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American Morning
Preparations Under Way for Obama's Inaugural
Aired January 19, 2009 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and thanks very much for being with us. It is bright and early, here we are in Washington, D.C. the nation's capital. It is the 19 of January, and that means in, what, I guess, 31 hours, we're going to have the first African- American president in this nation's history.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: We will. It is bitterly cold, but there is such of warmth in Washington, D.C., when we were coming in yesterday, even on the Metro. Everyone is excited. I mean, there is just a feeling in the air. You saw Barack Obama hats, you saw life- size Barack Obamas in all the hotels. And people are just really thrilled and looking forward to tomorrow.
ROBERTS: It is really incredible. I came down here right after the show on Friday and just immersed myself in the environment down here. Went to the Frederick Douglass House out in Anacostia, sort of tracing, you know, the routes of the civil rights movement in America. And just talking with a lot of folks who were down here at The Mall yesterday for that incredible concert, and it is just - it's not like Washington - it's like some other place.
CHETRY: Yes, what have you done with Washington, and everybody in it? But no, we're thrilled to be here and we're going to be broadcasting live for the next four hours. We have a lot of great guests with us. We're live right now. This is the center of The Mall, on 12th Street. And tomorrow, this area, all the way up to the Lincoln Memorial and all the way down to the capitol, expected to be packed to the brim with people. Watching history unfold, as Barack Obama is sworn in.
ROBERTS: And today, we're looking ahead to that momentous event, from the speech, to the security, the parties, the challenges that await Mr. Obama, when he becomes the 44th president of the United States. We're going to break it all down with our panels and the best political team on television.
So, let's get right to it this morning. Just about 31 hours from now Barack Obama becomes the first African-American president of the United States. He's going to take the oath of office on the steps of the United States Capitol. It's actually on a balcony that they have built on the West Front of the capitol. It is directly opposite from the Lincoln Memorial, where civil rights activist Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech, in August of 1963.
This morning, at 10:30 Eastern, Mr. Obama will take part in a community service, celebrating King's birthday. At 5 p.m. Eastern, president elect will hold bipartisan dinners honoring former rival John McCain, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden.
A youth concert later on tonight caps off the events for today. Yesterday, Mr. Obama reflected on what lies ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is no doubt that our road will be long, that our climb will be steep, but never forget that the true character of our nation is revealed not during times of comfort and ease, but by the right we do when the moment is hard. I ask you to help reveal that character once more. And together we can carry forward as one nation, and one people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is live at our Washington bureau for us this morning. She's up bright and early as well. And who wouldn't want to be with all the great events that are happening in the next 24 hours.
Suzanne, Mr. Obama making it clear that we face some serious challenges after the inauguration festivities wrap up on Wednesday.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, you and I saw each other on The Mall yesterday and The Mall yesterday in that concert, and obviously, there was a lot of pomp and circumstance, but it also a serious tone, that really there are some serious challenges. I talked to several aides who went to that concert. There were Cabinet members there as well, who said, look, he is not only going to be meeting with military brass in the first couple of days, but they are going to really hit the ground running. He is going to be meeting with his economic team as well. They are going to try to get that $825-billion economic stimulus package through Congress. It's going to be a tough job, but obviously, the next couple of days are all about the celebrations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice over): Countdown to the presidency. The kickoff, a big concert on The National Mall.
SINGER: In the name of love...
MALVEAUX: A who's who of performers, Bono, Beyonce, The Boss, and Stevie Wonder. Just some of the artists who brought Barack Obama and his family to their feet.
The free concert attracted tens of thousands to the base of the Lincoln Memorial. The theme, "We Are One" reflected in Obama's remarks to the shivering crowd.
OBAMA: Because there is no obstacle that can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.
MALVEAUX: Faced with the daunting challenges that await him, two wars and an economic crisis, he pleaded for Americans' patience.
OBAMA: I won't pretend that meeting any one of these challenges will be easy. It will take more than a month or a year; it will likely take many. Along the way there will be setbacks and false starts and days that test our resolve as a nation.
MALVEAUX: But Obama also stressed he still believed in his campaign slogan that turned into a movement, his hope for change.
OBAMA: Despite the enormity of the task that lies ahead, I stand here today as hopeful as ever that the United States of America will endure. That it will prevail, that the dream of our founders will live on in our time.
MALVEAUX: The weekend was laden with symbolism.
(TRAIN WHISTLE)
With a nod to Abraham Lincoln, Obama retraced his journey to the capitol with a whistle-stop tour from Philadelphia to D.C.'s Union Station, drawing crowds everywhere along the way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's going to be a great president.
MALVEAUX: Anticipating Martin Luther King Day, Obama stood where King delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech and paid him homage.
OBAMA: Directly in front of us is a pool that still reflects the dream of a king, and the glory of a people, who marched and bled so that their children might be judged by their character's content.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And, John, today the Obama's obviously encouraging people to get out there and participate in community service to honor Martin Luther King. That is what they're going to be doing later this morning, John.
ROBERTS: You know, and you probably sense this as well, Suzanne, I saw you down there on The Mall taking in the concert yesterday. I mean, was it possible not to think about what happened back in 1963 in that very same location? And so many people seem to think this was kind of like the dream of Martin Luther King finally coming full circle.
