The next presidential inauguration will occur on January 20th, 2009. Upon that day Barack Obama will take the oath of office and be sworn in as the next president of the United States.

The American presidential inauguration occurs every four years and invites a spectacular amount of fanfare. The new president gets his own day of feasting, procession, statesmanship, and celebration. The United States marks its transition of government with a day of events that have developed over time to become our modern-day inauguration.

The theme for the 2009 Inauguration of Barack Obama is "A New Birth of Freedom," which honors the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth.

Thought to be the greatest of all addresses, Abraham Lincoln gave his second inaugural address in March, Detail, Abraham Lincoln meets with military advisors, February, 1865, City Point, Virginia. Oil by George P. A. Healy.1865. With the Union embroiled in civil war, Lincoln invoked God to bring a speedy end to the fighting. However, he went on state his acceptance if God were to allow bloodshed to continue after hundreds of years of slavery, because “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

The first president, George Washington, was inaugurated at Federal Hall in New York on April 30, 1789. Washington repeated the oath, read by Chancellor Robert Livingston of New York, with one hand on the Bible: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States. And will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Establishing a custom that has been followed by all succeeding presidents, Washington added, “So help me God” at the end.

Washington needed only 135 words to complete the address at his second inauguration in 1793. Some 48 years later, President William Henry Harrison needed 8495 words to complete his address. During that address, which lasted some two hours in the cold weather, Harrison failed to wear a winter coat and developed pneumonia. He died a month later.

Now, a word from your classmate: So, everyone needs to pay attention to how many words President-Elect Obama uses in his inaugural address and whether or not he wears a coat. Hopefully, he will be a great President who can lead our country through these troubled times.