and should be leaving for the capital shortly. we'll show you that motorcade but the house is coming in for just a quick session and this is a session on inaugural activities and member-seating at the inaugural and they will proceed to the west front. 11:20 a.m. as when the inaugural ceremony is set to begin. here is the house of representatives as we continue our live coverage --

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[chanting] [indiscernible chanting]

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>> ladies and gentleman, the architect of the capital, stephen [indiscernible] [applause]

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>> ladies and gentleman, the joint chiefs of staff. ♪

>> a great day. >> try to remember. [laughter] [applause]

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>> the mayor of the district of columbia. ♪

>> ladies and gentlemen, the members of the 113th house of the united states.

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>> matt, you ready?

[distant crowd noise]

>> ready, doors. ready, shot. -- shut. [distant music] >> ready? doors. ready? opened.

ready? door. ready? door. ready? open.

ready? shut. and salute.

[distant cheering] [distant cheering]

[cheering] rn off the comms, please.

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>> ladies and gentleman, the chief justice of the united states and the associates of the supreme court of the united states. ♪ >> how are you? good morning.

[photographs snapping] >> hey, everybody. how are you? >> this way. [cheering]

[indiscernible] [cheering] [cameras snapping] >> thank you. i miss this place. [laughter] >> everything ok? right. ♪ ♪

[indiscernible] >> ladies and gentlemen, please stand as the members of the armed forces present our national colors. ♪

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♪ >> ladies and gentleman, the 39th president of the united states, jimmy carter and mrs. rosalynn carter. ♪ [applause] [applause]

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>> ladies and gentleman, the 42nd president of the united states, william jefferson clinton and secretary of state, hillary rodham clinton. [applause] >> hello. how are you? >> mr. president --

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>> ladies and gentleman, the children of the vice-president accompanied by the house chief administrative officer. >> congressman, how are you? [applause]

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[cheering] >> ladies and gentleman, the daughters of the united states, malia obama and sasha obama. [applause]

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♪ [chanting "obama"] >> ladies and gentlemen, dr. jill biden accompanied by mrs. john boehner, deputy clerk of the house of representatives,

robert reeves. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, the first lady of the united states, mrs. michelle obama accompanied by the clerk of house of representatives -- [inaudible] [applause]

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♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, the vice president of the united states, joseph r. biden, accompanied by inaugural coordinator for the joint congressional committee on inaugural procedures, the sergeant at arms, the house that the sergeant at arms, said a majority leader harry reid, and house democratic leader, nancy pelosi. [applause]

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♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of the united states, barack obama accompanied by the joint congressional committee on inaugural ceremonies, sergeant at arms terence at jenner, the house sergeant at arms, pulte

irving, senator charles schumer, senator lamar alexander, the speaker of the house of representatives, john boehner, senate majority leader harry reid, and it said it -- and house democratic leader nancy pelosi. [applause]

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♪ >> please be seated. ladies and gentlemen, the chairman of the joint congressional committee for inaugural ceremonies, the hon. charles e. schumer. [applause] >> mr. president, mr. vice president, members of congress, although our present, and it to all who are watching, welcome to the capital and to this celebration of our great

democracy. this is the 57th inauguration of an american president. no matter how many times when witnesses this event, its simplicity, in its in 8 majesty, and its meaning, that sacred yet cautious and trusting of power from we the people to our chosen leader never fails to make one hearts beat faster as it will today with the inauguration of president barack h. obama. [applause] we know we would not be here today were it not for this to stand guard around the world to preserve our freedom. for those of our armed forces, we offer are infinite thanks for

your bravery, your honor, your sacrifice. [applause] this democracy of ours was forged by intellect in argument, activism and blood. and above all, from john adams to martin luther king by stubborn adherence to the notion that we are all created equal and we deserve nothing less than a great republic or the of our consent. vessey of this year's inaugural is faith in america's future. the perfect embodiment of this unshakable confidence and the ongoing success of our collective journey is an event

for our past -- i speak of the improbable completion of the capitol dome and capping it with the statue of freedom which occurred 150 years ago in 1863. when abraham lincoln took office two years earlier, the dome above us was a half built eyesore. conventional wisdom was that it should be left unfinished until the war ended. given the travails and financial needs of the time. but to president lincoln, a half finished dome symbolized a half divided nation. lincoln said "if people see the capital going on, it is a sign that we intend the union shop ilan." so -- the union that should go on. so, the dow continued to rise. on december 2, 1863, the statue of freedom, a woman, was placed

