Jan. 20 Photo Brief: Obama and Biden sworn in for second term, botched assassination of Bulgarian politician, Dakar Rally winner, camels march

18 photos

President Obama and Vice President Biden was sworn in for a second term on Sunday, the botched assassination of a Bulgarian politician, Dakar Rally winner, camels march during a rehearsal for the Indian Republic Day parade and more in today’s daily brief.

Obama sworn in for second term in White House ceremony
Steve Holland and Jeff Mason | Reuters
12:34 p.m. EST, January 20, 2013

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama took the official oath for his second term on Sunday at the White House in a small, private ceremony that set a more subdued tone compared to the historic start of his presidency four years ago.

Gathered with his family in the Blue Room on the White House’s ceremonial main floor, Obama put his hand on a Bible and recited the 35-word oath that was read to him by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts.

Obama hugged his wife Michelle and said, “Thank you,” after she congratulated him at the swearing-in.

Obama, who became the first African-American U.S. president four years ago, will be sworn in publicly for his second term on Monday in a much bigger ceremony before an audience of as many as 800,000 people outside the U.S. Capitol.

Sunday’s ceremony was needed because the U.S. Constitution mandates that the president take office on January 20. Planners opted to go with a private ceremony on the actual date and then hold the symbolic inaugural activities the next day.

Obama will have been sworn in four times, two for each term, putting him equal to Franklin Roosevelt, who served four terms. A second swearing-in was needed in 2009 when Roberts flubbed the first one.

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