Washington Prepares for Obama Inauguration
ecember 19, 2012
As it does every four years, Washington is preparing for the spectacle of a presidential inauguration. But President Barack Obama’s second inaugural will be smaller than the first.
A record crowd, as large as 1.8 million people, jammed into Washington’s National Mall in January 2009 to see the historic swearing-in of the first African-American president.
Obama’s public swearing in this time will be on January 21, one day after the start of his second term because that day will fall on a Sunday. This inauguration is likely to attract a smaller crowd -- forecast at between 600,000 and 800,000 people.
Yet, Army Major General Errol Schwartz, commander of the 6,000 National Guard soldiers who will manage the crowds, says preparations have not changed.
“Even though the crowd set is smaller, we are still looking at what are the possibilities that may occur within the smaller crowds,” he explained.
Washington’s big event will still be just that.
A joint Congressional committee has spent $1.2 million on the platform at the Capitol, where Obama will take the oath, and on the ceremony itself.
After the president is sworn in, gives his speech and attends a Congressional luncheon, the Presidential Inaugural Committee takes over.
It manages the inaugural parade and related events.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25