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| Barack Obama's inauguration to be more sober second time around | Barack Obama's inauguration to be more sober second time around |
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| After the promises of hope and change four years ago, Barack Obama's second inauguration is likely to be a more sober affair, despite the superstar wattage of Beyoncé singing The Star Spangled Banner and the $50m-plus price tag for the weekend's festivities in Washington DC. | After the promises of hope and change four years ago, Barack Obama's second inauguration is likely to be a more sober affair, despite the superstar wattage of Beyoncé singing The Star Spangled Banner and the $50m-plus price tag for the weekend's festivities in Washington DC. |
| The record-breaking 1.8 million spectators who packed the National Mall to see America's first black president take the oath of office in 2009 will be replaced by a crowd expected to be less than half that size. After four years of a sluggish economy, the array of inauguration balls that followed Obama's assumption of the presidency has been whittled down to two official events this time: the inaugural ball, at Washington's cavernous convention centre, and the commander-in-chief's ball, to honour the US military. | The record-breaking 1.8 million spectators who packed the National Mall to see America's first black president take the oath of office in 2009 will be replaced by a crowd expected to be less than half that size. After four years of a sluggish economy, the array of inauguration balls that followed Obama's assumption of the presidency has been whittled down to two official events this time: the inaugural ball, at Washington's cavernous convention centre, and the commander-in-chief's ball, to honour the US military. |
| Obama will make history in another way on Monday, becoming the first modern US president to be sworn in four separate times. On the first occasion, in 2009, the supreme court chief justice, John Roberts, muffed the wording of the oath of office, so Roberts and Obama held a second, untelevised oath-taking that evening. | |
| Four years later, Obama's official swearing-in will take place as stipulated by the US constitution on 20 January, at a private ceremony surrounded by his family in the White House. Because that date falls on a Sunday, tradition dictates that the celebration is the following day – and so Obama and Roberts will go through the motions again just before noon on 21 January. There will be no excuses for getting it wrong the fourth time round. | Four years later, Obama's official swearing-in will take place as stipulated by the US constitution on 20 January, at a private ceremony surrounded by his family in the White House. Because that date falls on a Sunday, tradition dictates that the celebration is the following day – and so Obama and Roberts will go through the motions again just before noon on 21 January. There will be no excuses for getting it wrong the fourth time round. |
| The main focus of the day will be on Obama's second inaugural address – and so far the White House has given no clues about what to expect. | The main focus of the day will be on Obama's second inaugural address – and so far the White House has given no clues about what to expect. |
| "All I can tell you is the president in general, when he works on a speech, writes in longhand on a yellow pad and I've seen some yellow pads filled with writing of late," was the only comment by the White House press secretary, Jay Carney, when questioned by reporters. | "All I can tell you is the president in general, when he works on a speech, writes in longhand on a yellow pad and I've seen some yellow pads filled with writing of late," was the only comment by the White House press secretary, Jay Carney, when questioned by reporters. |
| "The historical record suggests that next week's speech will be a bit of a snooze," wrote the New Yorker's George Packer, reviewing Obama's record as a presidential speechmaker. | "The historical record suggests that next week's speech will be a bit of a snooze," wrote the New Yorker's George Packer, reviewing Obama's record as a presidential speechmaker. |
| Obama's 2009 effort was widely seen as a disappointment, as the new president sought to damp down the expectations raised by his victory. In recent weeks, however, he has given a powerful address in the wake of the Newtown school shootings, and he may use Monday's opportunity to grasp the nettles of gun control and perhaps immigration, and appeal directly to the American people over issues stuck in the logjam of Washington politics. | Obama's 2009 effort was widely seen as a disappointment, as the new president sought to damp down the expectations raised by his victory. In recent weeks, however, he has given a powerful address in the wake of the Newtown school shootings, and he may use Monday's opportunity to grasp the nettles of gun control and perhaps immigration, and appeal directly to the American people over issues stuck in the logjam of Washington politics. |
| The weak economy and flagging enthusiasm has caused another change that the Obama of 2009 eschewed: there will be massive corporate funding for this year's weekend of inaugural events. | The weak economy and flagging enthusiasm has caused another change that the Obama of 2009 eschewed: there will be massive corporate funding for this year's weekend of inaugural events. |
