Washington, DC
Inquirer staff writer Marcia Gelbart reports:
For Mayor Nutter, in Washington since the early part of last weekend, today was not "the culmination of a dream, but a tremendous down payment on the dream Dr. King talked about."
After listening to Obama speak from a middle section - Section 11 - with a straight view of the podium, the mayor, in a phone interview, said: "It's a pretty heavy kind of moment when you think about all the things that have happened…
Hundreds of years of history here in the United States, especially for African Americans, and to see someone who has really played by the rules, got a good education, worked hard, did what he needed to do… President Obama demonstrates what a real role model can be for everyone."
To some extent, he said, the president's speech sounded familiar, overlapping with Nutter's own message of "hope in tough times" as Philadelphia struggles with shrinking city revenues. After hearing Obama, he said, "I don't think there should be any more questioning about whether or not we are in an economic crisis."
Besides inaugural events, in the last few days, the mayor said he continued lobbying Congress and new administration officials to deliver dollars from Obama's economic stimulus package directly to cities, rather than states.
He also found time to eat - at The Palm steakhouse in Washington. (Nutter doesn't eat red meat, but said he had "a great piece of salmon.")
Joining him last night were his wife, Lisa, as well as the mayors of Miami, New York and Trenton and their significant others. "It was great talking with those mayors," Nutter said.
But, judging from his voice, it was not as great as when the mayor got to meet California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, also at The Palm. "It's just kind of… It was my first time meeting him… I only 'know' him in movies and TV."
This was Nutter's second time attending a presidential inauguration. The first one was in 1993, following Bill Clinton's election. Asked if the events were similar, he said, "Other than that it was cold, I don’t have a lot of recollection."
The mayor said he will return to Philadelphia tomorrow. Tonight he will attend the Delaware-Pennsylvania Inaugural Ball honoring Vice President Biden.
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Inquirer staff writer Zoe Tillman reports:
Now that President Obama’s swearing-in is complete, the task facing hundreds of thousands of visitors at the mall is finding an open Metro station.
Several stations around the mall will remain closed until the completion of the presidential parade, expected to be about 5 p.m.
Law-enforcement officials and organizers have been directing crowds to stations as far away as a mile from the mall.
Olivia Smith, 56, an assistant city attorney for Denver, said she and her family had been given contradictory directions and had no clue how to get to the nearest open Metro.
“They should have used Jumbotrons to display directions,” she said, referring to the large screens used to broadcast the inauguration.
Philadelphia-born William McGinnis, 41, a nurse in Alexandria, Va., had a simpler solution — use maps “and just follow the crowds.”
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Inquirer staff writer Zoe Tillman reports:
2:07 p.m.
Paul Coyle, 61, from Ambler, drove in with his family on Saturday. After several hours standing in the cold near the Washington Monument, he and his family headed back to their hotel to watch the parade on TV.
“We’re going to quit while we’re ahead,” he said.
Coyle called President Obama’s inaugural address “heartfelt and inspiring.”
Unlike many others, Coyle was able to find cell phone service to call friends and family. “I called a brother in Colorado but he didn’t believe we were here,” he said.
Coyle and his family plan to bring home plenty of souvenirs.
The mall is lined with vendors selling Obama T-shirts, bracelets, buttons and posters. Many were also doing a brisk business in American flags and hand warmers.
“Selling gets me engaged. I feel like I’m more a part of it,” said Todd Georgelas, 36, who was selling handwarmers
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Inquirer staff writer Peter Dobrin reports:
2 p.m.
Classical music had maybe its largest and most captive audience ever this afternoon when John Williams' Air and Simple Gifts debuted just before Barack Obama took the oath of the office.
An ensemble of clarinetist Anthony McGill, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman and pianist Gabriela did the honors.
It was a relatively introspective choice for a moment that might have been relegated to bombast or boilerplate patriotism
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Inquirer staff writer Zoe Tillman reports from Washington D.C.
Victor Gilchrist, 40, from Miami, walked away from the Washington Monument after the ceremony on his way to the parade.
“I’m still overwhelmed,” Gilchrist said. “The speech encompassed what everyone want to hear.”
Gilchrist said he was surprised at how well behaved the crowd was, considering its overwhelming size.
Akrasi Siriboe, 40, an IT consultant from Georgia, but originally from Africa, was also on his way to the parade route. The native of Ghana said he was moved by Obama’s words.
“I liked the peace for everybody message that we should be able to cross the short line between all races.”
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At Fitler Elementary School in Germantown, where students have been preparing for this day for two months, students dressed in red white and blue and donated money to help a homeless family. After Barack Obama's election, some students launched the "Obama Hope Organization" to perform good deeds in their community.
In a second-grade classroom, Principal Willette Jones distributed inaugural buttons to rows of eager children.
"We want you to keep these forever in remembrance of today," Jones said.
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Inquirer staff writer Zoe Tillman reports:
Near the Washington Monument, David Alston, 57, watched an over-sized television. Cheers went up from the crowd as pictures of Colin Powell and other celebrity notables flashed across the screen.
Alston, a Philadelphia native, said was making up for lost time by attending today’s ceremonies.
His mother attended a Civil Rights march in Washington in 1963. She had asked him if he wanted to go.
““I was 11 years old, and said no,” said Alston, who now lives in Fort Washington, Md. “So now I’m finishing her march.”
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Inquirer staff writer Zoe Tillman reports:
Paul Jackson, 19, from Levittown, Pa., played hooky today with 53 other students from Philadelphia University, in East Falls, to attend the ceremonies.
“First the World Series and now this!” exclaimed Jackson, wearing an Eagles hat and a Phillies Championship sweatshirt. “I wanted to say I was here.”
Jackson and his fellow classmates will be on the 7:20 p.m. bus back to Philadelphia tonight. They all have classes in the morning.
(Their school used to be the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science.)
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10:05 a.m.
The Obamas have arrived at the White House, warmly greeted by George W. and Laura Bush.
And in case anyone was wondering, the inaugural parade route is filled to capacity, Associated Press reports:
Crowds are packing the National Mall from the Capitol to the Washington Monument as they await the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama as the nation’s 44th president.
The city itself — as well as subway cars and sidewalks — are jammed with pedestrians from all over.
Some 207,000 people had entered Washington’s Metro transit system by 7 a.m., transit officials said. Huge lines formed outside subway stations; many parking lots filled up and were closed.
Meanwhile, thousands gathered near the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route, making it tough for many to find checkpoints into the secure area.
But that didn’t matter for long. Nearing 9:30 a.m., jumbotrons on the mall announced that the parade route was closed because it was filled to capacity.
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Inquirer staff writer Zoe Tillman reports:
9:59 a.m.
At the Washington Monument, facing the Capitol, a throng of thousands around the granite monument is facing gigantic TV screens that are replaying the Sunday’s Inaugural Concert.
Ida Shelley, 52, from Huntsville Ala., said she arrived in the city on Sunday and was not going to let the cold interfere with her enjoyment of the historic inauguration. She was wearing two pairs of thermal pants, three pairs of socks, two hats, has hand warmers and a face mask.
Kelley said she wanted to get as close as she could to the Capitol so she could tell her 19-month-old grandson about the event when he gets older.
“I want to tell him about this day,” Shelley said. “But I want to be on the inside looking out. I don’t want to be on the outside looking in.”
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The Inauguration: Jan. 20 blog brings you coverage of President-elect Barack Obama's transition into office.
It's written by political journalists from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Send us your comments -- and news tips -- at this address.
Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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