Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president on January 20, 2009, at the U.S. Capitol. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath.
Crowds estimated at well over one million people filled the National Mall, one of the largest gatherings in the history of Washington, D.C.
Did You Know
Because a few words of the oath were said out of order, Roberts administered it a second time at the White House the next day as a precaution.
Second Inauguration
Obama was sworn in again for his second term in January 2013, and that ceremony fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Learn More
For primary sources, explore the Obama White House archives maintained by the National Archives, the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, and presidential history collections at your local library. Reading accounts from supporters and critics alike gives the fullest picture of any presidency.
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