MALVEAUX: Certainly, the embodiment of the dream. I mean, covering the campaign, a lot of people said that they really felt that he symbolized and represented so much for so many people, not just for African-Americans, but also for everyone, that this country has come so far to see this. It was really very touching, very moving, to see the thousands and thousands of people that were out there that were just cheering and celebrating. You could really get a sense, you talked about the mood changing in Washington, it is almost like it feels like a holiday. I know there are tough challenges ahead, but for now people seem to be, really, just celebrating.
ROBERTS: Well, we should point out, it is a holiday.
(LAUGHTER)
MALVEAUX: Well, today.
ROBERTS: People do -yes, people do seem to have an even greater sense of celebration than they normally do on this January holiday.
Suzanne Malveaux for us this morning.
Suzanne, thanks so much.
CHETRY: It is certainly no coincidence that the holiday we're talking about is Martin Luther King's birthday, as well, so.
Let's bring in our political panel right now as we countdown to history. Joining me now is John Avlon, he's the author of "Independent Nation" and columnist for TheDailyBeast.com. We also have with us Patricia Murphy, she is the editor of CitizenJanePolitics.com, and we're going to be checking in with them throughout the morning as well.
Welcome, both of you. Thanks for coming out here with us.
ROBERTS: Good morning.
CHETRY: In the cold.
ROBERTS: You guys are troopers, it's like the day after the election you're on at 3 o'clock in the morning, and here you are out on The Mall and it's not that cold.
JOHN AVLON, COLUMNIST, "THEDAILYBEAST.COM": It's never too early for history.
ROBERTS: There you go, and here you are.
CHETRY: And you know, it's very interesting, we were listening, John, to a lot of what Barack Obama was saying at some of the stops on his whistle-tour, when he departed from Philadelphia and then when he also spoke outside of Baltimore.
It seems that he is trying to temper the expectations that so many people have for him. Talking about how this is going to be long, this is going to be challenging.
AVLON: Yes.
CHETRY: And that he's not always going to be perfect.
AVLON: Yes, it's funny. You know, he's inviting comparisons to Abraham Lincoln, but at every stop he's trying to lower expectations, because he understands they're sky high. And that's an opportunity, but it's also an obstacle. He's heading into a rough economy; a country with two wars abroad. This is tough times for any president, what he's being handed by the Bush administration. So, he's trying to lower expectations at every stop. Trying to temper the American people for a long, hard road back to reaching our zenith.
ROBERTS: I was at a little get-together on Saturday night. Jesse Jackson was there, and I was speaking to him at some length, Sheila Jackson-Lee, as well, and they were saying the same thing. That so many people have so many huge expectations for Barack Obama and they say, you have to remember, that he's only one person. And this is just one administration. And there are so many things wrong with this country right now that to put that many expectations on him maybe kind of over stepping.
PATRICIA MURPHY, CITIZENJANEPOLITICS.COM: Well, if, like, his old opponent used to be John McCain, his new opponent almost are these incredible expectations that people have of him. But we've started to see some polling, recently, that Americans have high expectations for him personally. They don't have expectations that this is going to be solved overnight. People are giving him one year, two year, maybe even three years, to bring the war in Iraq to a close, to really get the economy back on track. And he is telling them, it's not just me, you have to help me. I am one man. You are an entire country. It is all of our jobs. It was a self-induced problem. In many ways the economy, in particular, it is going to be a self-induced solution as well.
ROBERTS: Yes, and the administration, alone, can't fix everything.
CHETRY: And one of the other interesting things, and you pointed this out, in one of your columns, also, is that you can inherit something bad, like Carter and Reagan inherited economic challenges, Nixon inheriting, you know, an unpopular war. But if about a year into your administration you don't see the light at the end of the tunnel, it becomes your problem. You get blamed.
AVLON: That's exactly right. You start owning the problem, even if the American people understand that it began with your predecessor. So, one of Barack Obama's favorite phrases is "the fierce urgency of now". And you are going to see him invoking that. This is - there is no time to lose. Lower expectations about our ability to change things overnight, but we really need to marshal all our resources to get ourselves out of this problem with the economy; to do a massive stimulus package. He's going to be marshalling everything he's got. And he has as his asset, one of the most important things, the good will of the American people. He's entering office not only an immediately consequential president, but a hugely popular president, a pop culture president. And that's going to give him the Teflon coating which will help him get through a lot of these tough times.
ROBERTS: So many things to talk about this morning. Folks, stick around. We'll let you go to the bus and warm up for a while.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERTS: We'll get you back out here this morning. Barack Obama's inauguration giving some Americans a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to go along for the ride. We follow one woman's journey to history.
And what about that inaugural address. This morning, anticipation building for what is expected to be the most widely watched inauguration speech ever delivered. In a moment we'll look at the themes that Barack Obama is expected to touch on. Stay with us now, it's 10 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm here for history, baby. I was born and raised in Alabama. So you know why I'm here, OK? Right. That's why I'm here. I was in Alabama when George Wallace made the line in the street, OK? So, that's why I'm here today. And I'm going to enjoy this historical moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Chili Bowl.
