term in a private ceremony on Jan. 20, 1985, with his wife, Nancy Reagan, at his side and Chief Justice Warren Burger administering the oath in the White House Cross Hall, Grand Staircase.
Updated at 12:15 p.m. ET: For the first time since Ronald Reagan’s second term, a president has taken the oath of office for a term first in a private ceremony at the White House.
The Constitution says that the president must take office on Jan. 20. But if that's a Sunday, public inaugural festivities -- which for Obama will include a re-enactment of the swearing-in from Chief Justice John Roberts -– are saved for Monday.
So, Obama's swearing-in Sunday was a brief private affair in the Blue Room of the White House, an ornate oval room often used to receive official guests. Only Obama’s immediate family and a few reporters attended. The ceremony was televised live and streamed live on the Internet.
Reagan’s official ceremony took place at the grand North Entrance Hall to the White House, a roomy foyer where tours of the home exit onto Pennsylvania Avenue. Still, seating was limited so guests included family members of Reagan and Vice President George H.W. Bush as well as a smattering of legislative leaders and reporters.
The 1985 swearing-in of the president known as the Great Communicator was televised live. The ceremony was strikingly brief -- a few minutes at most. Reagan placed his left hand on a Bible given to him by his mother, then clearly repeated the 37-word oath recited by Chief Justice Warren Burger.
Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library
President Reagan being sworn in for second term by Warren Burger during the "private" ceremony held at the White House
He then gave first lady Nancy a kiss, posed for a picture and briskly walked with Bush to the North Portico, where the two waved at White House press corps reporters outside.
That Sunday, however, might be better remembered for Super Bowl XIX between the San Francisco 49ers and the Miami Dolphins, which was played at Stanford Stadium in California.
A former California governor, Reagan made the opening coin toss from the White House. It was broadcast on TV via satellite hookup.
Quarterback Joe Montana, MVP of the game, threw three touchdown passes and ran for another in a 38-16 win over the Dan Marino-led Dolphins. The game was watched by some 85 million people.
Obama was sworn in well before kickoff of Championship Sunday games, in which teams vying for this year's Super Bowl will take the field.
So, why not just skip the rerun swearing-in on Monday?
According to Meena Bose, a professor and presidential scholar at Hofstra University in New York, since the Constitution calls only for a presidential transition at noon and the oath -- and nothing more -- that’s possible. But inaugural celebrations are a tradition that goes back to George Washington.
“It would be a big problem politically for the president and his supporters and fundraisers. I'm not sure it would make a big difference to the public at large if there were no big celebrations, especially for the second inauguration,” Bose said.
“In the 1980s, there was a sense that celebration was good," Bose said. "These are much tougher times now for the country, so it’s certainly an occasion for celebration, but it’s a more workmanlike state of mind now than it was 28 years ago.”
In fact it was so bitterly cold in Washington in 1985 that the traditional outdoor inauguration was moved indoors to the Rotunda at the Capitol.
Reagan's son Ron Reagan, who provides commentary on msnbc, recalls the unusually severe temperatures and how they affected the events that Monday.
"Privileged attendees ended up packed like anchovies under the Capitol dome: family members, justices, new Cabinet members, scoundrels," Ron Reagan said in an email. "At least some of the parade was canceled over concerns that brass instruments would freeze to the lips of young marching band trumpeters, creating a grisly and appalling spectacle."
Obama will take it outdoors to the plaza at the Capitol, where he will take the oath again and give his inaugural address. The inaugural also coincides with Martin Luther King Day. An estimated 1.8 million people, the most ever to attend a inaugural ceremony, attended Obama's first inauguration, and more than 600,000 are expected to attend on Monday.
The weather forecast is partly cloudy with a high of 42 degrees and a low of 23, according to The Weather Channel.
Woodrow Wilson was the first president to be sworn into office on a Sunday, according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies website. Wilson took the office privately in the President's Room in the U.S. Capitol by Chief Justice Edward D. White. First lady Edith Bolling Wilson noted in her diary that she was the only woman present among the officials there that day.
