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Inauguration Night

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President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Special  Broadcast at 7pm today.

It’s done. Barack Obama is President of the United States.

His speech was tough. Tough love. The crowd was vast, stretching to the horizon of Washington’s great Mall and beyond. Aretha Franklin sang. Ted Kennedy collapsed.

There were few dry eyes, and many shouts of joy as President Obama and now First Lady Michelle Obama got out of their car and walked on Pennsylvania Avenue. And now, the balls begin. It has been a day for America’s history books. This Hour, On Point: a live wrap-up of President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Day.

You can join the conversation. What will you take away from this day? From President Obama’s inaugural?Guests:

Edna Greene Medford, professor of history at Howard University and expert in 19th-century African-American history. She's co-author of "The Emancipation Proclamation: Three Views." She joined us on January 2 for an hour on the memory of emancipation today.

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst.

Howard Fineman, senior Washington correspondent and columnist at Newsweek and author of “The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country.”

James Pryde, a member of the Tuskeegee Airmen, the elite group of all-black aviators in World War II. Their bravery during the war helped persuade then President Harry Truman to desegregate the military in 1948. The surviving members were invited to attend today’s inauguration.

Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard and co-host of "The Beltway Boys" on Fox News.

Anne Schroeder Mullins, gossip columnist for Politico, where she writes the Shenanigans blog.  She's covering the inaugural balls.

This program aired on January 20, 2009.

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