ROBERTS: When Barack Obama becomes the nation's 44th president, that will be at noon tomorrow, it is going to be a dream come true for countless Americans. Especially for one New Mexico teacher and single mother, who will have a front-row seat to the historic event. CNN's Jim Acosta joins us now with her story. This is just one of thousands of stories we see here in Washington, these days.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely
ROBERTS: And you know what? Each and every one of them is so compelling.
ACOSTA: Absolutely, John. You know, Barack Obama met a lot of people on his way to the White House. There's teachers, and firefighters and business people, who would appear at his campaign rallies and in his commercials. Well, we talked to one of these individuals who was given the chance for a trip of a lifetime, to come down to the inaugural and witness this history first hand. And we talked to her on her way, on this journey to history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can't seem to wipe the smile off my face, right now.
ACOSTA (voice over): When people ask, where were you when Barack Obama became president? It will be hard to compete with Juliana Sanchez (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's basically like winning the lottery.
ACOSTA: She was handpicked by the inaugural committee to come to Washington and watch the swearing in, all expenses paid.
OBAMA: If we had known, we would have given you a ride.
(LAUGHTER)
ACOSTA: A journey to history that started on the Obama Express. When the train stopped in Delaware, Sanchez says she was overcome with emotion. She saw hope.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I work in a school for at-risk kids.
Good morning.
ACOSTA: Sanchez was chose for the trip after her appearance in Mr. Obama's half-hour campaign infomercial, that was watched by over 30 million Americans. A widow who lost her husband to cancer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two and a half years ago, he passed away. And yeah, it's been tough. But you know what? Nobody is going to sit around and wait for you. You have to keep going.
ACOSTA: A single mom who works two jobs, she knows something about hope.
OBAMA: At the end of the school day, her work is only done.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Most of us, that are educators, we all have second jobs.
ACOSTA: The hope she brings to Washington is to see the government rebuild the economy by investing in education.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you don't start there, where are we going to start?
OBAMA: I'm tired of seeing overflowing classes and underfunded schools.
ACOSTA: She remembers meeting then-Senator Obama at a rally in New Mexico.
(On camera): They had to work him into your schedule?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah.
(LAUGHTER)
ACOSTA: Is that what you're saying?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Basically, yes.
ACOSTA: She never thought that chance encounter would take her to this moment in history.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need hope. How can you not walk around with no hope? (END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: That's right. She is so busy that they had to work Barack Obama into her schedule. She, along with 40 other people, will be seated in a special area, where they will be able to really watch this history making event first hand. And when she arrived here on the East Coast, from New Mexico, John, she already had a bundle in hand for the Secret Service, dozens of letters from her students, all addressed to Barack Obama.
ROBERTS: That's great. You know, over the weekend I met so many people who have come from either other states, in the Union, or come from overseas. I met one woman who came from Birmingham, England. And for each and every one of the people who come here, this has particular significance.
ACOSTA: They all have a reason. And this woman, right here, is especially inspiring, because she has been through so much, a widow, a husband who died from cancer. A woman who teaches at-risk kids and then in her spare time deals with a child with special needs. That's her second job.
CHETRY: Right.
ACOSTA: And to get away from all of that, and be able to come to this event was no small undertaking.
ROBERTS: Oh, yeah.
ACOSTA: And because of the inaugural committee she was able to get here and she psyched, she's ready for this.
CHETRY: Memories of a lifetime, she's certainly going to have some stories to tell, that for sure. Great stuff. Thanks a lot, Jim.
Well, President-Elect Barack Obama says that the primary goal of his inauguration speech is to define the moment in history. And this morning we're getting a preview of what he plans to speak about. This is a special edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have been studying past inaugural speeches...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Welcome back to a SPECIAL EDITION OF AMERICAN MORNING. We're live today from Washington. And there is a live look right now at the White House. That is where President Bush will be spending his last full day here today, with friends and colleagues. Last night the president and the first lady had dinner with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Then they stopped by a party in Maryland and the Bushes don't have to stress about packing. They have actually moved most of their stuff back to Texas over the summer. And this morning, expectations are building, not only for Barack Obama's presidency but also for his inaugural speech. So here to tell us a little bit about what we might be able to expect when Obama addresses the nation, is award-winning writer and "New York Daily News" columnist Errol Louis.
Thanks for being with us this morning.
ERROL LOUIS, COLUMNIST, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": Absolutely. Good morning.
CHETRY: Apparently he and one of his speechwriters have been going back and forth trading drafts for weeks, right now. A lot of people say that Barack Obama is probably going to have a bigger hand in writing this, as an author, himself, than a lot of the presidents we've seen in modern times. What are you thinking?
LOUIS: Absolutely. Listen, he is a writer. People forget that.
CHETRY: Right.
LOUIS: People forget that. They say he's a community organizer, a law professor, or law instructor, but he's a writer. He wrote most of those two books that have been best sellers. I talked, actually, with his editor who said that he was sending drafts even while he was in Africa. He likes to do it. He likes to settle down.
One interesting piece of news that I picked up on was that they have been looking at some of the early Roosevelt speeches. And so I'm looking and listening for echoes of the 1933 inaugural speech by FDR. Where he famously said in the fourth line, "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself." He has to sort of calm the nation. I think he has to reassure the nation. And he's got to let people know that we're in for the long haul. You look at the 1933 speech, that's pretty much what FDR did.