"This simple ceremony (I was the only woman present) was more to our taste than the formal Inauguration which followed on Monday, March 5th," she wrote.
Abraham Lincoln swore the oath in front of an incomplete Capitol dome. Lyndon B. Johnson became president on Air Force One next to a dazed Jacqueline Kennedy. A collection of photographs from past presidential inaugurations.
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They should make this guy take it every hour, on the hour...maybe then he'd remember it.... 'for ALL Americans'..not 'for my own personal agenda'..
Are you talking about Justice Roberts? He is the one that goofed it up the first time.
Hey Mary, it's better him than the flip flopper Mitt.
Mary probably googled the fuk-up by Justice Roberts and is now too embarrassed to reply, given her OWN ignorance and dislike for Obama.
But she sure wished it was Obama who fumbled it - for her own personal agenda and to not look silly, as it turns out.
Right, Mary?
Please never use the names Reagan and Obama in the same sentence. They have absolutely nothing in common except they have held the office of President, and i don't even accept Obama as a real president. Obama seems to be more of a Socialist Reformer than a president, cause if he were President of America he would respect the Constitution of the United States.
Reagan sucked and gave the country to the corporations. Get a clue..
Reagan was the last really good President the USA has had, Obama will ruin this nation before he is finished bankrupting us. Wait and see. I suppose you must be one of the 51% who put him back in office, for that thanks for promoting socialism.
randall-1344214
Reagan was ALSO the president that raised the National debt the most of ANY president.
randall you mean, don't you, that Reagan was the last good Republican President? Hint for you, he sucked just as bad as GW Bush did, if not worse. But that's OK, we understand you hate the Ds.
I voted for this man the first time around, believing his WORDS and impressed by his beautiful and eloquent speeches. Being from Chicago, I was also aware of Axelrod and his clearly marxist leanings (as were most all chicagoans). I thought O'Bama would be the stronger and reject socialist leaning big government policies and really listen to ALL Americans. Boy, was I wrong. I dislike O'Bama intensely now, as does close to half the country because his actions have yet to match his words and we feel he is not interested in listening to ideas that differ from his agenda, or to us. The list goes on and on-there is NOT ONE thing I can honestly think of, besides killing Bin Laden, that he has done to better this country-and because his words are so contrary to his actions, I am even more upset.
International Affairs: I give him a D-: Benghazi first in line, gearing up of nuclear arms by Iran next, Israel and the middle east and Algeria most recently-None handled well in my opinion-only positive: Bin Laden
Economy: F- spent more than all administrations together yet nothing to show: economy, housing industry, taxes, national debt, jobs NO IMPROVEMENT. Not even a priority anymore.
Social Programs: F NO reform of the tremendous waste and fraud of medicaid. No transparency: How many Americans know that hidden inside O'Bamacare is a law that WILL go into effect in 2014 that expands the criteria of this broken Medicaid system and so allows close to double to be eligible? I only learned of i tbecause I do business with the state. This program was intended to be 'temporary' and permanent ONLY for those permanently disabled. It is not. You can live (not all that well) off these programs for life-I beleive the statistics are about 1-4% who EVER come off public aid. Where is the incentive to better yourself? It is a disempowering and spirit killing system that builds permanent victims instead of lending a hand up to those in need, until they can stand on their own two feet..and the costs are astronomical.. Feed a man for life instead of teaching to fish? Doesn't work. Where are the programs to incentivize more to go to college, get educated etc?
