Elections 2012

Resolute Rhetoric: Obama's Confident Case For Government

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President Obama delivers his second inaugural address Monday in Washington.

By Liz Halloran

Originally published on Mon January 21, 2013 7:01 pm

President Barack Hussein Obama, sobered but resolute after four years as the nation's first African-American head of state, began his second term Monday with an ardent defense of government as essential to the nation's economic and moral fiber, and a call to citizens to accept their obligation to shape the national debate.

12:10 pm

Mon January 21, 2013

In Address, Obama Highlights Equal Rights And Government's Role

Credit Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images

President Obama gives his inaugural address after taking the oath of office Monday.

By editor

Originally published on Mon January 21, 2013 6:59 pm

President Obama began his second term with an unapologetically liberal inaugural address, calling on Americans to work together to preserve entitlements, address climate change and extend civil rights.

"Together, we discovered that a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play," the president said. "Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable and protect its people from life's worst hazards and misfortune."

7:08 am

Mon January 21, 2013

Live Blog: President Obama's Second Inauguration

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President Obama taking the oath of office today on the steps of the Capitol. First Lady Michelle Obama held the two Bibles on which he placed his hand.

Credit Pat Benic / UPI /Landov

Looking west from the Capitol toward the Washington Monument several hours before President Obama was to take the oath of office.

By Mark Memmott

Originally published on Mon January 21, 2013 5:25 pm

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6:37 am

Mon January 21, 2013

What Now? Obama Leads Polarized Government Into Second Term

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As a second-term president, Barack Obama necessarily generates less excitement than he did as a newcomer. Above, flags flew during his 2009 inauguration.

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

"There's an immense amount for him [President Obama] to do just to secure the legacy of the first term," says Paul Glastris, editor-in-chief of The Washington Monthly.

By editor

Originally published on Mon January 21, 2013 12:41 pm

Feelings of hope and change have mostly faded.

The country is in better shape than it was when Barack Obama became president four years ago. The economy is no longer in free fall, and the nation has for the most part extricated itself from seemingly endless wars abroad.

Yet as Obama prepares to enter his second term, there seems to be less optimism about his ability to address the nation's problems than was the case when he first entered the White House.

1:25 pm

Sun January 20, 2013

An Inaugural Memory: President Lincoln's Food Fight

Credit Smithsonian Institution

Menu for Lincoln's 2nd inaugural ball, March 6, 1865

By editor

Originally published on Tue January 22, 2013 10:27 am

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A recently-published menu for Abraham Lincoln's lavish second inaugural ball in 1865 provides an interesting look at how different the nation celebrated its new president just seven score and eight years ago.

Smoked tongue en geleé and blancmange (a firm custard) shared room on the buffet table with roast turkey and burnt almond ice cream.

As Yale food historian Paul Freedman told Smithsonian Magazine writer Megan Gambino, the cuisine could best be described as "French via England, with some American ingredients."

10:52 am

Sun January 20, 2013

Obama Takes Oath Of Office In White House Ceremony

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Credit Larry Downing / AP

President Obama is officially sworn in Sunday by Chief Justice John Roberts in the Blue Room of the White House. Next to Obama are first lady Michelle Obama, holding the Robinson Family Bible, and their daughters, Malia and Sasha.

Credit Larry Downing / AP

President Obama is officially sworn-in Sunday by Chief Justice John Roberts, as first lady Michelle Obama holds the Robinson family Bible.

By Krishnadev Calamur

Originally published on Sun January 20, 2013 11:04 am

President Obama's second term officially begins Sunday: He took the oath of office in an intimate ceremony at the White House, fulfilling the constitutional requirement to take the oath before noon on Jan. 20.

NPR's Ari Shaprio reported on the swearing-in for our Newscast unit. Here's what he said:

"Family and a few close friends gathered in the Blue Room of the White House. The president placed his hand on a family Bible and recited the oath with Chief Justice John Roberts.

4:03 am

Sun January 20, 2013

5 Questions About The Inauguration

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Workers seen through a fence adjust American flags on the Capitol during preparations Thursday for the inauguration.

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Portable toilets are installed around the U.S. Capitol in preparation for Monday's inauguration. A new app this year will help the crowd follow the event — and even find the closest port-a-potty.

By editor

Originally published on Tue January 22, 2013 10:28 am

1) Why Monday?

Inaugural events are sprinkled over three days, with the most important one actually taking place out of the public eye on Sunday. That's when the official oath of office will be administered at the White House, on the date and time (noon on Jan. 20) specified by the Constitution. But because the 20th falls on a Sunday this year, the public festivities, including another oath taking, all happen Monday.