ROBERTS: In fact, let me remind you of what you said about that. You said, quote, "Obama's speech will aspire to the generational excitement of Kennedy, the call to arms of Roosevelt, and the visual romance of Reagan. So, three presidents that he's trying to embody. That's a pretty tall order.
LOUIS: Oh, no, absolutely. But you know, this wonderful backdrop that you have. I mean the idea of getting sworn in on the western face, that was Reagan. He had the Hollywood actor's sense of the dramatic moment and how you stage it so that - it is as the vision and the setting is as grand as the aspirations of the president himself.
ROBERTS: He only had a chance to do it once, though, because they had to have the one in 1985 indoors it was so cold.
LOUIS: It was so cold, exactly, so bitterly cold.
But Obama, he knows that. He knows that. So, you've got that same tension that you all were just talking about. He wants to lift us up, he wants to give us this great backdrop and all of the aspirations that we have, all of the hope. And at the same time he has some very practical problems that start at 12:01. And he starts to own them, you know, right at high noon. And there won't be any easy answers and he's going to ask for a lot of patience, I think, underneath all of the hope.
CHETRY: A lot of presidential historians and those who study speeches say it is not necessarily only what is said by an incoming president, but also how the crowd reacts. And we're talking about expecting record crowds. There were two really interesting scenarios in "The Washington Post" today. One if 1.1 million people come, and one if there is 2 million - and just how the visual, as everyone is going to be listening to him speak, as it stretches all the way to the Washington Monument. It is going to be pretty amazing.
LOUIS: Oh, absolutely. But you know, one thing to keep in mind is that there is also a lot of business that gets done in these speeches. It is a matter of setting a tone. Also, sort of settling some accounts. I mean, you know, there is a surprising amount of political sniping that goes on in these speeches. You don't normally think about it, because everybody remembers you know the big tagline. You know, "Ask not what your country can do for you" and so forth. But there are also, these presidents, they're sort of saying look, we've turned the page. What the last guys did wasn't so great. And I think we're going to hear a little bit of that today.
ROBERTS: Yes, we'll see. I think it will be tomorrow, though, won't it?
LOUIS: Oh, yes. Yes, indeed!
(LAUGHTER)
One long night of reporting.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERTS: Unless you want to stay here for the next 31 hours. All right, Errol Louis, it's good to see you.
LOUIS: It's good to see you.
ROBERTS: Thank you so much.
ROBERTS: Change is in the air as the world comes to Washington for Barack Obama's inauguration. We are going to look at how the historic event has transformed the nation's capitol coming up. And believe me, it has transformed this place.
And a reminder that CNN is teaming up with Facebook so that you can share the inauguration with your friends and family online. Register today at Facebook.com/cnn.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OBAMA: I won't pretend that meeting any one of these challenges will be easy. It will take more than a month or a year and it will likely take many. Along the way there will be setbacks and false starts, and days that test our resolve as a nation. But despite all this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, it is just about 30 minutes past the hour, here. We're live on a SPECIAL EDITION OF AMERICAN MORNING in Washington, D.C. It's about 27 degrees here right now. It's supposed to warm up to 35. That can't come fast enough.
(LAUGHTER)
The excitement, though, is really building here in Washington as we countdown to Barack Obama's inauguration. People from all over the world, literally, are here to witness the event. Obama's day begins today with a community service project to honor civil rights leader Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. And despite all the activity here, Obama is still speaking about the serious challenges facing our country. We're going to hear from him a little bit later.
Also, Obama's last day as president-elect will be a busy one. In addition to volunteering he is also going to be hosting three dinners. One of which honors his former opponent, John McCain. It is the big bipartisan dinner, right?
ROBERTS: It is.
CHETRY: Colin Powell is going to be there as well.
ROBERTS: And Colin Powell will be joining us on Wednesday morning, too. That will be great.
Hey, across the nation prayer for Barack Obama's success. Everybody has something to say about it. Yesterday the future first family took their first step in finding a permanent place to worship, attending a service at the 19th Street Baptist Church. It's one of the oldest and most historic African-American churches in the District.
Joining me to talk more about all of this is CNN Contributor David Brody.
We should point out the first thing about the 19th Street Baptist Church, it is not on 19th Street, at all.
DAVID BRODY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: That's right. They need to figure that out.
ROBERTS: It's across the street.
BRODY: They'll need to change it.
ROBERTS: It started on 19th Street. CHETRY: You need some gloves. Especially this morning.
BRODY: I know I need gloves!
ROBERTS: I have an extra pair if you - are your hands cold?
BRODY: Well, sure. I'll take a few. Thank you.
(CROSS TALK)
CHETRY: You can think better without freezing fingers.
(CROSS TALK)
ROBERTS: When your fingers don't feel like they're going to fall off you can actually put a cogent thought together.
So, what do you think? Is he going to choose 19th Street Church as his own?
BRODY: No one really knows right now. It's undecided. I will say this, though, the church makes sense from so many different vantage points. I mean, first of all it's got lively worship, which he enjoys. You know, we know that. It's got a good kids program, if you will. And the mission statement of the church fits very well with Barack Obama's value system. So, I think we're going to see, if not that church, a similar church down the road.
