Learn More about the Weekly Theme

Inauguration Week: A New President for the 21st Century

THE INAUGURATION
“The Presidential Inauguration will be held on January 20, 2009. A week of festivities will include the Presidential Swearing-in Ceremony, Inaugural Address, Inaugural Parade and numerous inaugural balls and galas honoring the new President of the United States. The official theme for the 2009 inauguration is “Renewing America’s Promise,“ a vision that underscores the President-elect and Vice President-elect’s commitment to restoring opportunity and possibility for all and re-establishing America’s standing as a beacon of hope around the world.” For more information on inauguration events check out: http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/Inauguration.htm

THE INAUGURAL THEME: A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM
The theme for Barack Obama’s historic inauguration as 44th President of the United States, and the first African-American President is: “A New Birth of Freedom”. According to http://inaugural.senate.gov/2009/theme.cfm: “"A New Birth of Freedom" commemorates the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The words, echoing across 200 years from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg address, express Lincoln's hope that the sacrifice of those who died to preserve the United States would lead to "a new birth of freedom" for the nation”.

THE INAUGURATION BLOG
Check out the offical inaugural blog: http://www.pic2009.org/blog/

UB GETS INVOLVED IN THE INAUGURATION
UB faculty Barbara Seals Nevergold and Peggy Bertram-Brooks have collected letters from hundreds of African-American women to be compiled into a book for the new first lady, Michelle Obama. The book, called "Go, Tell Michelle: African American Women's Letters to the New First Lady," will be published in January 2009 by SUNY. More information is available at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/fast-execute.cgi/article-page.html?article=98270009.

INAUGURAL HISTORY
Presidential Inauguration History: From Grand to Fatal to Downright Awkward
By Amanda Ruggeri
Posted December 17, 2008
U.S. News and World Report
"When President-elect Barack Obama drops that pesky suffix on January 20, the thousands there will know what to expect: a swearing-in, a speech, and a parade. But inaugurations haven't always been as straightforward as history's weight might imply. Along with jubilation, there have been frosty car rides, naked protesters, White House riots, and even, for one unfortunate president, a fatal onset of pneumonia."
View the rest of the article here: http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/obama/2008/12/17/presidential-inauguration-history-from-grand-to-fatal-to-downright-awkward.html

Inaugural Trivia
How well do you know your inauguration trivia? http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/obama/2008/12/17/inaugural-trivia-quiz.html

Revisit 50 years of Inaugural History: http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/common/image_collection/inauguration_slideshow.htm


Sign up with the Presidential Inauguration Committee’s official site to receive updates and learn how to be involved!
http://www.google.com/search?q=Presidential+Inauguration&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7SUNA