| While the swearing-in ceremony in the grounds of the Capitol building and the following lunch – as well as security provided by nearly 13,000 military and police members – will be paid for by taxpayers, another $50m was to be raised by the presidential inaugural committee to pay for everything from the inaugural balls to the portable toilets and giant video screens for the crowds at the National Mall. | While the swearing-in ceremony in the grounds of the Capitol building and the following lunch – as well as security provided by nearly 13,000 military and police members – will be paid for by taxpayers, another $50m was to be raised by the presidential inaugural committee to pay for everything from the inaugural balls to the portable toilets and giant video screens for the crowds at the National Mall. |
| In 2009 the new president's inauguration committee did not seek donations from businesses and limited donations from individuals to $50,000 (£30,000), in keeping with Obama's promise of transparency. | In 2009 the new president's inauguration committee did not seek donations from businesses and limited donations from individuals to $50,000 (£30,000), in keeping with Obama's promise of transparency. |
| Perhaps because of the enormous effort of raising $1bn for Obama's re-election campaign, the 2013 inauguration committee has struggled to attract donations and has turned to corporate America to make up the difference, while also lifting the limit on individual donations, and publishing far fewer details. | Perhaps because of the enormous effort of raising $1bn for Obama's re-election campaign, the 2013 inauguration committee has struggled to attract donations and has turned to corporate America to make up the difference, while also lifting the limit on individual donations, and publishing far fewer details. |
| Some of the funding will come from the sale of official inauguration souvenirs and memorabilia – ranging from $2.50 (£1.60) for a ruler to $7,500 (£4,710) for a boxed set of bronze, silver and gold medallions – but much of the rest is coming from the coffers of AT&T and Microsoft, two of the more familiar names from the donors made public. | Some of the funding will come from the sale of official inauguration souvenirs and memorabilia – ranging from $2.50 (£1.60) for a ruler to $7,500 (£4,710) for a boxed set of bronze, silver and gold medallions – but much of the rest is coming from the coffers of AT&T and Microsoft, two of the more familiar names from the donors made public. |
| Donors are offered packages of attractions, including "partner access" to events attended by the president and first lady, in return for donations between $10,000 and $1m. The biggest givers can sit in the enclosed viewing stand on Pennsylvania Avenue where the president will watch the inauguration parade. | Donors are offered packages of attractions, including "partner access" to events attended by the president and first lady, in return for donations between $10,000 and $1m. The biggest givers can sit in the enclosed viewing stand on Pennsylvania Avenue where the president will watch the inauguration parade. |
| For $100,000, donors can attend a reception and have their photographs taken with the president or vice-president, while $250,000 gives them access to a glittering children's concert to be attended by Michelle Obama – the so-called "kid's inaugural" to be headlined by singer Katy Perry. | For $100,000, donors can attend a reception and have their photographs taken with the president or vice-president, while $250,000 gives them access to a glittering children's concert to be attended by Michelle Obama – the so-called "kid's inaugural" to be headlined by singer Katy Perry. |
| Even the leftwing alternatives don't come cheap. Washington's Busboys and Poets cafe is hosting a "Voices of Hope and Resistance" ball, to be attended by actor Danny Glover, activist Ralph Nader and author Alice Walker, at $140 a ticket. | Even the leftwing alternatives don't come cheap. Washington's Busboys and Poets cafe is hosting a "Voices of Hope and Resistance" ball, to be attended by actor Danny Glover, activist Ralph Nader and author Alice Walker, at $140 a ticket. |
| But the main event is the inauguration ceremony itself. The invocation beginning the ceremony at the beginning will be delivered by Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of murdered civil rights leader Medgar Evers, in tribute to Martin Luther King, on whose national holiday it falls. | But the main event is the inauguration ceremony itself. The invocation beginning the ceremony at the beginning will be delivered by Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of murdered civil rights leader Medgar Evers, in tribute to Martin Luther King, on whose national holiday it falls. |
| King's memory will also be celebrated in one of the floats in the inauguration parade, alongside floats including a replica of the second world war fighter plane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, commemorating the very first African American aviators to serve in the US military. | King's memory will also be celebrated in one of the floats in the inauguration parade, alongside floats including a replica of the second world war fighter plane flown by the Tuskegee Airmen, commemorating the very first African American aviators to serve in the US military. |
| The floats will be part of the parade of participants from all 50 states, among them the Ballet Folklorico de la Raza from Colorado, the Utuqqagmiut Dancers of Alaska, and the Lesbian and Gay Band Association of St Louis, Missouri. | The floats will be part of the parade of participants from all 50 states, among them the Ballet Folklorico de la Raza from Colorado, the Utuqqagmiut Dancers of Alaska, and the Lesbian and Gay Band Association of St Louis, Missouri. |
| • This article was amended on 21 January 2013 because the original said Obama will become the first US president to be sworn in four separate times. Franklin D. Roosevelt was inaugurated four times, but the 22nd amendment to the constitution was adopted in 1951, limiting individuals to two terms in office. Obama is the first modern president to take the oath four times. |