United States President Barack Obama has taken the official oath of office for his second term, during a private ceremony at the White House. Gathered with his family in the Blue Room on the White House's ceremonial main floor, Obama put his hand on a Bible and recited the 35-word oath that was read to him by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts. Obama hugged his wife Michelle and said, "Thank you," after she congratulated him at the swearing-in. Obama, who became the first African-American U.S. president four years ago, will be sworn in publicly for his second term today in a much bigger ceremony before an audience of as many as 800,000 people outside the U.S. Capitol.
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