Barack Obama's Historic Inauguration
Tickets, Attendance, and the Inaugural Theme for January 20, 2009
Once sworn-in, Obama will become the Forty-Fourth President and the first African-American Commander-in-Chief. Following George W. Bush, a two-term President with low approval ratings, Obama faces major policy hurdles, including a crumbling economy, the War in Iraq, and challenges with regard to health care and education.
Although Obama has been criticized by some for a perceived lack of experience, to many others he represents a visionary leader who has become a national icon. As a result, there has been more competition for (and controversy surrounding) tickets to the inauguration than the government has seen in prior years.
Tickets: Availability and Controversy
In fact, tickets to the 2009 inauguration have been in such high demand that some are being sold over the internet for as much as $40,000. This action has caused not only a major logistical problem, but an ethical one as well. Because the 250,000 available tickets are kept in a secure location until only days before the ceremony, those who are offering the tickets for sale may be making a profit off of a product they can’t produce. Not all ticket purchasers are aware of this information and government officials are cautioning those who may try to buy tickets. After all, buyers may get a refund for the tickets that the sellers cannot produce, but that will likely be of little comfort to those who invested a great deal of money in booking the trip.
Aside from the dilemma that there are more purchasers than there are tickets available, an even more deeply-rooted ethical issue is that the tickets are intended to be free of charge, representing the idealized equal access of our democracy. Yet, this has not been the case for the 2009 inauguration. In the article, “Obama Inauguration Tickets Fetching 5 Figures Online,” author Brianna Keilar quotes Senator Dianne Feinstein of California as saying, “We have heard reports that there are people trying to scalp Inaugural tickets for more than $40,000 each. This is unconscionable and must not be allowed.” Feinstein also commented that “this inauguration will be the major civic event of our time, and these tickets are supposed to be free for the people. Nobody should have to pay for their tickets.”
Important Information Regarding Attendance
No matter how one comes by a ticket though, for those 250,000 people who are lucky enough to secure a spot at the festivities, there are a number of procedures that must be followed; these procedures are outlined in detail on the Senate website dedicated to the inauguration.
First and foremost, each person (children included) must have a ticket. These tickets are color-coded, indicating the gate at which the ticket-holder can enter, so it is important to pay close attention to the assigned location.
After presenting the ticket, each person must go through a security check. Attendees should examine the list of prohibited items before arriving since a variety of every-day products including thermoses, strollers, umbrellas, and backpacks are banned. Cameras without tri-pods are allowed, however, and cell phones can be brought in on the condition that they are turned off or set to vibrate.
The gates will open at 8 a.m., but there will be heavy traffic and road closures around the Capitol, so be sure to arrive early and check the weather report in advance. Though attendees may be required to brave the cold for quite some time, the Swearing-In ceremony itself is guaranteed to finish by 12 p.m. This is required by Amendment XX to the U.S. Constitution which states that the term of the sitting president expires at noon on January 20.
Theme
The theme for this year’s inauguration, which was selected by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), is “A New Birth of Freedom.” Taken from the Gettysburg Address - the 272-word speech that President Lincoln gave at the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863 - the line was meant to honor those who gave their lives fighting to preserve the United States.
Given the recent political climate in the US and the fairly uniform desire to create a more cohesive union, this appropriately chosen theme both honors the sacrifices of those who came before and reflects a push toward change and a fresh start. After all, on the bicentennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, what could be more appropriate than diminishing the divides and attempting to heal the nation’s wounds?
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