The 2009 presidential inauguration of Barack Obama will take place on January 20, 2009, under the provisions of the Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The inauguration will mark the commencement of the four-year term of Barack Obama and Joe Biden as President and Vice President, respectively. The inauguration is expected to draw a record-setting crowd of over 2 million people. The theme of the inauguration is "A New Birth of Freedom," commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
Official inauguration events commenced on January 17 with a train ride beginning in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and stopping in Wilmington, Delaware, and Baltimore, Maryland, before continuing on to Washington, D.C. Events are scheduled in Washington from January 18 to January 21, 2009.
The inaugural program will begin on January 20 at 10 a.m. EST (15:00 UTC) with the oath of office and inaugural address taking place at noon (17:00 UTC) at the west front of the United States Capitol. The public observation area is the National Mall, although a section of the Mall between 3rd and 4th Streets NW is reserved for ticket-holders.
The 2009 inauguration is expected to be attended by 2 million people, which would set a record. Lyndon Johnson's 1965 inauguration holds the record with 1.2 million attendees, following John F. Kennedy's assassination. By comparison, both of George W. Bush's inaugurations drew about 300,000.