Crowds started gathering Monday for US President Barack Obama's inauguration, but compared to the early morning crush of his first inauguration in 2009 it was a mere trickle.
At 8 am, streets leading to the mall were clear and lines leading to security screening were short. Four years before, the crowd was so dense by 5 am that it took an hour just to move a block, and reached a record 1.8 million people - the largest public event ever in the capital - to witness the swearing-in of the nation's first black president.
But Rhenda Phillips-Sanders, 55, general manager at Amistad Communications, who travelled from Shreveport, Louisiana, for the inauguration, carried the same enthusiasm that brought her here four
years ago.
"To be able to have a black president within our lifetime and then to have him come back twice, that's history within itself," the African-American told dpa. "I'm so excited I could do the running
man."
While the public inauguration will lose some of its punch because Obama was officially sworn in on Sunday, it will also hold added meaning because it coincides with Martin Luther King Jr Day - the
federal holiday that commemorates the fallen civil rights leader.
Obama, 51, will repeat his oath of office for the public, laying his hands on two stacked Bibles of historic significance before delivering the much-awaited inaugural speech.
The burgundy velvet Bible was used by president Abraham Lincoln at his first inauguration in 1861, as he headed into the dark Civil War journey that would end slavery. The black King James Bible was carried by King on his travels around the country until he was slain
in 1968.
Sunday's private oath was necessary to fulfill the constitutional mandate that every presidential term begin at noon on January 20.
Dating back to 1821, if the date fell on a Sunday, public celebrations have been postponed to another day.
At 1345 GMT, Obama and his family, along with the family of Vice President Joe Biden, are to attend service at St John's Episcopal Church within sight of the White House, observing a tradition for presidents dating back to 1816.
They will then head to Capitol Hill for the public ceremonies. Pop star Beyonce is to sing the national anthem, and singer-songwriter James Taylor and singer Kelly Clarkson are to perform.
After his second oath-taking, administered by Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts, Obama is to deliver the inaugural speech, outlining his second-term ambitions.