PHOTOS: The inauguration of Barack Obama

Barack Obama is sworn in as the president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

Sept. 16, 2014 10:43 AM PT

Barack Hussein Obama took the oath of office today as the nation’s 44th president -- and the nation’s first black chief executive -- and told Americans shaken by economic despair and war that shared sacrifice would be required to draw the nation back to prosperity and peace.

Barack Obama, with wife Michelle at his side, takes the oath of office from Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (Ron Edmonds / Associated Press)

President Barack Obama waves to the crowd after finishing his inauguration speech. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

The crowd on the mall reacts as Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States in Washington. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Tim McGregor, of Capecod, Ma., has tears in his eyes as President Barack Obama speaks after being sworn-in as the 44th President of the United States in Washington. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill wave to the crowd while walking part of the parade route along Pennsylvania Ave. (Rob Carr / Associated Press)

The inaugural parade moves down Pennsylvania Avenue. (Matthew Cavanaugh / EPA)

First Lady Michelle Obama, President Obama, Maj. Gen. Richard Rowe, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, review an Air Force unit. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The Obamas walk with the Bushes after the ceremony. The Bushes left the Capitol by helicopter and later flew to Texas. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The Bushes prepare to leave the Capitol. (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

A crowds fills the area along the National Mall during the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama. (Luis M. Alvarez / Associated Press)

Crowds fill the National Mall in Washington for Barack Obama‘s inauguration as 44th president of the United States. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

President Bush and President-elect Barack Obama leave the White House on their way to the inauguration. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press)

President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush welcome President-elect Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, at the White House in Washington. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press)

Crowds stand on a statue next to the National Mall before the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States. (Mark Wilson / Getty Images)

President-elect Barack Obama says goodbye to Rev. Luis Leon as he walks out of St. John’s Episcopal Church across from the White House. (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

Trains in Washington are packed as crowds head toward the Capitol before dawn. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)

Cocoa Jones sells newspapers to early arrivals at 5 a.m. on G Street. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

Walter Cutter arrived at 4 a.m. to get a position for the parade at the intersection of F and 12th streets. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

A group of soldiers pauses at the Lincoln Memorial before dawn on Inauguration Day. Barack Obama and his family visited the monument on the eve of his inauguration as the 44th president of the United States. (Jeff Zelevansky / Getty Images)

People stand shoulder to shoulder as they wait to reach a security entrance to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama in Washington. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

A woman waits at dawn to get onto mall to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama. (Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times)

The sun begins to rise over the Capitol building in Washington. (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Bush and Obama before the start of the inauguration ceremony. (Justin Lane / EPA)

President Obama salutes a military color guard as it passes the reviewing stand in front of Lafayette Park. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)

President Obama, with daughter Sasha and wife Michelle, greets guests at the Lafayette Park reviewing stand in front of the White House. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times)