Recording of the 2009 inauguration of 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, in Washington D.C.. Master of Ceremonies, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), leads the inauguration. Events include Reverend Rick Warren's opening prayer, Aretha Franklin's performance of "My Country Tis of Thee," Elizabeth Alexander's recitation of poetry, and Reverend Joseph Lowery's closing benediction. Justice John Paul Stevens administers the oath of office to Vice President-elect Joe Biden, while John G. Roberts Jr. gives the oath to President-elect Barack Obama. Once sworn in, President Obama speaks to the estimated 1.8 million spectators. Obama highlights on the challenges the nation faces in the economy and war, saying that we all have a duty to ourselves, the nation, and the world. Following this, Obama closes in saying, "Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations."
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