WASHINGTON, D.C. — Standing in 30-degree weather was the price several hundred thousand people paid to witness 44th President Barack Obama sworn in for a second term.
Though Obama formally took office on Sunday in a private ceremony at the White House, the public inauguration and celebrations were moved to Jan. 21.
With 42nd President Bill Clinton and 39th President Jimmy Carter in attendance, Obama touched on topics ranging from education reform to revamping the tax code.
He was adamant in responding to the threat of climate change and transitioning into more sustainable energy sources, while leading the world in technological advances.
“Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms,” Obama said.
Obama addressed equal opportunities for people who are gay, something that no president has ever done.
“If we are truly equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well,” Obama said.
After speaking to 14,000 in Athens in October during his campaign to win Ohio, Obama proved successful and kept hold of the White House reins.
With all eyes on Ohio as a key swing state, Obama and Vice President Joe Biden edged out Republican candidate Mitt Romney 50.67 percent to 47.69 percent in the state.
Onlookers included politicians, children and veterans. Retired school principal Dr. Jean Creek of Baltimore said she had been waiting for an African-American to be elected president ever since she marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a Mississippi rally in the 1960s.
“For me, (the inauguration) brought about a lot of memories, particularly of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., and … in August, it will have been 50 years since (King) marched on Washington,” Creek said. “It’s like (King) was speaking to us a generation ago from one end of the mall, and that this president is speaking back to him on the other end of the mall in the next generation.”
Though many of the audience members were from the Washington, D.C. area, thousands of people visited from out of town, including 17-year-old Derek Baljeu from Huntington Beach, Calif.
“Being able to see (Obama) delivering his whole speech made it worth standing all day,” Baljeu said. “It showed good character for him to touch on all the different types of issues that people care about.”
Onlookers were also treated to performances by Beyonce, James Taylor and Kelly Clarkson.
In wake of the Sandy Hook shootings and after signing a bill supporting gun control last week, Obama also spoke on protecting American children.
“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,” Obama said.
— Sam Howard contributed to this article.
az346610@ohiou.edu
