today in black history

October 20, 2025

Jomo Kenyatta, African nationalist and first president of Kenya, was born in 1893. He would lead Kenya from 1964 until 1978.

56th Inauguration Official Program

POSTED: December 23, 2008, 12:00 am

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Musical Selections

The Unites States Marine Band

Musical Selections

The San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus

Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks

The Honorable Diane Feinstein (D-CA)

Invocation

Dr. Rick Warren, Pastor, Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, CA

Musical Selection

Aretha Franklin

Oath of Office Administered to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

The Honorable John Paul Stevens
Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court

Musical Selection

John Williams, Composer/Arranger

Itzhak Perlmin, Violin
Yo-Yo Ma, Cello
Gabriela Montero, Piano
Anthony McGill, Clarinet

Oath of Office Delivered to President-elect Barack H. Obama

The Honorable John G. Roberts, Jr.
Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

Inaugural Address

The Honorable Barack Hussein Obama
The President of the United States

Benediction

The Reverend Dr. Joseph E. Lowery

The National Anthem

The United States Navy Band “Sea Chanters”

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