CHETRY: Give people out there watching today a sense of what goes into deciding on a church for a presidential family and why it is so important and there are so many factors.
BRODY: Well, a couple of things. For Barack Obama folks that are close to him will say that the Sunday school, if you will, the actual - the fact that the kids - it's very important. Family is very important to Barack Obama. So that's going to be crucial. And it's not just for Barack Obama, but for millions of folks across this country that's very important.
But you know what's interesting, Kiran, is the perception issue for Barack Obama right now. You know with the whole Jeremiah Wright situation, during the campaign. He is going to have to pick this church in a very meticulous way. Not just from his family's vantage point but from a political vantage point. And so the vetting process - I mean the Obama campaign has to get this right. I mean, let's face it, whatever church he picks, the sermons of that pastor are going to be looked over, and over, and over again. So, the folks over at the Obama campaign - or Obama campaign? - Obama administration, need to get it right.
ROBERTS: Tomorrow, here on the west front of the capitol, during the inauguration, at 11:30 tomorrow morning, Pastor Rick Warren is going to be giving the invocation, here. What do you expect he's going to say?
BRODY: Well, there's a lot of controversy whether or not he's going actually, "Jesus' name". I think that will be interesting. You know, of course, for a conservative evangelicals, you know, why wouldn't he say "Jesus' name"? I mean, he is a Christian pastor. I think he will. I think he will do that. And I don't think it won't cause too much controversy in the whole scheme of things.
But I think for Rick Warren, what you're going to see is a message that he's been talking about for years, really, which has really been a problem, somewhat, within the Christian community. Because he's been more moderate in his language. He'll talk about the need for both sides to kind of come together. A lot of what Barack Obama has been saying. That's why Barack Obama picked him. I don't think you're going to see too much controversy.
ROBERTS: Yes, it has kind of died down, hasn't it.
BRODY: It pretty much has. It pretty much has. You know, for Barack Obama it's interesting, because he really put some skin in the game here, if you will, by picking Rick Warren. And it will be interesting as we move forward to see how much skin in the game Obama will pick, or put in, with conservative evangelicals. Will he tick off, if you will, the left flank of his party as we move forward? That's going to be a very interesting story to watch.
CHETRY: And a reminder for people out there, he was controversial, in part, because of his support to ban gay marriage in California.
BRODY: That's right.
CHETRY: Thanks so much, David Brody. Great to see you.
BRODY: Great to see you.
CHETRY: Well, with more than a million people expected to flood Washington for the historic event, the security, the logistics, the issues, they're really daunting. We're going to get an inside look on the massive plans and what you should be aware of if you are coming into town for the history making inauguration.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(VIDEO CLIP FROM "WE ARE ONE" CONCERT)
ROBERTS: That's The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, part of an all-star cast kicking off Barack Obama inaugural celebration. Some 300,000 people packed The National Mall for Sunday's concert at the Lincoln Memorial and that is just a fraction of what's expected in the nation's capitol tomorrow, to see history in the making. And you've got to check out the atmosphere here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome!
(CHEERS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're here!
(CHEERS)
ROBERTS (voice over): Inaugurations are always big events, but Washington has never seen anything like this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm loving it! I'm happy! Everybody's happy!
(CHEERS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yeah, Obama!
(CHEERS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Beautiful, just look. Everybody's getting along. Everybody's happy.
ROBERTS: By the hundreds of thousands, people streamed toward the pre-inaugural concert on The Mall, disparate backgrounds, different nationalities, all with a common thought that this inaugural celebration is about far more than just politics.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I promised myself that I'd live to see history, and this mean - it just means so much, that I had to come.
ROBERTS: Jan Hunter trekked all the way from England to witness history. Pam Campbell came from just next door.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am so proud to be here. I am so excited to be part of this. And I got to tell you, we are all blessed in being part of this, each and every one of us.
ROBERTS: We talk about the shear size of this even and how many people will be here for the inauguration. You're looking at the Lincoln Memorial behind me here, the "We Are One" Concert, where Barack Obama will be speaking from virtually the same place that Martin Luther King did more than four decades ago.
And to give you a good perspective on the crowd that's here just for that event, take a look, here, down The Mall, by the reflecting pool. This crowd looks like nothing, if not the crowd that was here more than four decades ago for the "I Have A Dream" speech. And for so many people out there in the crowd, what is going to happen on Tuesday really is the culmination of all the struggles between the 1960s and now the 21st century in America.
For Pam Jackson (ph) and Desiree Tate (ph) it was impossible not to invoke images of Martin Luther King.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was a little girl, but I just remember my mother and talking about that dream. And here we are.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were talking earlier about how our moms would feel. We're sort of here representing them.
ROBERTS: Even trendy, trendy Georgetown can't help but surrender to inauguration fever.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are our Ojamas, Obama pajamas. We also have Ojama night gowns.
We've got the Audacity of Soap, special soap.
ROBERTS: From pop culture to politics artist John Stango's brush has never been hotter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Feel like you are part of something really great, and I just feel the same way. And you know, I'm doing my part, which is in the artwork. And I just feel like, hey, it doesn't get any better than this.
OBAMA: Thank you, America. God bless you.