Leadership: F Mostly due to his actions re:Benghazi which bordered on amoral. The rest is his broken promise to listen to the people he is supposed to serve and to keep dialogue open. When half the country disagrees and states are petitioning to cecede and he knows it, yet NEVER bothers to address it, we are ALL in trouble-I don't care if 50% feel differently, but I do care to listen to them, to open dialogue, to come up with solutions that please at least more than 1% of half of us. Dems call us crazy-we just want to be heard, just as you do. If you look at leaders like Clinton, Reagan and Kennedy-many were not in agreement with some of the things they did BUT there was not the strong divide we have today. I believe it is because if you disagreed, you at least felt 'heard'. This president bristles at any ideas differing from his own and basically dismisses half his constituents...not good for any of us. So you can ignore me as well (a former dem until 2012), dismiss me as this president does, say I'm drinking kool-aid because my views differ but in the end-(if you won't let us cecede!) you'd be wise to note the huge divide in America and realize it will NOT serve ANY of us well in the future..
Ronald(6 letters) Wilson(6) Reagan(6) was the "666 1st Beast who was ruler of the world, his actions were the opposite of the Christ (his "Voodoo Economics" helped the rich and greatly increased military spending while producing HUGE budget deficits), he lied to all nations, and was wounded yet lived." - The Revelation Chapter 13. The 40th president is known as the 'Great Deceiver'.
George Walker Bush Jr. was/is the "2nd Beast who exercised the power/authority of the 1st Beast before him and he made fire come down from the heavens with the 'destruction of Babylon' (War In Iraq)"
United(6) States(6) Dollar(6) is the "666 mark of the Beast that everyone must have to buy or sell with"
Patriots 27 - 20 Ravens
49ers 34 - 27 Falcons
I think you're "spot on" w/the Patriots.
It's going to be a long four years.
Handle it! We had to put up with 8 years of GOP horrible leadership under Bush, so you will just have to handle it and we have Hillary primed for 8 more years starting in 2016 Bernie! Maybe you can go to one of those Weekends at Bernie's retreats...
Thats not a bad idea Eddie, Hillary's looking a little rough, I'm not sure she will make it to 2016. I heard Barrack asked Bill how was Hillary's head, Bill replied "Shes no Monica"
AW Bernie, you be jealous Bill got a BJ and you haven't? Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
The comparison to Reagan is wrong. Reagan came to office when interest rates were near 20%, we had lost Vietnam, the Iranians had taken US hostages, the Soviets were expanding their empire into Afghanistan to complete the encirclement of China and to touch the then Central Treaty Organization, the economy was in shambles, government buildings had to turn off heat and hot water to save money: we were near to losing hope. Reagan built coalitions both internally and externally, restored the economy and faith in America, he "defeated" the Soviet Union and broke their back, and stopped the expansion of our enemies. Sorry, no President since Reagan has topped Reagan.
he "defeated" the Soviet Union and broke their back
He out spent the Soviet Union.
Exactly right Econoclast and thank you for having the wisdom to say that.
Reagan was in the right place at the right time. The soviet union defeated themselves. Their military spending bankrupted them. The computer industry saved the US economy. Remember Iran contra?
Ronald(6 letters) Wilson(6) Reagan(6) was the "666 1st Beast who was ruler of the world, his actions were the opposite of the Christ (his "Voodoo Economics" helped the rich and greatly increased military spending while producing HUGE budget deficits), he lied to all nations, and was wounded yet lived." - The Revelation Chapter 13. The 40th president is known as the 'Great Deceiver'.
George Walker Bush Jr. was/is the "2nd Beast who exercised the power/authority of the 1st Beast before him and he made fire come down from the heavens with the 'destruction of Babylon' (War In Iraq)"
United(6) States(6) Dollar(6) is the "666 mark of the Beast that everyone must have to buy or sell with"
You are correct. Reagan outspent the Soviets on weaponry. The Soviets had vastly superior numbers in troops, tanks, artillery, planes, etc etc etc. What they did not invest in was the manufacturing equipment that builds that stuff. He "defeated" the Soviet Union. Think of the words of Sun Tzu on warfare: "to subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill." He saw the moment and the problem and took action. Carter could have seized the moment and did not. It was not just the luck of the draw for Reagan, he boldly acted
Like Reagan, Obama takes oath twice, but unlike Reagan, he has divided this country more than any other President ever has. He is a perfect example of what a President should not ever be and is the extreme opposite of Reagan.
