White House Correspondents Insider
Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.
# of applause breaks: 25
# of minutes Obama spoke: 15
# of times Obama invoked this generation and “together:” 7
# of times Obama invoked a journey: 6
# of times Obama said Americans: 4
# of times economy is mentioned: 3
# of angry Boenhers at the Inaugural Luncheon: 1
Join us (virtually) at the Old Ebbett Grill as Huffington Post is live with their video coverage and HuffPostLive. We’ll be here streaming and shooting throughout the Inaugural events until 4:00 p.m. eastern.
Welcome to the 57th Presidential Inauguration! We’re here live at the Old Ebbett Grill directly on the parade route and comfortably heated. We’re having a bit of a viewing party with our friends from Third Way and Huffington Post’s HuffPost Live along with their D.C. bureau.
We’re offering the usual Insider information related to the Inaugural along with live video from Huffington Post.
We’ll be updating throughout the day with video and photos.
Good morning and happy Inauguration Day/Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Here’s all you’ll need to know while waiting in the parade line and fidgeting for AT&T service.
Know how there’s supposed to be less attendees at the Inaugural? It’s still in six figures, but a more manageable six figures. The gridlock around downtown D.C. will be like a Monday multiplied by Wednesday’s Metro Fail.
Huffington Post profiles the episcopal priest that replaces Gigligo:
“[The Reverend Louis] Leon’s own parish is known for welcoming openly gay members. The church, which has openly gay, non-celibate priests and has had a gay bishop, announced this summer that it would bless same-sex partnerships and ordain transgender priests. This month, the Washington National Cathedral, an Episcopal church, announced that it would also begin same-sex marriage ceremonies.”
The AARP profiles Charlie Brotman, the man who will be announcing his 16th Inaugural Parade today:
“Brotman, now 85, has been the official announcer for every inaugural parade but one since then. He didn’t man the microphone for President Dwight Eisenhower’s first parade in 1953, but ironically, it was Eisenhower who probably made him the go-to voice from then on.
Here’s how it happened. In 1956, Brotman, who as a child lived with his parents and sister behind the family’s corner grocery store in the nation’s capital, landed a dream job as the stadium announcer for Washington’s baseball team, the Senators. When President Eisenhower came to throw the first pitch on opening day, it was Brotman who squired him around and introduced him to the team. Eisenhower liked him so much that the White House asked Brotman to announce the president’s second inaugural parade, in 1957.”
WaPo historically breaks down weather patterns over the Inaugurals:
“The 1985 swearing-in ceremony remains the coldest of all presidential inaugurations since D.C. weather records began. Ironically, it was preceded by the warmest January inauguration just four years earlier. When President Reagan took the oath of office in 1981, the temperature was 55ºF at 12 p.m., and peaked at 56 degrees later that afternoon.”
Metro’s operating schedule is like all the worst parts (Peak fares) with the worst of the weekend (Yellow Line ends at Gallery Place-Chinatown.)
The Christian Science Monitor has an Inaugural quiz to test your knowledge. Cabs are a $1 more from 4 a.m.until midnight, which even effects UberTaxi.
The Internet Association and sf.citi came back to D.C. in style last night. The two dot-com firms welcomed America’s mayors at the “Welcome Innovation” reception lat Local 16. Co-chaired by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and MC Hammer, or as Digital Media Advisor for House and Finance Tom Wilbur tweeted, “NBD.”
Among those at the soiree was the CEO of the Internet Association Michael Beckerman, Eve O’Toole (Holland and Knight) and others attending the 81st Winter Meeting of The United States Conference of Mayors.
Of course there’s an unique Foursquare badge for the Inauguration, but there’s also one for the Day of Service. The partnership between Foursquare and the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced the new badge today for those attending the January 19 event on the Mall. If you’re not in the District, PIC has information on nationwide service events.
“At Foursquare, we were so inspired by the idea of a lifelong commitment that we created the first Foursquare badge to reward volunteerism,” said Foursquare CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Crowley. “Along with the Presidential Inaugural Committee, we encourage all Americans to get out and serve in their own communities to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama and the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
Besides, there’s a better chance to unlock this badge than the “I Tried to Check-In At the Inaugural Parade 2013 But AT&T Failed Us.”
Among the other announcements today about Chelsea Clinton and who’ll be speaking at the Inaugural Day of Service, AT&T has released the official app of the 2013 Inauguration.
Available for free on iOS and Android, the Inaugural app seems like an essential tool this weekend. While the social scheduler is lax, focusing primarily on the Day of Service, the Inaugural ceremonies and parade. There’re options to view volunteer opportunities around the District, along with the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s blog and pre-loaded map of the parade route with First Aid, food and screen locations marked out.
The app may be the least of your inaugural woes if AT&T’s extra cell towers are nothing more than an eyesore. Reception’s still spotty downtown, frequently bringing our snail-like 3G all the way back to the dreaded E. If the app could promise us clear calls and full bars, we’d forego even the Google Maps app in place of the official Inaugural one. So what is the best feature for the Inauguration app?
Letting us know when we’ve lost the signal this weekend. And the map.
Prepare for the full list of speakers and performers during the 2013 Day of Service on the Inaugural Weekend. Ranging from Hollywood starlets like Eva Longoria, Fraggle friendly rockers like Ben Folds or politicans like Represetative Tammy Duckworth among a large list of who’s who. Featuring nearly a hundred non-profit organizations behind the Service Summit, the Day of Service will be one of the Inaugurals major events.
The full release is below.
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The Presidential inaugural Committee announced that Chelsea Clinton will act as an Honorary Chair for the 2013 Day of Service.
“We are thrilled that Chelsea Clinton will play such a critical role in mobilizing Americans across the country to take part in the National Day of Service,” said PIC President and CEO Steve Kerrigan. “Through her work with the Clinton Foundation and her recent efforts to help communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Chelsea sets a remarkable example for serving and strengthening our country. As Honorary Chair, she will be instrumental in helping lead the President’s call to service and growing this important tradition.”
Politico rounds up Clinton’s quotes from earlier today on CNN:
“I’m proud to be the honorary chair of the National Day of Service happening this Saturday, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy. It’s the perfect way to kick off the inauguration weekend because anyone can participate, and we know that when we work together, we will achieve more than one person could on his or her own.
President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, members of Congress and their families will be rolling up their sleeves at service projects in our nation’s capital. But you don’t have to be in Washington to get involved. From repairing fire-damaged homes in Colorado and cleaning sidewalks in Detroit to spending time with children with disabilities in New Orleans, every state will offer opportunities to volunteer.”
“There is no more fitting way to mark a presidential inauguration than a day of service,” said Chelsea Clinton. “Coming together as a country to strengthen our communities has always been part of the American spirit. I am deeply grateful that President Obama and his administration have put service at the center of the Inauguration weekend and I am proud to be part of a nation-wide service effort, honoring the service and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and building a brighter future for all of us.”
The Presidential Inaugural Committee released a short-list today of the artists performing for the Kids’ Inaugural Concert. It will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, January 19, and is the same venue as the official Inaugural ball on Monday, January 21.
The events will include appearances by Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Far East Movement, fun., members of the cast of Glee, John Legend, Katy Perry, Marc Anthony, Mindless Behavior, Nick Cannon, Smokey Robinson, Soul Children of Chicago, Stevie Wonder and Usher.
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