Clinton Makes State Department Debut
(AP)
"I am absolutely honored and thrilled beyond words to be here with you as our nation's 67th Secretary of State," Clinton said. "And I believe, with all of my heart, that this is a new era for America."
Clinton, who was confirmed yesterday, faces a host of challenges in her new job, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, conflict in the Middle East, and potential threats in Iran and Pakistan.
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Day 2: Obama Moves Toward Government Transparency
(Pete Souza)
The president made moves to limit lobbyists' influence on the White House, make agencies more responsive to Freedom Of Information Act requests, and limit pay for White House aides.
He also placed calls to Middle Eastern leaders and was briefed on the economy and the situation in Iraq.
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Clinton Confirmed As Secretary Of State
(AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The chamber voted 94 to two to confirm Clinton, a fierce rival of President Obama for the Democratic nomination. Though some Republicans had expressed concerns about conflicts of interest related to Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, they were not enough to derail her nomination.
Clinton will now be immediately sworn in at a private ceremony. She faces daunting foreign policy challenges, including wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the conflict in the Middle East.
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Obama Freezes Pay For White House Employees, Limits Lobbyists
(AP)
President Obama today announced that he is freezing the pay of aides making more than that amount, a group that includes the White House chief of staff, national security adviser and press secretary, according to the Associated Press.
"Families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington," the president said.
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President Obama's First Full Day
(Pete Souza)
Mr. Obama read the note left to him by his predecessor, former President Bush. The note was contained in an envelope marked "To: #44, From: #43."
Rahm Emanuel, the White House Chief of Staff, entered the Oval Office at 8:45 to discuss the day's events. Roughly 25 minutes later, first lady Michelle Obama entered the room.
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Obama Attends National Prayer Service
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Dr. Sharon Watkins, general minister and president of Disciples of Christ and the first woman to deliver the sermon at the service, said Mr. Obama's choices in office should reflect the values and ethics of the Lord, reports CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller.
"Some has to stand watch and be ready to defend - and Mr. President - tag, you're it," she said.
Mr. Obama and his wife sat in the front row at the service, held at the National Cathedral in Washington. Also seated in the front row were Vice President Joe Biden, Jill Biden, and Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Twenty religious leaders from different faiths participated in the hour-an-a-half long service. According to the Associated Press, President Obama sang along while a children's choir sang "He's got the whole world in his hands."
"...we need you to hold the ground of your deepest values, of our deepest values," Watkins said in her sermon. "We need you to stay focused on our shared hopes, so that we can continue to hope, too."
The Washington Post reports that because so many members of Congress planned to attend the invitation only service, a markup session for Eric H. Holder Jr., the attorney-general designate, was postponed.
Geithner Apologizes, Lays Out Economic Plan
(AP Photo/Ian Barrett)
Though the failure to pay taxes was "unintentional," Geithner said he "should have been more careful.'' Here's a primer on Geithner's tax problems.
In his opening statement before at the hearing, Geithner, who will play a central role in rehabilitating the U.S. economy if confirmed, told Senate committee members that "markets alone cannot solve all problems."
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Bush: "It Is Good To Be Home"
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
They had gathered for a homecoming celebration marking the beginning of Mr. Bush's post-presidential life.
Among those in the crowd, the Associated Press reports, was one little boy waving a multicolored sign reading, "President Bush, thank you for keeping me safe."
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
"The presidency was a joyous experience, but as great as it was, nothing compares with Texas at sunset," Mr. Bush said. "Tonight I have the privilege of saying six words that I have been waiting to say for a while – it is good to be home."
Obama Orders Halt To All Pending Regulations
(AP)
This afternoon, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel signed a memorandum to stop all pending regulations until a legal and policy review can be conducted by the new administration, CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller reports. The memo was sent to all agencies and departments.
The information was revealed in the White House press office's first release under President Obama.
Senate Confirms Six Obama Cabinet Picks
(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)
The six, per CBS News Capitol Hill reporter John Nolen, are Energy Secretaru Steven Chu; Education Secretary Arne Duncan; Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano; Secretary Of The Interior Ken Salazar, Veterans Affairs Dierector Gen. Eric Shinseki; and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. (Check out the CBS News Cabinet page here.)
A floor vote on Clinton, as we reported earlier, was blocked by Republican John Cornyn of Texas. Her nomination will be on the Senate Floor tomorrow, and three hours of debate are scheduled.
The former first lady is expected to be confirmed easily.
Sen. Kennedy Suffers Seizure
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
"Senator Edward Kennedy experienced a seizure today while attending a luncheon for President Barack Obama in the U.S. Capitol," Dr. Edward Aulisi, Chairman of Neurosurgery at Washington Hospital Center, said in a statement. "After testing, we believe the incident was brought on by simple fatigue."
"He was shaking, convulsing," a Senate official who witnessed the events from the overhead catwalk said, according to the pool reporter. "A woman was holding him. They lowered him into a wheelchair and he was still seizing. He was shaking."
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Bush Street? Not Anymore
(Andrew Mager)
Bush Says Goodbye
(AP)
Vice President Joe Biden saluted the helicopter as it took off.
Mr. Bush headed for Andrews Air Force Base, where he arrived a short time ago. As the Associated Press reports, his helicopter passed over the masses of supporters of Mr. Obama who came to Washington to celebrate the new president's inauguration.
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Was Obama The 44th President To Take The Oath?
(AP Photo)
Though Hotsheet is still consulting its history books, it appears that the question ultimately rests with former President Grover Cleveland. Cleveland was both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, from 1885–1889 and 1893–1897; he was the only president to serve two, non-consecutive terms.
President Obama's apparent error, then, is this: While Mr. Obama is the 44th president, he is only the 43rd American to take the oath – since Cleveland took it twice.
Barack Obama's Inaugural Address
We've posted President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address in full. You can see it here.