4:03 am

Sun January 20, 2013

Obama So Far: Making History, Inspiring An Opposition

Credit Carolyn Kaster / AP

President Obama walks outside the Oval Office on May 3.

By Frank James

Originally published on Sun January 20, 2013 7:17 am

Any American president hoping to stake a claim to being viewed by future generations as great and transformative — or at least very good and effective — would be wise to choose his predecessor well.

To that end, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan probably couldn't have done better than to follow, respectively, James Buchanan, Herbert Hoover and Jimmy Carter.

Similarly, President Obama no doubt benefited from comparisons to George W. Bush, who's unlikely to make many historians' lists of the presidential greats.

10:13 pm

Sat January 19, 2013

Our Royalty: Bangs Aren't All Michelle Obama And Kate Middleton Have In Common

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Credit Jae C. Hong / AP

First lady Michelle Obama waves after addressing the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 4.

Credit Chris Jackson / AFP/Getty Images

Diplomacy with style: The Obamas pose with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace ahead of a state banquet on May 24, 2011. Michelle's gown was designed by American fashion designer Tom Ford.

Credit Charles Dharapak / AP

In the garden: Michelle holds up broccoli as she participates in the White House Kitchen Garden Fall Harvest with students on the South Lawn of the White House on Oct. 20, 2010.

Credit Charles Dharapak / AP

Typical American: Michelle leaves a Target department store in Alexandria, Va., after doing some shopping on Sept. 29, 2011. Her style choices range from expensive, high-end designers to discount stores like Target.

Credit Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Let's move: Michelle and a group of children try to break the Guinness World Record for the most people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period, at the White House on Oct. 11, 2011. Michelle's anti-obesity campaign, Let's Move, focuses on teaching children good nutrition and regular exercise.

Credit Alex Brandon / AP

Aww: Obama sneaks an extra smooch after kissing Michelle for the "Kiss Cam" at the basketball game between U.S. and Brazil, on July 16, 2012, in Washington, D.C.

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

First family: Obama walks on stage with his family to deliver his victory speech on election night on Nov. 6, 2012, in Chicago.

Credit Jae C. Hong / AP

First lady: Michelle Obama waves after addressing the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 4, 2012.

Credit Alan diaz / AP

On the campaign trail: Michelle greets supporters at Broward College in Davie, Fla., on Oct. 22, 2012, where she rallied grass-root supporters and spoke of what's at stake in the election for Floridians. Michelle was seen as an asset on the campaign trail, where she often drew large crowds.

Credit Mark Wilson / Getty Images

First dance: Newly sworn in President Obama and the first lady dance during the inaugural ball on Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington, D.C.

Credit Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images

First lady Michelle Obama paints a bookshelf at Burrville Elementary School in Washington, D.C., as part of the National Day of Service on Saturday.

By Linda Holmes

Originally published on Tue January 22, 2013 10:28 am

Ask yourself this question: How weird would it be if you changed your hair and it was on the news?

No, seriously. Pull back from everything you know about celebrity and pretend it's about you. You change your hair. You decide, "Hey, you know what? It's been long for a while; what if I went a little shorter?" And so you go a little shorter. And then it is on the news.

3:09 pm

Fri January 18, 2013

For Cartoonists Who Cover Obama: Four More Ears

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Credit Courtesy of Matt Wuerker/Politico

For editorial cartoonists, Obama's ears are his signature. In some depictions, they've grown throughout the years, but Matt Wuerker says cartoonists have gotten lazy. "We did the same thing to George W. Bush. By the end of his administration he was just Dumbo."

Credit Courtesy of Scott Stantis

Scott Stantis calls himself a conservative, and his cartoons frequently criticize President Obama. But for the inauguration in 2009, he simply chose to mark the moment as historic.

Credit Courtesy of Matt Wuerker/Politico

Matt Wuerker borrowed the concept of "standing on the shoulders of giants" in his cartoon for the inauguration in 2009.

Credit Courtesy of Scott Stantis

Scott Stantis says the issues the president faces haven't changed, so he plans to continue critiquing government spending in his cartoons.

By Alison MacAdam

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Four years ago, when the nation's first African-American president was inaugurated, even conservative editorial cartoonists marked the moment with reverence.

As Scott Stantis, now of the Chicago Tribune, tells All Things Considered host Audie Cornish: "There are times in our history where we can just take half a step back from our partisanship and revel in the history and wonder of something."

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Elections 2012

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Inauguration 2013

12:37 pm

Mon January 21, 2013