Right on Tad 401841 in what you just said. He claims to hear the people speak and at the same time turns a deaf ear to everything he doesn't want to hear, selective hearing to the max. We basically screamed no to Obamacare and he forced it on us, and it will bankrupt our nation.
No Tad, the predigious pukebags have divided this nation like no other political party has ever done. How did that chore of making Obama a one term President work out for ya?
"unlike Reagan, he has divided this country more than any other President ever has.'
No -- Limbaugh the Junkie and Fox Propaganda have divided the country with their constant, unending lying about this president.
really!!!!
they compare this communist to reagan !!!
Obama is NOTHING like Reagan!
Thank the ALMIGHTY for that!!!! Who would want to be a senile old ass whose wife & Jean Dixon were running the Country with a Crystal ball while Senile Ronnie was somewhere drooling on himself and wondering who he was!
Yep, you are correct. Roadkill. Nothing in common.
Obama is smarter that that B actor. He was know for Bonzo before becoming Governor of California and signing GUN CONTROL Legislation!!! Lo and behold, Senile Ronnie signed into law, Legislation to restrict Gun usage! Where was the dumb ass NRA then???
Oh no, please do not place President Obama in the same sentence as the Right's "Dear Leader" & "Messiah", Ronald Reagan whom they have been constantly rewriting history about. While they may have many things in common, here are TWO (2) Important things that they do not have in common:
1. Obama is not suffering from senility like Senile Ronnie was during his Presidency. Don't believe me? Ask Lesley Stahl. He was in & out of reality.
2. While the Hateful Right has to try and make up Constitutional Violations that they "claim" President Obama has committed, we know for a FACT that Reagan committed a CRIME with Iran-Contra and should have been impeached and put in Prison for what he did but like most Republican Law Breaking Presidents, e.g. Nixon, Bush#2 & Reagan, they are allowed to skate on their violations. The Republicans, just like their Hero, Senile Ronnie, are all full of @!$%#!!!!!!
But unlike Reagan, He won't be cutting any taxes.
Reagan raised taxes 12 times.
Exactly what Dave said. Reagan did more tax raising than he did cutting. Check the FACTS and not the Right Wing rewrite of History. REAGAN SUCKED AS PRESIDENT!!!
I thought your daily dose of legal marijuana was supposed to make y'all happy up there in the state of Washington? Perhaps a quick toke would alter your attitude? Just a suggestion!!
P.S.; I thought that was the name of the game being floated throughout the Democratic Society these days "raise taxes, everyone with income above $250,000 needs to pay their fair share, etc"... Maybe you should be laying praise on ole Ronnie instead of hatred, after all he accomplished everything in the Democratic playbook and you still hate him.... LOL!!
How about Reagan's successor, Bush Sr.? "Read my lips / hips: NO NEW TAXES!" Good one, huh?
But Republicans don't let facts get in their way - no way....they just ignor you or cut you off (Hannity) when they SENSE you are not agreeing with them or about to put them in check.
Why do they love Reagan so much? He began to not know who HE was or what was, starting his 1st term. It was Nancy & the Astrologers running things. Heck, even Alexander Haig thought HE was President when Reagan got shot. Guess he forgot it would be the Speaker of the House, elected official, 3rd in line who would assume the Presidency. More forgotten facts.
I suppose being out of touch / mind works for Conservatives. Facts sure don't.
I do find if interesting that Republicans only talk about a Republican President who left office 25 years ago and say NOTHING about the two Republicans who have served since then. Ins't it strange that Republicans today say nothing about their former presidents or vice presidents except for Reagan? Could is be Republicans haven't had a new idea since 1988?? Could it be that world has change since 1988 and Republicans have no solutions for the issues facing the nation today?
Heil Comrade Obamao.
