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Obama steps to door of White House - and history

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-20 08:48

Referring to his imminent new job, he said, "I am making a commitment to you as your next president that we are going to make government work."

An employee of Japan's Ogawa Rubber Inc paints an eye on a rubber mask of U.S President-elect Barack Obama at the company's factory in Saitama city, suburban Tokyo January 19, 2009. Ogawa Rubber said it has produced and sold more than 2,500 Obama face masks since December, and 1,000 more are being manufactured, making it their fastest selling product. [Agencies]

Obama's public events recalled his time as a community service organizer in Chicago, in the years before he entered politics. An Illinois state senator a mere four years ago, he won election to the US Senate in 2004 and announced his candidacy for the White House in early 2007.

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A party atmosphere took hold on the National Mall. As light snow fell intermittently, small crowds gathered around large-screen televisions showing reruns of Sunday afternoon's concert featuring a star-studded cast. Several blocks from where Obama will take the oath of office, the Boy's Choir of Kenya gave an impromptu performance for anyone who happened to be nearby.

"Mission Accomplished," read the headline on a souvenir magazine that bore the picture of Obama and his wife.

Two wreaths materialized at the site of a future memorial to King on the Mall in an area on the Tidal Basin between the Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. "The cadence and syntax of Obama, it comes directly from Dr. King," said Kirk Moses, a retired high school teacher as others in his group took pictures of the bronze plaque marking the spot for the future memorial.

Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino said Defense Secretary Robert Gates had been designated to stay away from Tuesday's inaugural festivities "in order to ensure continuity of government." By custom, one government official stays away when others in the line of presidential succession attend public events. Gates has been tapped to remain in his post by Obama.

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