(APPLAUSE)
ROBERTS: Long-time residents can't remember an inauguration that has captivated the capital quite like this one. And at the normally rowdy Nathan's bar, forget about Sunday football. It was all about the future.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For me it was - it's my March on Washington. It's the - I listened to my grandparents, I've listened to people, you know, all my life tell me about March on Washington. And so for me, it is my March on Washington. It is kind of breathtaking, amazing, all in one.
ROBERTS: You know, when you heard that from so many people. Everybody who we talked to yesterday, they all had a personal reflection on why this was so important to them. And it didn't matter, you know, if you were African-American, you're white, Asian. They all had something to say about the significance of this event. It could be said, you know, you have different politics, obviously, Republican, Independent, Democrat. You may feel differently about his politics, but just this sense of the significance of this historic event is something that can't be missed.
CHETRY: Everyone is proud. Everyone is certainly proud to be part of this country. And it -
ROBERTS: Real change for America.
CHETRY: And the crossing guards that were just literally leaping in the air and whooping with shear joy, that was great.
ROBERTS: I've never seen anything like it.
CHETRY: I've never seen happier crossing guards.
ROBERTS: Virginia Avenue, all the way down past the State Department was just crowded with people for hours, as they were making their way to The Mall yesterday.
CHETRY: And the cold didn't deter anyone either. I mean they were people were really just bungling up and out there waiting in lines and in really wanting to be part of it.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR, SPECIAL EDITION OF AMERICAN MORNING: They were all doing the Obama dance. Did you see that? I can't do it, very well. But they can. And you were talking about people waxing poetic. They were really like digging deep within themselves to say exactly the right thing, because it was so important to them, to express how they feel about Barack Obama becoming president of the United States.
ROBERTS: What's interesting, though, was that many people had a thought formulated right on the tip of their tongue. Because I guess they had been thinking about this so much.
COSTELLO: Oh, yeah, tears streaming down their faces. I mean, you do show - and you'd ask people, you know? What will this day mean to you, Tuesday, when Barack Obama places his hand on Lincoln's Bible and he sworn in as the 44th president of the United States? And suddenly tears would well up in their eyes, and they'd say something so beautiful. And you're right. It doesn't matter where they came from, they have been thinking about it for a long time.
ROBERTS: Yes. And again, it transcends politics. Let's say that instead of George Bush running for office in the 1999-2000 campaign. Let's say it was Colin Powell. It could have been a Republican who did exactly the same thing. It's just the degree of change in America and this realization that this country has shifted gears.
COSTELLO: Yes, because you know what's really nice, because you know, we've been in this mood of doom and gloom in this country, yet when you come here to Washington, D.C., everyone here is happy and hopeful and ready for change. And they don't expect change to happen very quickly either, but the mood is so uplifting, it's kind of makes you feel good, whatever you're political proclivities may be.
CHETRY: The only thing some aren't feeling good about is how many relatives/friends are coming to stay in their apartments.
COSTELLO: I know.
CHETRY: To witness history.
Carol Costello, good to see you. We'll be checking in with you throughout the morning as well.
COSTELLO: I'll be back.
ROBERTS: Thanks, Carol.
CHETRY: And this morning the streets here in Washington are getting busier as we get closer to landmark inauguration of Barack Obama. In just a moment we'll be looking at what's being done to keep the masses safe.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ROBERTS: Well, we're back with a special edition of the most news in the morning, here from The Mall. We're right in the very center of The Mall at about 12th Street. And potentially millions of people are expected to be here in Washington tomorrow for Barack Obama inauguration. Security has come down on this city like a giant clamp. Getting around yesterday, by car, was extraordinarily difficult. We had to do a lot of walking.
Joining me now to talk more about the security preparations, Clayton Young (ph) of Allied Barton Security Services, which is partnering with federal agencies.
ROBERTS: Why is there a need for a public/private partnership here with security?
CLAYTON YOUNG (ph), ALLIED BARTON SECURITY SERVICES: Because in Washington it is somewhat of a unique city in that you have the federal, starting with the Secret Service, and then you have the Metropolitan Police. But then you have private security agencies that are responsible for protecting critical infrastructure.
ROBERTS: Right.
YOUNG (ph): Such as the International Monetary Fund, global implications, the World Bank, global implications, the FDIC, probably also, probably most in critical would be the water supply of Washington, D.C., which Allied Barton does protect.
ROBERTS: Gotcha.
YOUNG (ph): That supplies the water not only to Washington but obviously to the White House .
CHETRY: Wow.
YOUNG (ph): So we have to be in that partnership.
CHETRY: Yeah, I mean, a monumental undertaking, no doubt. What should people know, who are planning to come here and want to take part in the inaugural celebrations? What should they be aware of or cognizant of as they are making their way to this crowded city?
YOUNG (ph): Indeed. First of all, take mass transit. That is the best advice, because as you mentioned yesterday, it was only the beginning of what you can see in terms of shutting down the city for security purposes.
ROBERTS: Yes, they closed the bridges from Virginia at about 10 o'clock in the morning.