Ronald(6 letters) Wilson(6) Reagan(6) was the "666 1st Beast who was ruler of the world, his actions were the opposite of the Christ (his "Voodoo Economics" helped the rich and greatly increased military spending while producing HUGE budget deficits), he lied to all nations, and was wounded yet lived." - The Revelation Chapter 13. The 40th president is known as the 'Great Deceiver'.
George Walker Bush Jr. was/is the "2nd Beast who exercised the power/authority of the 1st Beast before him and he made fire come down from the heavens with the 'destruction of Babylon' (War In Iraq)"
United(6) States(6) Dollar(6) is the "666 mark of the Beast that everyone must have to buy or sell with"
Sad day for America ;-)
Obama's Hope and Change is out the window! People are tired of all his lies and socialist views. That's why the majority of the US want to secede from the Union! States can do a better job than the Government.
No, the majority just voted him back for a second term, which really shows how inept the GOP was/and is. All of the money spent, all of the voter caging done, and all the hacking into voting machines, and you STILL LOST THE ELECTION.
Now that is what is classified as getting your butts kicked. Lost seats in the House, and Senate. 2014 will be more of the same. And you people still can't figure out where you went wrong?
I wish all the red states would secede, then all the military bases, govt research places, etc could be pulled out of their economy and moved to where they would be appreciated more by real citizens. Then watch the pukebags want to relocate to a blue state.
OMG, will the media (via the current Administration's spin doctors) PLEASE quit trying to compare B.O. to Ronald Reagan in a worthless attempt to appeal to those who will NEVER accept this fanatic as our president?! Some of you are forgetting the Time Magazine cover that had their heads side by side as if B.O. was personally inspired by Reagan and was attempting to fashion himself as a great American. B.O. will never be remembered as a "great American". He will be the first president of "color" and one who destroyed the very foundation this country was built on. Period.
This is just the beginning, this guys got more tax hikes coming....suck it up Americans....this guy is about to rip you a new one and there is nothing you can do about it.
Wow-Comparing this America hating socialist Barack Obama to Ronald Reagan--what a stretch. Is that supposed to make me feel good about another 4 yrs of hell for the middle class and handouts to the lazy and illegals? I WANT MY AMERICA BACK, An AMERICA where people worked for their "stuff" and worked to better their children's lives. Not an AMERICA where you elitest liberal media denigrate and smear good men in an effort to keep this guy and his ilk in control. Despicable.
Ronald(6 letters) Wilson(6) Reagan(6) was the "666 1st Beast who was ruler of the world, his actions were the opposite of the Christ (his "Voodoo Economics" helped the rich and greatly increased military spending while producing HUGE budget deficits), he lied to all nations, and was wounded yet lived." - The Revelation Chapter 13. The 40th president is known as the 'Great Deceiver'.
George Walker Bush Jr. was/is the "2nd Beast who exercised the power/authority of the 1st Beast before him and he made fire come down from the heavens with the 'destruction of Babylon' (War In Iraq)"
United(6) States(6) Dollar(6) is the "666 mark of the Beast that everyone must have to buy or sell with"
He certainly is no Ronald Reagan. It is a travesty to even mention his name along Reagan. What is this country headed for ?
Clinton had 2 terms. Didn't he have to have a swearing in? Don't 2nd term presidents take the oath also?
I don't know why Obama is bothering to do that. He tears the constitution to threads anyway.
Well Peggy Sue, he is making sure the Chief Justice gets plenty of practice with the oath, so he won't have any excuses when he swears Hilitary in to office in 2016.
And show us dear Peggy Sue, where he violated the constitution, and if he has, how come you puke bags haven't impeached him?
See, another pukebag lie shot down, real easy to do that.
The dear leader is no Ronald Reagan. One can debate who was/is a better president until the the end of time. The fact is they served at different times and dealt with different issues. I believe that Mr. Reagan had more character than the dear leader many disagree. Debating it is fun but simply a passtime.
