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Inside Politics

Bush: Expand freedom 'in all the world'

Pomp, pageantry mix with tight security for inauguration


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President Bush takes the oath of office Thursday outside the Capitol.
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A wrap of the inauguration of President Bush.

President Bush delivers inaugural address. (Part 1)
Inaugural address (Part 2)

George W. Bush accomplishes what his father could not.
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush returned to the White House on Thursday after taking his second oath of office and outlining in his inaugural address a U.S. policy "with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."

More than 100,000 people gathered outside the Capitol in chilly weather as the traditional pomp and ceremony of the quadrennial presidential inauguration took place under unprecedented security.

After he and Vice President Dick Cheney were sworn in just before noon, the president gave an address emphasizing freedom and a vision of spreading democracy worldwide.

Bush called on the "force of human freedom" to "break the reign of hatred" and "expose the pretensions of tyrants" in the world.

The president and first lady Laura Bush capped off the day by making the rounds to a series of formal inaugural balls, delighting crowds with brief spins on the dance floor. The Bushes attended nine of the black-tie events, including one for military personnel who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Full story)

During the first wartime inauguration ceremony in decades, Bush indirectly referred to the Iraq war, saying that "because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom. And as hope kindles hope, millions more will find it."

"We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world," Bush said. (Speech analysis | Transcript)

"So it is the policy of the United States," he said, "to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."

Following his address, Bush attended a special luncheon in the Capitol and then boarded a limousine to lead the inaugural parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

Near the executive mansion, the president and first lady exited the limousine to walk the final stretch of the route. They waved to the crowd while accompanied by a phalanx of Secret Service agents on their way to watch the festivities from a reviewing stand.

Featuring 120 entrants, the parade included military troops, color guards, marching bands, floats, drill teams and equestrian units. (Full story)

Domestic matters

During his speech, Bush also touched on domestic matters.

He called for Americans to "look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love," and to abandon racism and bigotry.

"We have known divisions, which must be healed to move forward in great purposes -- and I will strive in good faith to heal them," Bush said.

"Yet those divisions do not define America. We felt the unity and fellowship of our nation when freedom came under attack, and our response came like a single hand over a single heart."

Bush was sworn in outside the U.S. Capitol by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who made his first official appearance since beginning treatment for thyroid cancer in October. (Full story)

The chief justice administered the oath in a clear, raspy voice, shook hands with the president again and left the stage before Bush delivered his inaugural address.

Democratic Sen. John Kerry, who lost the election to Bush, stood a few feet behind the president as he was sworn in.

Cheney took his oath from House Speaker Dennis Hastert, marking just the fourth time in U.S. history that the speaker has been called on to perform that task.

Earlier Thursday, Bush attended church services with the first lady and their twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, at St. John's Episcopal Church. The Rev. Luis Leon delivered a 15-minute homily, said church director Hayden Bryan.

Leon appealed to the president to "invite us to be a good people, better people, beyond red states and blue states." Regardless of such things as color and sexual orientation, he said, "We are one. ... I invite you to consider that over the next four years."

Bearing the costs

The Presidential Inaugural Committee has said putting on the inaugural events would cost about $40 million, which is being raised from private donors -- more than half of them corporations that gave as much as $250,000 each -- as well as sales of tickets and merchandise.

In addition, the federal government and District of Columbia will bear the costs of providing security, expected to be around $20 million.

Organizers scheduled events to honor military personnel, including Thursday night's Commander in Chief Ball, which was expected to draw 2,000 troops.

"The president made it clear that he wanted to pay special tribute in a special way to those armed forces -- men and women -- who put their lives on the line every day, with particular emphasis on the war on terror," said Greg Jenkins, the inaugural committee's executive director.

Security at all-time high

In a vivid demonstration of how much the world has changed since Bush's first inauguration, four years ago, security was "at the highest levels of any inauguration," Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said.

About 6,000 officers from dozens of law enforcement agencies were on patrol throughout the city, along with 2,500 military troops involved in security operations.

In addition, 4,700 military personnel were involved in ceremonial functions for inaugural events, according to Maj. Gen. Galen Jackman, commander of the Military District of Washington.

Streets around federal facilities in central Washington were blocked off to keep vehicles away from inaugural activities, and subway closings affected four Metro rail stations at various times of the day. (Full story)

Protesters lined the parade route along with well-wishers. (Full story)

A small but spirited group of hecklers began shouting as Bush wound up his address. Their demonstration was promptly drowned out by mass cheering at the end of the president's remarks.

During the inaugural parade, two officers and a third person suffered minor injuries, according to a spokesman for the police department. An unknown irritant was released into the air, and police were pelted with substances that included ice pellets.

In addition, U.S. Capitol police said they arrested five protesters about 12:30 p.m., during the inauguration ceremony, at 1st and Pennsylvania avenues NW, a short distance from the Capitol building. Details and charges were not available, Officer Michael Lauer said.

CNN's Dana Bash, Jeanne Meserve, Elaine Quijano, Brian Todd, Judy Woodruff, Kathy Benz, Mike Ahlers and Jim Spellman contributed to this report.


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