Evening Buzz: Day One in the Obama White House

Cate Vojdik
AC360° Writer

There’s breaking news tonight. A short time ago we learned that Caroline Kennedy has withdrawn from consideration for the Senate seat left vacant by Hillary Clinton (who was sworn in today as Secretary of State). Kennedy is said to have cited concerns about her uncle’s declining health. Sen. Ted Kennedy had a seizure yesterday during the post-inaugural luncheon and was rushed to a hospital. He was released today and is back at home. As you might imagine, many people are wondering if there are other reasons for Caroline Kennedy’s change of heart. We’re working the story.

The 44th President of the United States woke up to a towering stack of challenges today – his first full day in office.

He immediately got to work, arriving in the Oval Office just after 8:30 a.m. We’re told he spent 10 minutes alone in the historic room. Imagine what that moment must have been like. We know that President Bush left him a letter to read. What we’d give to know what it said!

Aside from that bit of solitary time, the day was a flurry of activity. President Obama plunged into foreign policy with calls to Mideast leaders; he presided over the swearing-in of cabinet nominations approved yesterday; he met with his advisers about the recession and ordered new ethics rules. Oh yes, he and first lady Michelle  Obama also hosted an open house for a few hundred people lucky enough to win a lottery. 

Tonight we’ll have all the details of President Obama’s day – including his do-over of the presidential oath. That’s right, he took the oath of office again today, after all the flak Chief Justice John Roberts’ got for yesterday’s flub.

We’ll also ask some tough questions about President Obama’s plans for Iraq. We’ll have a Keeping Them Honest report on how realistic it is for U.S. troops to leave Iraq on the time-table Mister Obama envisions.

Today also brought a new wave of grim economic news, including thousands of new job cuts - a reminder of perhaps the biggest challenge on the president’s plate. Ali Velshi will weigh in on that piece of the presidential story.

See you at 10 pm ET!