WASHINGTON (The Dissociated Press) - Barack Hussein Obama, the 44th president of the United States, and the first African American president, was almost sworn into office Tuesday, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, before a massive, jubilant crowd, estimated at over 1.5 million people, on the Capitol Mall.
The actual swearing in occurred Wednesday at the White House, before a small group of reporters and high-ranking officials, after, at the previous day's event, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts inadvertently married Mr. Obama to the first lady of Gambia.
"It was really nothing," Roberts said shortly after the gaff. "I'm sure no-one noticed."
However, the Obama team was unwilling to take any chances and had Chief Justice Roberts come to the White House on Wednesday. John Podesta, chief of President Obama's transition team, admitted having concerns that Republicans might seek to exploit an obscure 1881 federal statute, which dictates that, in the event of the presidential oath of office being incorrectly administered in its initial reading, and it is not properly re-administered within forty eight hours, the presidency reverts to Rutherford B. Hayes.
"I know, I know," said Podesta. "Hayes is dead... But not dead enough! Hell, in 2000, we thought Cheney was dead, and look what we ended up with! I'm telling you, you can't let these guys out of your sights!"
While the mood at Tuesday's historical inauguration and the various Washington events associated with it was overwhelmingly celebratory, questions did arise about the appropriateness of the estimated $170 million tab, a record by far, for the lavish affair, given the desperate shape of the economy and the severe times in which so many Americans find themselves.
"I know it seems a little excessive, given the times," said one new administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "But, just like with the economic stimulus package we're putting together, this spending will benefit a lot of people. Hell, we've got 23 chocolate layer cakes, 56 cases of champagne, and 17,000 commemorative cocktail napkins sitting on the back of a truck right now, ready to go to local soup kitchens!"
Comments