Obama Taking Train To Inauguration

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

[roblabrousse]

I would imagine every law enforcement unit along the route will participate in security. This form of travel was thoroughly thought out before being chosen.It's so neat that he wants to travel among the people this way.

[cdub1991]

I respect you O., but let's not overdo the Lincoln thing, okay? Could become a bit forced after awhile.

[Totto]

Actually, president-elect Obama has repeatedly expressed a desire for the U.S. to have a high-speed rail system as most of the industrialized world already has. This brings attention to it.

[SFkid]

Funny they would announce this to every terrorist waiting for that opening.

[amluvinit2]

My first thoughts exactly. Kind of scary.

[ouroboris]

It would be so cool if he would make it a complete cross-country train trip, starting in the state of his birth and covering as much of the US as possible before finishing up in DC. Wouldn't that be awesome?

[Countdown09]

I wish they wouldn't realize this kind of info so early.

[illinoisan]

Start in Springfield and give a speech, "My friends, no one not in my situation . . . "

[elfpix]

Start in Boston, Barack. Lots more folks between Boston and Philly will stand out in the bracing cold to cheer.

[roblabrousse]

Philadelphia represents the cradle of liberty. The home of the Constitution.

[Opt1musPr1me]

Obama will no doubt give the Secret Service some serious headaches? I hope he remembers that he has more threats against him than any other president in history. However I am sure he ran this by the Secret Service first thug......­..........­.at least I hope so.

[marlainWA]

I hate to say it but instead of "how cool" that was my first thought too, is it safe to go on a train?

God I wish it wasn't like that, its such a neat and fun idea....but life just isn't run out and play time any more like when we were kids.

[darleneslee]

I thought it was a great idea; this is who Obama and Biden are. As for the security side of it. I like Michelle Obama realize that as an African-American that you can just as easy be shot pumping gas at the local gas station. I guess with all the crime that we have had to endure, it rather hard to insulate ourselves. Sorry for the secret service, but I think that with Obama they will have their hands full. We have learned to be careful but realize that no matter what stuff happens.

[buzzygirl]

He will be fine. I'm sure the Secret Service is well aware, and they would not have considered it if they weren't. Remember that everything Obama does from here on is planned and discussed with the Secret Service. No outing, not even to the Christmas Tree lot is taken without the proper planning.

This is his last chance to be out there in this fashion for a long time. Given the extra threats that he's had, I am sure the SS will be extra vigilant.

Let's all just keep the family in our prayers. The rest will take care of itself in the universe.

[bubbuh]

It's safe. They'll make all the smelly people take a different train.

[MissKaren]

It also phases in a reconsideration of the value of mass transport and a valorization of non-airplane travel that reduces carbon emissions and fuel use. Nice touch.

[jpmdevildog]

Actually, President-Elect Barack Obama has chosen to ride horseback to his presidential inauguration. His decision honors the rich history and tradition of previous inaugural journeys, such as those of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

http://www.weeklyworldnews.com/politics/obama-riding-horse-to-inauguration/

[CaptainVideo]

WE WON AND YOU LOST! DEAL WITH IT!

MISERALBLE, PATHETIC LOSERS!!!!

[poliscibabe]

Cool! I get reinforcement everyday on the absolute correctness of my decison to vote for CHANGE! And for those who are fearful - we need to get a clue from the power of positive thinking crowd - nothing will happen because we are thinking positively - sounds corny but it works!

[myoungholt]

We kept thinking and working positively toward the election, didn't we? And hasn't that been Obama's mantra--to think positively: Yes, we can! And, yes, we did!

So buck up, folks. The best is yet to come. We can't revert to these negative tactics now.

[Tom95134]

I'll bet Steamtown (or someplace else) is scrambling to refurbish one of the old platform cars so he can be on the rear platform when going through towns & cities. What a photo-op!

[Bashley]

THAT would be too cool, if they could find a way to do it safely.... I LOVE the train idea. As someone who enjoys train trips, but hasn't taken one in years, I think this is a great way to promote an overlooked source of travel. WAY TO GO OBAMA!

[Mayoyo]

Nice....

[democratUSA]

The idea is great in theory but we live in a different world now. I want to keep him safe and that doesn't include waving from trains. The Secret Service are amazing at their job but this is a nightmare waiting to happen. I hope for the best.

[inluvwkeitholbermann]

"....waving from trains"????? LOL!!!!


(and nervous at the same time!) ;o(

[Winthorpe]

I'm with you, with a slight amendment: The Secret Service were amazing at their job. You let a guy throw two shoes at the president's head? Hopefully it was the wake-up call that they needed.

[larmarch5]

They had a bp glass shield around him election night and will likely have one any time he's in a wide open space that can't be secured. Boosh probably had one also. It seems to have a non-reflective finish so it doesn't show up. But everyone will have to leave their shoes at home at the inauguration since Boosh will also be on the stage.

[Roll451]

Obama could have started the trip in New York if he wanted to include the nation's first capital. Great idea anyway.

[johnnynyc]

New York to Washington was the route Bobby Kennedy's funeral took.

Don't think the Obama camp isn't aware of this.

[johnnynyc]

It was RFK's funeral train from New York, where he was Senator, to DC.

JFK's body was flown directly from Dallas to DC.

[blueskybigstar]

I heard a story about a remote train system in Canada. It was a beautiful ride. People came from all over the world in order to take the train and visit remote parts. The train was subsidized. Law makers were upset that the train never made a profit and needed government support. They c u t the train from the budget. The whole economy in that area began to suffer. People were coming to take the train. Revenue for everybody went down. We should remember this story. Everything is connected. Some things might not look right at first, but you have to look at the effect. What was the effect of removing so many subsidies from Amtrak? What economies did it hurt? How much gas did it save? How much tourism did it discourage?