Practice Inauguration Lacks Some Pomp and the VIPs

Gallery

Starting before dawn, officials staged a large-scale rehearsal of the upcoming presidential inauguration and parade, with thousands of people deployed later in the morning at the Capitol and along the parade route.

» LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

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The rehearsal unfolded on a damp and windy morning.

At the Capitol, camera flashes winked in the pre-dawn darkness, and sunrise revealed an expanse of folding chairs and ranks of blue porta-potties in place for next week.

As the practice got underway, it seemed to go smoothly.

The swearing-in drill was brief. "Please, raise your right hand and repeat after me," said the stand-in for U.S. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.: "I do solemnly swear."

"I do solemnly swear," Brooks/Obama repeated.

"So help me God," the Roberts stand-in said.

"So help me God," Brooks answered.

Then an announcer said: "The 44th president of the United States, Barack H. Obama."

From the edge of the west lawn of the Capitol cheers erupted among a small crowd of onlookers.

Then Brooks gave his speech.

"Bravo," said a voice from the throng of reporters watching.

There were some glitches.