Tomorrow Mostly Park City sunny, warmer. TUESDAY 41/25 JANUARY 20, 2009 Details, Page 2A DAILY NEWS Year 154 – No. 20, 38 Pages, 5 Sections www.bgdailynews.com Bowling Green, Kentucky CHANGE in AMERICA BARACK OBAMA BECOMES 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Jae C. Hong/AP History unfolds Index Online Classifieds ............. 5C See link to Associated Press •Obama takes office in historic event. Comics .................. 7C •Local residents witness history. Crossword ............. 7C video of the inauguration •Move over, boomer presidents. Deaths .................... 5A and the parade scene at Money ................... 1B 75¢ Newsstand •Capitol scene frenetic. Sports .................... 1C 33¢ Daily Home Delivery www.bgdailynews.com •Letters to Michelle Obama. Sudoku .................. 6C These stories and more, Pages 1-4D TV .......................... 4C $20$20 DAILY NEWS, BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY Inauguration TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009 - PAGE 1D Mark Wilson/AP Barack Obama is sworn in today by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as the 44th president of the United States on the West Front of the Capitol in Washington. Obama’s wife, Michelle, holds the Bible. PRESIDENT OBAMA After whirlwind rise from Illinois Senate, nation’s 44th president takes his place in history amid economic turmoil, ongoing wars By TERENCE HUNT “There is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Stepping into history, of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.” Barack Hussein Obama grasped the reins of President Barack Obama power as America’s first black president today, Giving inaugural address saying the nation must choose “hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord” to “Our time of standing pat, of protecting nar- many Americans’ jobs, savings and homes. overcome the worst economic crisis since the row interests and putting off unpleasant deci- Obama’s election was cheered around the Great Depression. sions – that time has surely passed,” Obama world as a sign that America will be more In frigid temperatures, an exuberant crowd said in an undisguised shot at Bush adminis- embracing, more open to change. “To the of more than a million packed the National tration policies. “Starting today, we must pick Muslim world,” Obama said, “we seek a new Mall and parade route to celebrate Obama’s ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin the way forward, based on mutual interest and inauguration in a high-noon ceremony. They work of remaking America.” mutual respect.” filled the National Mall, stretching from the The dawn of the new Democratic era – with Still, he bluntly warned, “To those leaders inaugural platform at the U.S. Capitol to the Obama allies in charge of both houses of Con- around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or Lincoln Memorial in the distance. gress – ends eight years of Republican control blame their society’s ills on the West – know With 11 million Americans out of work and of the White House by Bush, who leaves that your people will judge you on what you Charles Dharapak/AP trillions of dollars lost in the stock market’s Washington as one of the nation’s most unpop- can build, not what you destroy.” The presidential seal is affixed on the door of the new presiden- tumble, Obama emphasized that his biggest ular and divisive presidents, the architect of “To those who cling to power through cor- tial limousine that took President George W. Bush and Presi- challenge is to repair the tattered economy left two unfinished wars and the man in charge at ruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, dent-elect Barack Obama from the White House to the inaugu- behind by outgoing President George W. Bush. a time of economic calamity that swept away See OBAMA, 4D ration ceremony at the Capitol in Washington. Kentuckians gather in D.C. to celebrate at Bluegrass Ball By JIM GAINES The Daily News [email protected]/783-3242 On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the impending inauguration of Barack Obama as president brought out a spirit of unity among the crowds thronging Washington, D.C., including more than 1,000 Ken- tuckians attending the Bluegrass Ball on Monday night. At that event in the Marriott Ward- man Park, co-spon- Daily News reporter sored by the nonprof- Miranda Pederson/Daily News it Kentucky Society Sheila Briscow of Franklin applauds today as President-elect Barack Obama appears Jim Gaines is reporting of Washington, the onscreen during an inauguration watch party at Shake Rag Reed’s Restaurant. from Washington, D.C. crowd applauded Republicans and Democrats alike as they made grand entrances: Gov. Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo, Locals celebrate inauguration Jim Gaines/Daily News Democrats; U.S. senators Mitch McConnell and Jim Democratic activists Shailen Bhatt (center) and Kerry By ROBYN L. MINOR “I was hoping to see a day Bunning, Republicans; U.S. representatives Ben Morgan (right), both of Bowling Green, chat with The Daily News Chandler and John Yarmuth, Democrats; and reps. Bhatt’s date, Hepa Patel of Washington, D.C., on Mon- [email protected]/783-3249 like today ... now that it’s Geoff Davis and newly elected Brett Guthrie of Bowl- day night in Washington during the Bluegrass Ball. The excitement was palpable this morning here, it’s very overwhelming.” ing Green, Republicans. as Bowling Green residents gathered at Before the ball, bourbon flowed at the “Walk Along “It’s always wonderful to be honored by your own,” Shake Rag Reed’s Restaurant to watch Jim McDaniels the Kentucky Bourbon Trail” reception, at which all she said. He hasn’t lived in Louisville since age 18, Barack Obama being sworn in as the Watching inauguration today the major manufacturers had samples ready. Inside, but it’s always been recognized as his hometown, she nation’s 44th president. guests ate Kentucky food, danced to Kentucky bands said. About 175 people gathered for the event, applause when Obama first appeared on tele- and rose to honor a famous Kentucky native who They recently bought a house in Kentucky, and are which was sponsored by the Warren County vision, many wiping tears from their eyes. made a brief appearance – Muhammad Ali. spending much more time there – in Louisville and at Democratic Committee and served as a Prior to the 11 a.m. swearing-in, residents Beshear presented him with a sculpture of Abraham the Muhammad Ali Center, the cultural center he chance to meet state Senate candidate Mike reflected on what it means to see the first Lincoln and one of a pair of paintings showing Ali and established, Lonnie Ali said. Reynolds, a Bowling Green attorney. black man take the oath of office. Obama; the other will go to the new president. She said Muhammad Ali has only met Obama a The crowd in the restaurant erupted into See RESIDENTS, 4D Ali’s wife, Lonnie, met with reporters afterward. See KENTUCKIANS, 4D PAGE 2D - TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2009 Inauguration DAILY NEWS, BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY Bushes welcome the Obamas By DEB RIECHMANN House press secretary Dana He hasn’t changed. He gave ed a copy of the message he The Associated Press Perino said today. me a big kiss on the forehead.” had received from Bush’s WASHINGTON — Presi- She said the two-term She said Bush took one last father. dent George W. Bush wel- Republican incumbent wrote stroll around the south Bush’s final half-day as comed President-elect Barack the message to his Democratic grounds of the White House president included a goodbye Obama at the White House successor on Monday and left and spent the rest of his final to Washington and a hello today with a few hearty pats Jill, and leaders of the Joint it in the top drawer of his desk, morning there with his wife, from fellow Texans. on the arm, a symbolic gesture Congressional Committee on which was crafted from tim- their daughters, Barbara and After the swearing-in cere- to the transfer of power soon Inaugural Ceremonies. bers from the H.M.S. Resolute Jenna; and his father and mony at the Capitol, Bush was to take place. Keeping with a White and given to the U.S. by Great mother, former President scheduled to take a helicopter Obama and his wife, House ritual, Bush left a note Britain in 1879. George H.W. Bush and former to Andrews Air Force Base, Michelle, walked up the steps for Obama in his desk in the Bush was in the office first lady Barbara Bush. where he was to make private of the North Portico and Oval Office, wishing him well before 7 a.m. EST. He spoke During his last moments at remarks inside a hangar. exchanged handshakes, smiles as he takes the reins of power. on the phone with Secretary of the White House, former Pres- The Bushes were then plan- and pecks on the cheeks with “I won’t provide any State Condoleezza Rice, ident Ronald Reagan scrib- ning to fly to Midland, Texas, the outgoing president and details, but the theme is simi- National Security Adviser bled a note for his successor on the familiar blue-and-white first lady Laura Bush. lar to what he’s said since Stephen Hadley, former White on a notepad with a turkey presidential aircraft, although After posing for a photo- election night about the fabu- House chief of staff Andy insignia that said, “Don’t let it will be called Special Air graph, the foursome went lous new chapter President- Card and T.D. Jakes, the pas- the turkeys get you down.” Mission 28000 instead of Air inside to have coffee in the elect Obama is about to start, tor of a megachurch in Dallas He, too, slipped the note in the Force One because Bush will Blue Room with Vice Presi- and that he wishes him the who spoke at a private church presidential desk for his suc- no longer be president.