Today’s inauguration ceremonies ran smoothly until two U.S senators both required medical attention.
Senator Ted Kennedy (D- MA), 76, suffered a mild seizure during the inauguration lunch, and Senator Robert Byrd (D-VA), 91, required medical attention after being distraught over Kennedy’s seizure, CNN reported.
Byrd has since recovered, and Kennedy was transported to Washington Hospital Center.
‘After testing, we believe the incident was brought on by simple fatigue,’ neurologist Edward Aulisi said. ‘Senator Kennedy is awake, talking with family and friends, and feeling well.’
Kennedy is expected to be released Wednesday.
In May of 2008, Kennedy suffered his first seizure, later determined to be caused by a malignant brain tumor, which was removed in June. Throughout his treatment, Kennedy continued his staunch support.
Earlier around the Mall, the frigid temperatures hospitalized roughly 20 people before 10 a.m., MSNBC reported.
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Inaugural Poem
Obama chose his friend, poet Elizabeth Alexander, to read the inaugural poem ‘Praise Song for the Day.’ The Yale University professor of African-American studies is a former faculty colleague from Obama’s teaching days at the University of Chicago.
Within hours of the reading of the inaugural poem there were already comments posted on the Internet.
The majority of people feel that the poem was too simple and slowly delivered, lacking appropriate depth and passion for the moment.
Others loved it and believed the poem was true and faithful, its simple words creating complex and detailed pictures.
Safety and Security by the Numbers
170 million ‘- Estimated dollar amount the inauguration cost
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20,000 – National Guardsmen ready to respond if there was an emergency
10,000 – National Guardsmen on site
8,000 – Police officers from the District of Columbia
5,000 ‘- Portable restrooms (Yes, that’s safety)
1,000 – FBI personnel
150 ‘- Number of multi-agency intel teams in the region
5 ‘- Number of inches thick ‘The Beast’ (Obam’s limo) is
0 ‘- Number of vulnerabilities ‘The Beast’ has. RPGs, chemical and biological weapons don’t even stand a chance.
To ensure an early start and good seats, Jordan Conrad, a 22-year-old Concordia student and his Canadian friends spent the night in a D.C. office building.’
He said the scene at the mall was ‘post apocalyptic.’
‘It was like the world had just ended and the only place life existed was on the Mall,’ he said. ‘Some streets were completely desolate, blocked off by Greyhound buses while others were filled with people who were literally neck to neck.’
Inaugural Tradition
Obama’s inauguration’ had several allusions to Abraham’ Lincoln at the bicentennial anniversary of’ Lincoln’s birth. Obama swore to ‘preserve, protect and defend” the country with his’ hand’ on the’ same’ Bible’ that’ Lincoln used.
The oath included the same’ 37 words spoken’ since the time of George Washington. It comes from Article II , Section I’ of the U.S. Constitution. It’s the only’ sentence in the document that is in’ quotation marks: ‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.’
According to the’ US’ Senate website, George Washington added ‘So help me God’, and’ so has’ every president since.
Obama’ marks the first president since John F. Kennedy to bring children’ into’ the White House.’
Calvin’ Coolidge’ had the first radio cast, and’ Harry S. Truman’ had the first television’ broadcast.’
The’ post-oath celebrations have evolved into their own tradition, all planned by the a committee. The inaugural parade began with Washington’s travel from’ his home in Mount Vernon, Va. to New York City.
The inaugural balls have been part of the celebration’ since James’ Madison’s 1989 inauguration. Bill Clinton’s second inauguration set the current record of 14.’ ‘
