inauguration news stories on Newser

Russia Inaugurates Vladimir Putin Third Time

Matt Cantor — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:02:51 CDT

Calling for a "single, united" nation, Vladimir Putin has begun his third term as Russia's president—a term set to make him Russia's longest-serving leader since Stalin. Following protests yesterday , Putin was sworn in at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow in a $664,000 ceremony. In a brief speech,...

Chicago Swears In Emanuel

Polly Davis Doig — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:43:09 CDT

It was a departure of sorts for Rahm Emanuel today, a swearing in , as opposed to the swearing at he's famously used to. The potty-mouthed former White House chief of staff today became Chicago's first new mayor in two decades, taking the oath of office and officially marking the end...

7.2 Quake Shakes Chile Inauguration

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:39:36 CST

The largest aftershock since Chile's massive earthquake rocked the country today minutes before the inauguration of President Sebastian Pinera. The 7.2-magnitude aftershock was stronger than the Jan. 12 quake that devastated the Haitian capital. It happened along the same fault zone as Chile's magnitude-8.8 quake on Feb. 27,...

Smithsonian Snags Obama Inaugural Gown

M. Morris — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:01:47 CST

The Museum of American History got more fashionable today when Michelle Obama donated the evening gown she wore to the 2009 inaugural balls to the First Ladies Collection. "I am very honored and very humbled, but I have to say that I'm also a little embarrassed by all the fuss...

Jon Stewart Looks Back on Obama's First Year

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:53:34 CST

Jon Stewart marked the first anniversary of Barack Obama’s presidency—or the first 364 days, 23 hours—on last night's Daily Show , offering up a complicated math equation for how Obama could have dropped 18 points in the polls in a single year. From Gitmo to health care to the...

Jacob Zuma Sworn In as South African Prez

Rob Quinn — Sat, 09 May 2009 07:47:20 CDT

Jacob Zuma was sworn in as South Africa's new president in front of thousands of supporters in Pretoria today, the BBC reports. The African National Congress leader, whose election victory capped a huge comeback after accusations of rape and corruption dogged him for years, said today marks a "moment of...

All 3 Wives to Join Zuma at Inauguration

Rob Quinn — Fri, 08 May 2009 04:43:23 CDT

South Africa's polygamous president-elect has confounded media speculation by inviting all three of his wives to his inauguration tomorrow, the BBC reports. Many had hoped the event would signal which wife would become the official first lady. Jacob Zuma has also invited his 19 children. It's uncertain whether all three...

'Inaugurabilia' Reaps $2M for Ceremonies

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:31:00 CDT

Barack Obama's inauguration fundraisers had no problem capitalizing on a hot market for keepsakes. Obama-themed clothing, jewelry, rulers, and piggy banks raked in a grant total of $2 million for the inaugural committee. Even before the tchotchke change, the committee was already debt-free—the $53 million in individual donations disclosed...

Florida GOPer Resigns After Tasteless Katrina Joke

Gabriel Winant — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 09:30:14 CST

Carol Carter, a Florida Republican committeewoman, isn’t racist. It’s just that she likes Katrina jokes. So much that she emailed this one around last week: “How can 2,000,000 blacks get into Washington, DC in 1 day in sub zero temps when 200,000 couldn't get out of New...