YOUNG (ph): Yes, indeed. And tomorrow they will all be closed. The Roosevelt Bridge, the Key Bridge, the Memorial Bridge, the 14th Street Bridge, the 11th Street Bridge. All those bridges coming into Washington will be closed and so your best bet will be mass transit, number one. Also travel lightly. It will be cold obviously, but backpacks will not be allowed, large bags will not be allowed. Have proper I.D., because obviously there will be a number of checkpoints, where you will have to go through metal detectors. And so make sure that you're traveling as if you are going to an airport to get on an airplane. That's probably our best advice.
ROBERTS: Well, Clayton, answer this question for me. Because I covered the last two inaugurals.
YOUNG (ph): Yes.
ROBERTS: I was up on the actual west front of the capitol during the inauguration and didn't have any problem driving in here on the Tuesday morning. And it wasn't too difficult getting around, obviously, there were some street closure. Why is there so much more security for this inauguration?
YOUNG (ph): A couple of reasons. Number one, the shear mass of people, that will be coming into Washington, D.C. The largest previous inauguration was probably a million. We have estimates anywhere from 2 to 4 million.
CHETRY: Wow.
YOUNG (ph): So, we're looking at two or three our four times what we have expected before. Washington is trained in large crowds, but we've never seen anything like this.
Also, special security concerns. Obviously, with the president, with the inauguration. We're in two wars right now. Obviously, terrorism is a major threat. And so we have to be much more diligent than we have ever been in the past. We simply say we prepare for the worst, we pray and hope and expect the best.
ROBERTS: All right. Clayton Young (ph), it's good to talk with you this morning. Thanks for coming in.
YOUNG (ph): Thank you, both.
ROBERTS: Appreciate it. Good luck.
CHETRY: Thank you.
ROBERTS: We hope that your job goes smoothly.
YOUNG (ph): So do I.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERTS: Appreciate it.
YOUNG (ph): Thank you.
CHETRY: Thanks a lot. Well, this week the nation's capital is going to be the party capital as well, as Hollywood come east to be part of Barack Obama inauguration. Our Lola Ogunnaike made the inaugural party scene. In fact, I saw her leaving the hotel in a ball gown last night. She's going to tell us how all of the events and festivities went, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, a slew of Hollywood A-listers are in the nation's capital. They're all here to see Barack Obama make history, and also to party on the Potomac, if you want to put it that way. Our Lola Ogunnaike is getting a taste of the inaugural, after hours. Let's check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: This week D.C. is not only the nation's capital, it's the party capital. And the first stop, the Latino Inaugural Gala.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got to tell you, the best of New York is here, the best of L.A. is here, you know, a little of D.C. is out (ph). It is a really different type of vibe.
(CROWD CHANTING IN SPANISH)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we did! Yes, we did!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Washington hasn't had a bigger rock star at the helm, you know? And I think -
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Barack is definitely in. He is the biggest star here. Even though it is chock full of a lot of celebrities and we've seen them. But I mean, we're glad to be here. We're excited for the future.
OGUNNAIKE: I'd better not see you over by the bar, Megan.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I already went over there by the bar.
OGUNNAIKE: All right, getting on the train, only way to travel.
Has D.C. ever seen this many celebrities?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, like everybody is here. Every single celebrity you can think of is here.
(CHOIR SINGING)
OGUNNAIKE: So how are you feeling this evening?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel good. It's exciting. It's history. I brought my son, my mother, my father. And we're going to experience this history, I'm excited.
OGUNNAIKE: So, is Chris Tucker going to be chilling out in the Lincoln Bedroom?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he wants me to be secretary of comedy.
OGUNNAIKE: Do you have any idea who Michelle is going to wear?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have no idea. What she is going to wear, for sure, is her confidence, her intelligence, and her beauty.
OGUNNAIKE: Good answer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
OGUNNAIKE: Behind the glitz and the glamour, its me trudging to the next party. There are no cabs, and the train can't drop you off anywhere near anything. So here I am walking. How do I get to the next party, please? Somebody?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: You're actually wandering through the location we're sitting at right now, on The Mall?
OGUNNAIKE: Exactly.
CHETRY: So what did you do, just hop right over from the parties?
OGUNNAIKE: I hopped - basically, I got an hour's sleep. I sound like it don't I? But I had a really good time last night. The energy in D.C. is out of control. Everyone is so elated, euphoric. People were singing and dancing on the trains. And people from around the world are here and they just want to celebrate. It's such a good vibe.
ROBERTS: So, here's the thing that people were warning against, and that was a sense of opulence here, and ostentatious to all of this. Is there any of that at any of these galas? Or is it pretty low-key?
OGUNNAIKE: It's pretty low-key. No ostentatious displays of wealth. No over the top bling, but people look good; understated, very classic, but chic. I was really, really impressed. D.C. is not necessarily known for its style, but everyone put out their A game, at least last night. We'll see tonight, though. I've got a lot more parties to hit up.
ROBERTS: Tonight and tomorrow night.
CHETRY: Get it now.
OGUNNAIKE: Tonight and tomorrow night, oh yes.
(CROSS TALK)
OGUNNAIKE: That was just an appetizer. The entree is coming.
CHETRY: Exactly. Thanks, Lola.
ROBERTS: How would you like to have this redecorating project? Meet the man in charge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of the things I really like and I try to always do ...
