President Obama, Vice President Biden Swearing In Ceremonies

   

President Obama was quietly sworn into office for a second term just before noon in a brief and intimate ceremony, ahead of Monday’s far showier public inaugural celebrations. The ceremony, which lasted less than two minutes, satisfied the Constitutional requirement that the president’s swearing-in take place by noon on the Jan. 20 after an election.

                            

The president, surrounded by family in the ornate White House Blue Room, was administered the oath by Chief Justice John Roberts. With Obama's hand resting on a Bible used for years by Michelle Obama's family, the president vowed "to support and defend the Constitution of the United States," echoing the same words spoken by the 43 men who held the office before him.

The oath was administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. in the White House Blue Room, an elegant, gilded space with a sweeping view of the South Lawn.

                         

The chief justice administered the oath faithfully and Mr. Obama repeated it accurately, unlike the situation four years earlier, when Mr. Roberts inverted a few words during the public swearing-in, Mr. Obama echoed the errors, and the oath had to be repeated in private later. The chief justice, who had relied on his famously prodigious memory in 2009, this time took no chances: He read the oath from a printed text.

After they finished, President Obama shook the hand of Justice Roberts, turned to the crowd and said: “Thank you, everybody,” before leaving the room.

In sharp contrast to the ceremonies planned for Monday, with their blaring patriotic music, pealing of bells, and parade of thousands of human and equine participants, the ceremony on Sunday was small and understated.

Witnessing the Blue Room ceremony were family members of the president, including his wife, Michelle, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia.

                           

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. was sworn in earlier at his residence on the grounds of the Naval Observatory, using the same 19th-century family Bible he has used in every swearing-in ceremony since he entered the Senate in 1973.

                            

At Mr. Biden’s request, the oath was delivered by Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor who read from a printed text to avoid any chance of mistake. He was surrounded by family members, including his wife, Jill.

Afterward, Mr. Biden shook the justice’s hand, turned to a large audience of family, friends and close political associates, and expressed his warm thanks. Justice Sotomayor, he noted, was due in New York and had a car waiting to take her to Union Station. “Madame Justice, it’s been an honor, a great honor,” he said.

Mr. Biden then left for Arlington National Cemetery, where he joined President Obama in laying a wreath before the Tomb of the Unknowns.

The US Constitution requires the oath of office to be taken by noon on 20 January, that falls on a Sunday so the public inauguration will take place on Monday.