WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday promised to uphold the Constitution in a public swearing in ceremony that signals the beginning of his second term in office.
Placing his hand on two Bibles — one used by President Abraham Lincoln at his first Inauguration and one used by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — Obama took a public oath of office on Monday, after he was sworn in during a private ceremony on Sunday. The Constitution requires presidential terms to begin on Jan. 20.
Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press
Delivering his second inaugural address, the President said that the inalienable rights set out in the Declaration of Independence may be self-evident — but “they’ve never been self-executed.”
“While freedom is a gift from God, it must be secured by his people here on Earth,” he said.
Updated: 6 p.m. ET: Following is a replay of Obama taking the oath of office, and his complete remarks:
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered Obama’s private swearing in on Sunday and the public ceremony Monday. He also swore Obama in during his first inauguration in 2009.
Related articles:
Separate but equal is never equal – Ever.
Obama addresses 3,000 LGBT rights advocates in video message
'As much as he can, he gets it.'
Gay rights activists laud Obama's inaugural address, now want action
'Seneca Falls, Selma and Stonewall:' LGBT rights are civil rights
White House still says marriage not a federal issue
Scenes from the Inaugural Ball
Watch: Richard Blanco delivers poem 'One Today' at Obama's inauguration
Inaugural reaction: Advocacy groups hail Obama's call for LGBT equality
Obama inaugural speech references gay rights struggle, Stonewall riots
Out inaugural poet Richard Blanco pays homage to American experience
Obama, Biden take oaths in private ceremonies, begin second term in office
Minister at inaugural advocated for D.C. marriage equality law
Openly gay, Latino poet selected to read original poem at Obama's inauguration
Filed under: Editor's Picks, National Headlines
Florida teen fighting criminal charges related to same-sex relationship
Linda Harvey: Gay news sites trick kids into becoming gay
Wash. florist who refused flowers for gay couple’s wedding files suit against state
Texas judge enforces ‘morality clause’ to split up lesbian couple
Catholic school: Transgender student must wear girl’s graduation gown
Another Ore. bakery refuses to provide wedding cake for same-sex couple
Graham threatens to pull support from immigration bill if gays are included
Matt Barber tweets homophobic cartoon of gay man tricking Boy Scout into sex
UPDATED: Police call fatal New York City shooting an anti-gay hate crime
Russian police confirm man was tortured to death because he was gay
Parents sue S.C. hospital over child’s gender assignment surgery
Scottish cardinal to atone for sexual misconduct with younger clergy
BREAKING: Minn. governor signs marriage equality bill — ‘Love is the law’
BREAKING: French president signs marriage equality bill into law
Everything is bigger in Texas – even the homophobia