ROBERTS: On inauguration eve, a sneak peak at the redecorating of the East Wing for the Obama family, on the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One of the things I really like, and I try to always do for myself, as well as for houses that I do, is to put together a variety of fabrics and textures and things which give the room more character. I just find it really kind of compelling and interesting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the most news in the morning. That was California designer Michael Smith. He's the Obama's decorator and chief. Smith is going to be helping design the East Wing. It is the private living quarters of the White House.
Deborah Needleman is the editor-in-chief of "Domino" magazine. She's a colleague of Smith's and she is here to talk a little bit about what we can expect.
Thanks for being with us.
DEBORAH NEEDLEMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "DOMINO": Thanks for having me.
CHETRY: Out here in the cold.
NEEDLEMAN: Thanks for having me.
CHETRY: So the first order of business is they, you know, put their personal touches on it and make the White House home, is working with the children's rooms, Malia and Sasha. What can we expect? Or what are they going to be looking toward? Or what are some of the things to keep in mind when you're trying to decorate for young kids?
NEEDLEMAN: I think that one thing Michael does really well, which is quite relevant in the White House, is he has a lot of very wealthy high-end clients, with very grand houses. And he's used to making very palatial spaces cozy and warm and intimate. And clearly that is something you need to do with the children's rooms. And so, I think, the idea is to make the rooms as comfortable and normal as possible, so that the children can have sleepovers, and do their homework and make life as normal as possible.
CHETRY: That's neat. And do you know anything about what types of designs he favors? Or sort of what styles we're looking at?
NEEDLEMAN: Well, his style is sort of very classical, old world European, influenced, but filtered through his own very kind of laid- back California sensibility. So, the rooms are very breezy and comfortable and you really do feel like, even though there is a lot of fine furniture in these rooms, that you can kick and, you know, the rooms aren't so precious. And I think that's probably something that appealed to the Obamas.
Another thing is that Michelle Obama has talked about wanting to bring 20th century American furniture and art into the White House. Surprisingly there is very little from the 20th century in the White House.
CHETRY: Really?
NEEDLEMAN: And that's a passion of Michael's. And of mixing different periods and different styles, is a real talent of his. And I think something that we'll see in the White House.
CHETRY: And then just in terms of practical matters, right now, they are going to be staying at the Blair House.
NEEDLEMAN: Yes.
CHETRY: How long does this take and how long is it out with the old in with the new?
NEEDLEMAN: It's kind of an amazing process. At about 10 or 10:30 tomorrow morning, the Bushes will leave and the Obamas and their boxes will arrive. And traditionally sometimes the families will sit and have coffee together, but basically, they have about five hours to take all the Obama's boxes and unpack everything and set it up so that after the inaugural luncheon, the family can come home and it is set up like a home.
CHETRY: What about all the redecorating, like changing wallpaper? That's all happening -
NEEDLEMAN: Well, that, that won't all happen, but I think the goal for tomorrow, is just for them to come back from that lunch and this to be their home. And it to be ready for them and that the girls could climb into bed if they want to.
CHETRY: Wow, talk about pressure.
NEEDLEMAN: Yes.
CHETRY: That's worse than the "Trading Spaces" timeline.
NEEDLEMAN: Yes, I know it's incredible. CHETRY: But a bigger budget.
NEEDLEMAN: The chief usher heads it up with about 90 assistants, including the decorator.
CHETRY: That is fascinating. Deborah Needleman, thanks so much, editor-in-chief of "Domino" magazine.
NEEDLEMAN: Thank you for having me.
CHETRY: Thanks for being with us this morning.
NEEDLEMAN: Thanks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS (voice over): Countdown to history.
OBAMA: Thank you, America.
ROBERTS: As the nation remembers the good doctor.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: Now is the time!
ROBERTS: Barack Obama looks back on his road to the White House.
OBAMA: There's a pool that still reflects the dream of a king.
ROBERTS: And gets ready to write a new chapter in America's story.
OBAMA: There is no obstacle that can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change.
ROBERTS: This morning, a new generation, people of very creed and color, start a new journey to their nation's capital, to take a snapshot in their minds for future generations.
It's inauguration eve, live from The National Mall on a SPECIAL AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: And welcome. Thanks so much for being with us this morning. This is a SPECIAL EDITION OF AMERICAN MORNING. We're live here at The National Mall. We have the beautiful shot of the capitol right behind us, all lit up. And in front we're looking at the Washington Monument. It is about 27 degrees right now. It should warm up a little bit later. But, hey, we'll take it, compared to the single digits we were dealing with in New York last week.
ROBERTS: A hand warmer is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
CHETRY: It is.
And, you know, of course, tomorrow Barack Obama will be making history, becoming the first black president of the United States. And today, we have many different people with us to talk more about it. What we can expect in the festivities taking place here for the past three days.
ROBERTS: Yes, Barack Obama is going to take the oath of office behind us here, in what is called the West Front of the capitol. There are usually steps that come down, but they have built this elaborate balcony out there to hold everyone. It's the same thing they do every four years.
Directly opposite the Lincoln Memorial, is where the capitol building is. That is where Martin Luther King, Jr. talked about his dream, close to a half a century ago. Barack Obama was there yesterday as well. Today, Barack Obama will ask the country to engage in community service to honor Doctor King.
