Free Republic

WASHINGTON -- Four years after making history by becoming the first African-American president, Barack Obama will kick off his second term on Monday with a scaled-back inauguration that reflects the tempered expectations for his next four years in office. Lingering high unemployment, bitter political battles and a divisive re-election campaign have punctured the mood of optimism and hope that infused Obama's 2009 inauguration after a sweeping election win. This time, Obama's inauguration will feature smaller crowds and a reduced slate of inaugural balls and parties to match the more subdued tenor of the times. When Obama raises his right hand...

Here is a report by CBS News' Bill Plante on the history of "The Lincoln Bible," the Bible on which Abraham Lincoln placed his hand to take the Oath of Office as President in 1861. The same Bible will be used today by Barack Obama to take the Oath of Office as America's 44th President. . . . . (watch video)

Barack Obama will take the oath of office using the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln was sworn in on at his first inauguration, marking the President-elect's latest symbolic gesture to follow in the foot steps of the nation's 16th president. Obama, who will become the first African-American president when he is sworn in Jan. 20, will be the first president to use the Lincoln Bible since its initial use in 1861. "President-elect Obama is deeply honored that the Library of Congress has made the Lincoln Bible available for use during his swearing-in," Emmett Beliveau, executive director of the presidential inaugural...