atop the dome where she still stands today. in a sublime irony, it was a former slave, now free american who helped to cast bronze statue. our present times are not as perilous or despairing as they were in 1863. but in 2013, far too many doubt the future of this great nation and our ability to tackle our own half finished domes. today's problems are intractable, they say, the times are so complex that differences in the country and the world so deep that we will never overcome them. when thoughts like these produce anxiety, fear, and even despair, we do well to remember that americans have always been and still are a practical, optimistic, problem solving people. as our history shows, no matter how steep the climb, how

difficult the problems, how half finished the tasks, america always rises to the occasion. america prevails and america prospers. [applause] and those who bet against this country have inevitably been on the wrong side of history. it is a good moment to gaze up words and behold the statue of freedom at the top of the capitol dome. it is a good moment to gain strength and courage and humility from those who were determined to complete the half finished dome. it is a good moment to rejoice today at this 57 presidential inaugural ceremony. and it is the perfect moment to rebuild our collective faith in the future of america. [applause]

thank you and god bless these united states. [applause] in that spirit of faith, i would now like to introduce civil rights leader merlie evers, who will lead us in the invocation. [applause] >> america, we are here, our nation's capital, on this day,

january 21, 2013. the inauguration of our 45th president, barack obama. we come at this time to ask blessings upon our leaders. the president, vice-president, members of congress, all elected and appointed officials of the united states of america. we are here to ask blessings upon our armed forces, blessings upon all who contribute to the essence of the american spirit, the american dream, the opportunity to become what ever are mankind, womankind allows us to be. this is the promise of america. as we sing the words of belief,

this is my country, let us act upon the meeting that everyone is included. made the inherent dignity and inalienable rights of every woman, man, boy and girl be honored. may all your people flourish in our blessed nation. 150 years after the emancipation proclamation and 50 years after the march on washington, we celebrate the spirit of our ancestors which has allowed us to move from a nation of unborn hopes and a history of disenfranchised folks today's expression of a more perfect union.

we ask, almighty, that where our path seemed blanketed by throngs of oppression and riddled by pangs of despair, we ask for your guidance toward the light of deliverance and that the vision of those who came before us and dreamed of this day, that we recognize their visions still inspire us. there are a great crowd of witnesses and seen by the naked eye, but all around us, thankful that their living was not in vain. for every mountain you gave us the strength to climb. your grace is pleaded to continue that climb for america and the world.

we stand beneath the shadow of the nation's capital is golden dome reflects the unity and democracy of one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. approximately 4 miles from where we are assembled, the hallowed remains of men and women rest in arlington cemetery. they who believed, fought, and that for this country. made their spirit and use our been -- our being, enabling us to continue to build this nation and in so doing, we send a message to the world that we are strong, fears in our strength and ever vigilant in our pursuit of freedom. we asked the you grant our

president the will to act courageously but cautiously when confronted with danger and to act prudently but deliberately when challenged by adversity. please continue to press his efforts -- bless his efforts in consideration in favor in the diversity of our people. bless our families all across this nation. thank you for this opportunity of prayer to strengthen s for the journey through the days that lie ahead. we invoke the prayer's of our grandmothers who taught us to pray, god, make me a blessing. it let their spirit guide us as

we claim the spirit of old. there is something within me that holds the reins. there is something within me that banishes bain. but all i know, america is there is something within. there is something within. name and all that is holy and right, we pray, amen. [applause] >> i am pleased to introduce the

award winning tabernacle choir, the brooklyn tabernacle choir to sing "battle hymn of the republic." ♪ ♪ glory, glory, hallelujah

his truth is marching on ♪ ♪ ♪ [singing "battle hymn of the republic"]

♪ ♪ [singing "battle hymn of the republic"]

♪ ♪ glory, glory, hallelujah glorying, glory ♪ glory, hallelujah

glory, glory, hallelujah his a truth is marching on ♪ ♪ [applause] >> please join me in welcoming

my colleague and my friend, the senator from tennessee, the hon. lamar alexander. [applause] >> mr. president, mr. vice president, ladies and gentlemen , the late alex haley, the author of "roots"lived his life by these six words -- "find the good and praise it." today, the transferring of immense power in the inauguration of the president of the united states -- we do this in a peaceful, orderly way. there is no mob, no coup, no insurrection. this is a moment when millions stop and watch. a moment most of us always will

remember. it is a moment that is our most conspicuous and enduring symbol of the american democracy. how remarkable that this has survived for so long in such a complex country when so much power is at stake. this freedom to vote for our leaders and the restraint to respect the results. last year, at mount vernon, a tour guide told me that our first president, george washington, once posed this question -- what is most important of this grand experiment, the united states? then washington answered his own question in this way -- not the election of the first president, but the election of its second president. the peaceful transfer of power

is what will separate our country from every other country in the world. so today, we celebrate the 57th inauguration of the american presidents, find the good and praise it. [applause] now, it is my honor to introduce the associate justice of the supreme court, sonya sotomayor, for the purpose of administering the oath of office to the vice president. will everyone please stand? >> mr. vice-president, please raise your right hand and repeat after me.