Obama is the president, I didn't vote for him but he won. He isn't a sovereign though he would like to be one. He is going to have to compromise to get anything done. I did vote for my congressman in the hopes that he will pass legislation that takes my beliefs and rights into consideration. He won too. I don't expect him to demand all or nothing but rather to show the wisdom to craft legislation that everyone can live with. He is going to have to compromise too.
We have a devided government and that isn't a bad thing. We also have a devided society and that is a bad thing. The dear leader ran a campaign that stressed division on social and economic lines. He is going to have to fix what he helped to break if he hopes to be mentioned in the same breath as Ronald Reagan 25 years from now. One can blame president Bush for what ever and complain about Mr. Romney's campaign if they want to waste time. Niether Of these men are in office.
The comedy from the right just keeps on going. No matter how many times they are hit upside the head with facts, they continue to deny those facts. With that continue to deny stratigy, they feel that one day, their brand of truth will prevail. So funny! I suppose, if you deny the facts forever, someday, somewhere, someone will believe the new facts (LIES)? The right are a comedy of horrors!!!!
Congratulations Mr. President, on your second inaugural!!!!!
Congratulations to V. P. Biden, on your swearing in ceremony!!!
We could not have hoped for two better qualified people to lead this country back from the ruination of the GOP/TP' s last eight years of rule-ination!!!
Facts? another left wing spin.
The ones on the right don't know Obama won the presidency yet and Romney lost. I don't think Fox noise has conceded the race yet.
It's no use conservatives, Oblameo could go on national television drop his pants and take one on the White House lawn the his subjects would praise him for it.
Well, we can see where your mind is hanging out all the time.
You are right. And since e has done absolutely nothing and blames everything else on Bush and everyone else some dull people think he's been good. He isn't a leader just a dictator.
"You are right. And since e has done absolutely nothing and blames everything else on Bush"
One more time ----
You Republicans have a very short memory. From 1976 to 1992 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Carter of everything wrong in the entire universe. Then from 1992 to 2008 you whined and cried, moan and groaned and complained and complained more and bitched, carried on and on and blamed President Clinton for everything that was wrong in the entire universe. So – using the standard you set – the left has another 29 years to blame Bush for everything just to pull even with you.
This guy isn't like Reagan at all. MSN would like you to believe that but he's more like Stalin.
In Your Dreams MSN.
Obama is nothing like Reagan.
Eight decades ago Franklin D. Roosevelt faced similar problems to those Obama faces today. I've just watched this 1933 inaugural speech realizing that there's something to learn from the past in order to inspire the nation and end the current "Great Depression":
#!h&V=MX_v0zxM23Q&N=President-Franklin-Roosevelt-1933-Inauguration
Franklin Roosevelt was reincarnated as Barack Obama. They are the only two presidents sworn-in 4 times.
Yes it makes your stomach turn to see corruption and anti-Americanism reinstated. And it won't change as long as 51% or more of the voters are ignorant/corrupt as well. It's why countries in the Middle-East, Africa, Latin America and Asia keep re-electing dictatorships. We once were better than that...we once were the exception, the hope and the leader of the free world. You can't have a true Democracy/Republic unless the People insist on it and are capable of it. We've simply dumbed down to lesser peoples, lesser standards, and lesser cultures. We're left with a bunch of rude, crude, self-centered jerks. Yes, by all means make the sham ceremony private...the less we see of that farce the better.
Ronald(6 letters) Wilson(6) Reagan(6) was the "666 1st Beast who was ruler of the world, his actions were the opposite of the Christ (his "Voodoo Economics" helped the rich and greatly increased military spending while producing HUGE budget deficits), he lied to all nations, and was wounded yet lived." - The Revelation Chapter 13. The 40th president is known as the 'Great Deceiver'.
George Walker Bush Jr. was/is the "2nd Beast who exercised the power/authority of the 1st Beast before him and he made fire come down from the heavens with the 'destruction of Babylon' (War In Iraq)"
United(6) States(6) Dollar(6) is the "666 mark of the Beast that everyone must have to buy or sell with"