Barack H. Obama shakes the hand of Chief Justice John Roberts after his swearing in as the 44th president of the United Statesas on the West Front of the Capitol as his wife Michelle looks on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama becomes the first African-American to be elected to the office of President in the history of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s private swearing-in will be a brief, sparsely attended ceremony in the Blue Room of the White House.
White House spokesman Jay Carney says Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office on Sunday just before noon, the time required by the Constitution. Obama’s family will attend along with a few reporters, and Obama isn’t expected to make a speech.
The Constitution requires that the president be sworn in on Jan. 20, but since that falls on a Sunday this year, Obama will have two ceremonies: one on Sunday and a larger, public ceremony on Monday, followed by a parade and inaugural balls.
Vice President Joe Biden will be sworn in during a separate ceremony Sunday morning at the Naval Observatory.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
