The historic inauguration of President Barack Obama comes at another prime historic occasion, the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth, who, like Obama, was an Illinois lawmaker before he rose to the highest political post in the U.S. Many have made references to other similarities between the newly elected President and the man who was once called the Great Emancipator, with both having set major precedents for African Americans. In line with that legacy, Obama will be including quite a few elements of Lincoln’s own inauguration with his.
Sworn in on Lincoln’s Bible
Obama became the first president to be sworn in using this Bible since Abraham Lincoln.
The Lincoln Inaugural Bible can be viewed at the Library of Congress from February 12 to May 9 as part of an exhibition called “With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition.â€
The exhibit opens to the public on the second floor of the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building at 10 First Street S.E., in Washington D.C.
Inaugural Luncheon
The first course will be served on replicas of the china selected by Mary Todd Lincoln during at the beginning of her husband’s term in office. The china features the American bald eagle standing above the U. S. Coat of Arms, surrounded by a wide border of a purple-red hue popular among the fashionable hosts of the time.
In celebrating the inauguration, you can create the meal yourself by following recipes released by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.