The first inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States took place on January 20, 2009. The inauguration marked the commencement of the first four-year term of Barack Obama as President and Joe Biden as Vice President. "A New Birth of Freedom", a phrase from the Gettysburg Address, served as the inaugural theme to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth year of Abraham Lincoln. In his speeches to the crowds, Obama referred to ideals expressed by Lincoln about renewal, continuity and national unity. The presidential oath as administered to Obama during the ceremony strayed slightly from the form prescribed in the constitution, which led to its re‑administration the next evening. In addition to a larger than usual celebrity attendance at the inauguration, the Presidential Inaugural Committee increased its outreach to ordinary citizens to encourage greater participation in inaugural events compared with participation in recent past inaugurations. Events included a first-ever Neighborhood Inaugural Ball with free or affordable tickets for ordinary citizens. Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_Barack_Obama> _______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries: 1156: According to legend, freeholder Lalli slew Bishop Henry of Finland with an axe on the ice of the lake Köyliönjärvi in Köyliö, Finland. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_(Bishop_of_Finland)> 1785: Tây Sơn forces of Vietnam annihilated an invading Siamese army who were attempting to restore Nguyễn Ánh to the throne. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_R%E1%BA%A1ch_G%E1%BA%A7m-Xo%C3%A0i_M%C3%BAt> 1843: Honório Hermeto Carneiro Leão, Marquis of Paraná (pictured), became the de facto first prime minister of the Empire of Brazil. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hon%C3%B3rio_Hermeto_Carneiro_Le%C3%A3o,_Marquis_of_Paran%C3%A1> 1945: World War II: Germany began the evacuation of 1.8 million people from East Prussia, an operation which took nearly two months to complete. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evacuation_of_East_Prussia> 1968: The Houston Cougars upset the UCLA Bruins in what became known as the "Game of the Century", ending the Bruins' 47-game winning streak, and establishing college basketball as a sports commodity on American television. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_the_Century_(college_basketball)> _____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day: casuistry: 1. The process of answering practical questions via interpretation of rules or cases that illustrate such rules, especially in ethics. 2. (pejorative) A specious argument designed to defend an action or feeling. <https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/casuistry> ___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day: Lord — Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will. --Barack Obama <https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Barack_Obama>