Issue 23: Style

Featured Response: Felecia Webb || Senior Design Director, Polo Ralph Lauren

Felecia Webb

Style can be defined as that which characterizes or distinguishes the habits, manners, dress, etc., of a period or group. The Barack Obama candidacy inspired so many Americans young and old from various backgrounds to get involved in politics.

More so than ever, politics are at the forefront for young professionals, stay-at-home moms, work-at-home dads and retired seniors - who came together to passionately volunteer their time and energy to make Obama’s win possible. Barack Obama’s influence on our culture has empowered the individual, the community and the nation to have equal voices in the political process, and serve as primary change-makers on issues that affect them. Obama gave the voice of the people back to the people.

It will also be refreshing to have a first lady in the White House whose style will be remembered by what she had to say, rather than what she had to wear.

What Do You Think? Post Your Response

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Recent Responses

President Elect Obama has renewed faith and hope in the fact that each of us can make an impact to something larger than ourselves. This realization is not only for the people of the United States, but worldwide. It’s will change all aspects of our lives and not just politics. We are moving toward a better, more holistic society.

—DHJ, New York, 46 from Yonkers, NY US

the pople always had a voice, it was up to them to practice that freedom, and they havent until obama came around. yes, he is a ray of hope, and the first black prez, however he IS a politician

—rob from Mississauga, ON CA

44 Issues in 44 Days

Explore and respond to the issues that matter to you.

# 44: You

Featured Response: You ||

# 20: Rural America

Featured Response: Brian Dabson || Rural Policy Research Institute

# 11: Tax Policy

Featured Response: Stephen Cohen || Georgetown University

# 21: Energy

Featured Response: Arthur O'Donnell || Center for Resource Solutions

# 2: Transportation

Featured Response: Vicki Northrup || TH!NK North America

# 27: Poverty

Featured Response: Kristina Scott || Alabama Poverty Project

Inaugural Insight

  • The inauguration for the first U.S. president, George Washington, was held on April 30, 1789 in New York City.
  • Should January 20 be a Sunday, the President is usually administered the oath of office in a private ceremony on that day, followed by a public ceremony the following day.
  • Immediately following the oath, the bands play four ruffles and flourishes and "Hail to the Chief", followed by a 21-gun salute from howitzers of the Presidential Salute Battery.
  • The inaugural celebrations usually last ten days, from five days before the inauguration to five days after.
  • Since Thomas Jefferson's second inaugural on March 4, 1805, it has become tradition for the president to parade down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
  • According to tradition, in the first inaugural, President Washington added the words "so help me God" when reciting the oath, although there is no contemporary evidence of this.
  • In 1977, Jimmy Carter started a new tradition by walking from the Capitol to the White House, although subsequent presidents have only walked part of the way for security reasons.
  • The War of 1812 and World War II forced two swearing-ins to be held at other locations in Washington, D.C.
  • The new President assumes power at noon on January 20th, regardless of whether or not he has actually taken the oath of office.
  • There is no requirement that any book, or in particular a book of sacred text, be used to administer the oath, and none is mentioned in the Constitution.

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