Photo gallery: Obama delivers second inaugural speech
US President Barack Obama (right) and first Lady Michelle Obama review troops before departing from the US Capitol after the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
Sasha (left) and Malia Obama, daughters of US President Barack Obama, take a photo of themselves during the Presidential Inaugural Parade on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
US President Barack Obama(left) takes the oath of office as his wife Michelle hold the Bible and family and Congressional members look on during the 57th Presidential Inauguration ceremonial swearing-in at the US Capitol on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
Spectators watch the inaugural parade on Pennsylvania Avenue on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
President and Mrs Obama take part in the inaugural parade walk down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the White House on Monday Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
US President Barack Obama (left) is sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as first lady Michelle Obama and daughters, Sasha Obama and Malia Obama look on during the public ceremonial inauguration on the West Front of the US Capitol on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
US President Barack Obama waves after his speech at the ceremonial swearing-in at the US Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
US President Barack Obama (left) is sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as first lady Michelle Obama and daughters, Sasha Obama and Malia Obama look on during the public ceremonial inauguration on the West Front of the US Capitol on Jan 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
The presidential motorcade takes part in the Inaugural parade on its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the US Capitol on Jan 21, 2013, in Washington, DC. -- PHOTO: AFP
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Malia and Sasha Obama and Mrs Michelle Obama's mother Marian Robinson walk down to the Presidential reviewing stand in front of the White House on Monday, Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
US President Barack Obama (2nd from left) and First Lady Michelle Obama (left), Vice President Joe Biden (2nd from Right) and Jill Biden (right) along with Major Gen. Michael S. Linnington (centre), participate in the review of the troops following the presidential inaugural swearing-in ceremony in Washington, DC, on Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
First lady Michelle Obama speaks with her daughter Malia at the ceremonial swearing-in for President Barack Obama at the US Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington on Monday, Jan 21, 2013. -- PHOTO: AP
Four years ago, with the United States (US) economy on the edge of another Depression and his political future uncertain, President Barack Obama delivered a cautious inaugural address designed to lower expectations and avoid provoking his ideological foes.
He had no such inhibitions when delivering his second inaugural speech this week. With the economy on the mend and a tough re-election battle behind him, Mr Obama laid down clear ideological markers – from gay rights, climate change to income equality – that could influence Democratic politics and box in the Republicans for years to come.