i, joseph r. biden jr., do solemnly swear -- >> i, joseph r. biden jr., do solemnly swear -- >> that i will support and defend the constitution of the united states -- >> against all enemies, foreign and domestic -- >> and will bear true faith and allegiance to the same -- >> and will bear true faith and allegiance to the same -- >> and i take this obligation freely without any mental raise it -- and took -- any mental reservation or purpose of evasion and that i will well and faithfully discharge -- >> the duty of the office upon which i am about to enter -- >> the duty of the office upon which i am about to enter -- >> so help you god -- >> so help me god.

>> congratulations. [applause] ♪ >> it is my pleasure to introduce a renowned musical artist, james taylor.

♪ oh, beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain ♪ majestiesle mountain above the fruited plains ♪ , america got to shed his grace on me ♪ and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining

sea ♪ from sea to shining sea ♪ [applause] >> it is my honor to present chief justice of the united states, john g. roberts jr., who will administer the presidential oath of office. everyone, please rise. and repeat after me. i, barack hussein obama, do

solemnly swear -- >> i, barack hussein obama, do solemnly swear -- execute -- >> that i will faithfully execute -- >> the office of president of the united states -- >> the office of president of the united states -- ability -- ability -- >> preserve, protect, and defend -- -- united states -- united states -- >> so help you god. >> so help me god. >> congratulations, mr. president. [applause] ♪ ♪ ["pomp and circumstance" playing]

[cannon firing] >> ladies and gentlemen, it is my great privilege and distinct honor to introduce the 44th president of the united states of america, barack h. obama.

[cheering] [cheering] >> thank you. >> [chanting "obama"] >> thank you so much. vice-president biden, mr. chief justice, members of the united states congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens, each time we gather to inaugurated president, we bear

witness to the enduring strength of our constitution. we affirm the promise of our democracy. we recall that what binds this nation together is not the colors of our skin or the tenants of our faith, or the origins of our names. what makes us exceptional, what makes us american, is our allegiance to an idea articulated in a declaration made more than two centuries ago. we hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal. that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are

life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. today, we continue a never- ending journey to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. for history tells us that while these truths may be self beennt, they've never self-executing. while freedom is a gift from god, it must be secured by his people here on earth. the patriots of 1776 to not fight to replace the tyranny of the came out with the privileges of a few or the rule of law -- or the rule of a mob. they gave u.s. a republic, a government of, by, and for the

people. and trusting each generation to keep safe our founding creed. for more than 200 years, we have. through blood drawn by lasch and blood drawn by sword, we know that no union found on the principles of liberty and equality could survive half slave and half free. we made ourselves a new and vowed to move forward together. together, we determined a modern economy require railroads and highways to speed travel and commerce, schools and colleges to train our workers, and together we discovered a free market only thrives when there are rules to ensure competition and fair play. together, we result that a great nation must care for the vulnerable and protect its people from lights worse hazard

and misfortunes. through it all, we have never relinquished their skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society's ills can be killed -- can be cured through government alone. our celebration of enterprise, our insistence on hard work and personal responsibility, these are constants in our character. but we have always understood that when times change, so must we. fidelity to our founding principles requires new responses to new challenges. preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action. the american people can no more meet the demands of today's world by acting alone that american soldiers could have met the forces of fascism or communism with muskets and

malicious. no single person can train all the math and science teachers we will need to equip our children for the future or build the roads and networks and research labs that will bring new jobs and businesses to our shores. now more than ever, we must do these things together. as one nation. and when people. -- and one people. [applause] this generation of americans has been tested by crises that steal our resolve and proved our resilience. a decade of war is now ending. [applause] an economic recovery has begun. [applause] america's possibilities are limitless for we possess all the qualities this world would the

band -- use and drive, diversity and openness, and analysts capacity for risk and a gift for reinvention. my fellow americans, we are made for this moment and we will see so long as we see it together -- [applause] 4 we, the people, understand our country cannot succeed with a shrinking few do very well and a growing many barely make it. we believe america's prosperity must rest upon the shoulders of a rising middle class. we know america thrives when every person can find independence and pride in their work. when the wages of honest