Singers, musicians, vendors and a veteran parade planner tune up on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, for President Obama's Monday inauguration. (Chris Walker, Chicago Tribune)
WASHINGTON – Markedly smaller than four years ago, but still enthusiastic, a crowd of several hundred thousand flocked to the National Mall early today, preparing for the public celebration of President Obama’s second inauguration.
The Washington region’s mass transit agency had counted 189,000 riders on its rail system, somewhat less than half of the record-setting crowd that jammed trains four years ago, but more in line with previous second inaugurals.
Hazel Carter, 90, of Springfield, Ohio, attended the last inauguration and wasn't going to miss this one. "I prayed, God, just let me keep breathing until the inauguration," she said with a laugh.
"The crowd isn’t nearly the crowd of the first time. The anticipation isn't what it was,” she said.
"It's a little more subdued, but beautiful. Beautiful. I love it."
Seated next to her, Thelma Lawson, 61, a nurse from Chicago, said she had not attended the swearing in four years ago, "but now I am so excited because I'm in the midst of what is history of being made twice.”
As is typical with inaugural celebrations, the crowd was heavily dominated by the president’s supporters. And in keeping with the intense enthusiasm that Obama’s presidency has generated among African-Americans, it was disproportionately black. Several spectators commented on the special significance of the swearing-in taking place on the nation’s Martin Luther King Jr. day observance.
"It's particularly special that today is the MLK holiday," said David Anderson, 43, who traveled from Tampa. "It's kind of predestined. You can't get better than that."
Chicagoans in D.C., 'vested in his success'
Spencer Gould and his wife, Ardenia, of Chicago, arrived at the Capitol early enough to get seats on the front row of their section, directly center of where the president will take the oath of office.
For about a minute, Gould said, he considered staying at home in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood, but quickly realized that he could be no place else but here.
"We have worked on all of his campaigns," said Gould, 38. "We go back to when people couldn’t pronounce his name. It has been such a great experience to watch him go from someone no one knew to a world leader."
Four years ago, he said, he wanted to be part of the historical moment. This time, he came to show his support.
His wife, Ardenia, 37, said this time seems more subdued, compared to the electrifying experience of 2008.
"I feel vested in his success," said Ardenia Gould, who started out working on his senate campaign.
In his next term, she said, she would like to see the president use his power to push his policies through.
"I want to see him flex his political muscle and move this country in the direction it needs to go, regardless of what happens on the other side of the aisle." she said. "Now is the time to play hard ball."
She said she supports the president’s push for gun control and she does not want him to back down from that.
"Our kids are under siege, so I hope he can do something about gun control," she said. "That and keeping us from falling off the fiscal cliff are my two biggest concerns."
Her husband said he would like to see the president address trade issues so that more America-made products are available to consumers.
"I want to support our economy but it’s very hard to find products made in America," he said. "I’d love to see more of those on the shelves."
First family's fashion for the day
First lady Michelle Obama chose a navy-colored coat and dress by designer Thom Browne on a day when she’ll be the most-watched woman on the planet.
The fabric for the ensemble was based on the style of a man’s silk tie, an aide said.
Known for mixing and matching haute couture and off-the-rack pieces, Obama chose a necklace from Cathy Waterman, a cardigan by Reed Krakoff and a belt and shoes from J.Crew.
Daughter Malia, 14, picked out her clothing from J.Crew. Sasha, 11, went more upscale with a Kate Spade coat and dress.
After the inauguration, the first lady, who is sporting new hairstyle featuring bangs, plans to give her outfit to the National Archives, the aide said.
Former Obama pastor in town
The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the president's former Chicago pastor whose sermons touched off a firestorm in the 2008 political campaign, urged today that Barack Obama heed the words of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and transform the country into the world's "No. 1 purveyor of peace."
Wright, in the capital today but skipping the inauguration, recalled a speech by King during the Vietnam war, when the civil rights leader denounced the U.S. as "the greatest purveyor of violence in the world."
When Obama raises his right hand to be sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts outside the U.S. Capitol at 10:55 a.m. Chicago time, it will be his second time taking the oath in 24 hours.
He had a private swearing-in on Sunday at the White House because of a constitutional requirement that the president be sworn in on Jan. 20. Rather than stage the full inauguration on a Sunday, the main public events were put off until Monday.
Obama began the day worshiping at St. John's Episcopal Church across from the White House. He will then take the oath again and deliver his inaugural address from the Capitol's west front overlooking the National Mall.
As Inauguration Day dawned and people streamed through the wintry cold toward the Capitol grounds, Washington was in security lockdown, with thousands of police and National Guard troops deployed, barricades up and Humvee military vehicles blocking major intersections.
Outside the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, an elaborate presidential viewing stand, encased in bullet-proof glass, awaited Obama and other VIPs to watch the inaugural parade.
Inaugural address is centerpiece
The focal point of today's festivities will be Obama's inauguration address, which he will use to lay out in broad terms his vision for the next four years but will stay away from policy specifics.
David Plouffe, a senior adviser, said Obama would call on both parties to come together to resolve daunting second-term challenges like the budget, the need to raise the nation's borrowing limit and the Democrat's push for tighter gun laws and a legal path to citizenship for illegal immigrants.
The president views the inauguration speech and the State of the Union speech to Congress on February 12 as "a package," Plouffe told CNN on Sunday, and would save details of his second-term agenda for the later speech.
At a reception on Sunday night, Obama thanked supporters, telling them: "After we celebrate, let's make sure to work as hard as we can to pass on an America that is worthy not only of our past but also of our future."
After a bitter election fight against Republican Mitt Romney, the daunting challenges facing Obama and his political battles with congressional Republicans have split public opinion about the prospects for the next four years.
An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll last week found 43 percent of Americans were optimistic about the next four years and 35 percent pessimistic, with 22 percent having a mixed opinion.
Obama's main political opponent in Congress, Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, plans to attend a White House tea before the ceremony, as well as the inaugural speech and a post-event lunch at the Capitol with the president and lawmakers.
The inauguration ceremony will include music - singers James Taylor and Kelly Clarkson will perform patriotic songs and Beyonce will sing the national anthem - and also feature Vice President Joe Biden taking the oath of office again after doing so already on Sunday.
Obama and the first lady will join Biden and his wife, Jill, at the capital luncheon before the two couples take part in the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
Obama could get out of his limousine and walk part of the way to interact with the crowd, as have presidents in the last several inaugurals.
After watching the rest of the parade from a viewing stand in front of the White House, the Obamas will change and head to the two inaugural balls - an official ball and one for military personnel and their spouses. That is a dramatic reduction in activities from 2009, when there were 10 official inaugural balls.
Tribune reporters Dahleen Glanton, Katherine Skiba, Reuters and the Los Angeles Times contributed.
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