Obama Inauguration: President-Elect Will Arrive In Washington By Train

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama will kick off his inaugural celebration on Jan. 17 _ the weekend before his swearing in as the country's 44th president _ by traveling on a train to the nation's capital.

Obama is retracing the journey of his political idol, Abraham Lincoln, who also rode to his swearing-in on a train from Philadelphia, making stops along the way.

Obama and his family will start their daylong journey with an event in Philadelphia before boarding the train and picking up Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his family in Wilmington, Del. The president-elect and his group then will make a stop in Baltimore before making their way to Washington.

Obama will take office Jan. 20.

"We hope to include as many Americans as possible who wish to participate, but can't be in Washington," Emmett Beliveau, the executive director of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, said in a statement. "These events will allow us to do that while honoring the rich history and tradition of previous inaugural journeys."

Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon said Monday that Obama would give a speech there, and officials expect up to 150,000 people to attend. No location has been selected, but options include M&T Bank Stadium, home to the Baltimore Ravens.

A triumphant address before a massive crowd would offer an extreme contrast to Lincoln's experiences in Baltimore in February 1861, when he was smuggled under cover of darkness from one train station to another to avoid a feared assassination attempt. At the time, the maneuver was denounced in newspaper accounts as cowardly, said Courtney B. Wilson, executive director of the B&O Railroad Museum.

To some extent, Lincoln's caution was validated two months later, when Union troops traveling between the two stations clashed with Confederate sympathizers in the "Baltimore Riots," which became known as the first bloodshed of the Civil War.

Obama aides said Philadelphia and Baltimore were chosen because of the roles they played at pivotal moments in U.S. history and because they fit in with the inauguration's theme, "Renewing America's Promise."

The committee has said the theme was chosen to underscore Obama's "commitment to restoring opportunity and possibility for all and re-establishing America's standing as a beacon of hope around the world."

Comments

[allwrite]

1. I would rather it had been announced after the fact.

2. May this herald a revision of our transportation priorities, with rail featuring more prominently.

[oneblackvote]

I love this idea, too. I work for Amtrak California, this makes me proud of my job.

[mattwion]

I really like this idea. There is just something about trains. They are romantic, nostalgic, efficient.
More importantly, traveling by train evokes the idea of community, of doing things "together.­"
On that note: I hope Obama follows through with remarks he has made that he will improve and restructure the Amtrak system. Making our trains electric is a good idea. Let's see if he really does something here.
It will be a good day for America, for our spirit of cooperation and fellowship, if travel by trains becomes common.

[zoetrope]

Ya Just Gotta Love This Man!!!

[MIVOTE]

Stop being so scary. Obama is protected in ways many of us can not even imagine. He and his family will be fine. We really need to fear those currently still residing in and around the WH

[wrenny]

It's really disturbing and disgusting, for the obvious security reasons, that something like this is being announced so far in advance. I wish they'd stop trying to please the media and the curious over everything that comes along.

[Mosby007]

This is the same way that President Lincoln rode into Washington for his inauguration. He had planned on a very public train ride, but he was dissuaded by those close to him to ride in secretly the night before because there was reason to believe that the people of the South would try to assassinate him before he even took office.

I like the idea, just hope that security measures will be adequate for the occasion. I'm sure they will have everything locked down sufficiently.

[doctordoubt]

Ha#te to put the man in a bubble, bu this idea scares the s---- out of me. Think about it. There are still a lot of repthugs out there.

[sleek]

Seems like there could be a security problem by announcing his train itinerary this early. Trains are sitting ducks - not to mention derailment.

[dsgeorge]

cmon...the Secret Service will be on top of this - its not Lincoln era security..­...

[jymfrancais]

Too bad we do not have the TGV, he cannot get there soon enough

[jacmwhatley]

The journey by train is a fabulous idea!!! I wish that I could be in one of those cities during the Inaguration celebration. I can't take off school though.

[cosmicmom]

How GREAT is this???? This is what happens when a President, elected BY THE PEOPLE, rather than stealing the election, makes his way to his inauguration and into our hearts even more. Thank you, President Obama, for making me proud to be an American again...*S­*

[Petey131]

By the way are these states the "real America?"

[RFBorjal]

How do you mean? Each and every state is "real America". I don't think there is any state that's un-American.

[vjoseph]

You must not have your humor detector on

[AirForceWx1701]

I love Amtrak-- it takes money to make money, and with a decent input, Amtrak may actually be profitable, like Deutsche Bahn and Japanese railroads. Not that that is necessary in my eyes- it's a public service, and should be expanded more fully than it is, given precedence over freight trains by federal law [these holdups cause a LOT of late Amtrak trains], and have funding boosted massively. Anyone who's had a good experience on a long-distance Amtrak train never forgets it--unfortunately, many have had terrible experiences, due to slashed services, and disgruntled, overworked employees who don't know if their employer will be shut down from year to year. Maybe some of the CHANGE is headed Amtrak's way? Hope so.

[voter42]

I love the fact that the Pres is coming to Baltimore. I hope I can get to see him that day.