Barack Obama wants his inauguration to celebrate ideals that he hopes can bind America together. But such hopes face a severe challenge from the social divisions, crumbling infrastructure and security fears that afflict his country.

The highlight of four days of events in Washington next month will be the new President’s speech on January 20, which, aides say, will underline his campaign theme of “renewing America’s promise” as a nation “founded on certain principles that we need to take back”.

Yesterday Mr Obama put the finishing touches to a politically and racially diverse Cabinet by naming the Republican Ray LaHood as Transportation Secretary, the Hispanic Congresswoman Hilda Solis as Labour Secretary and the former Dallas mayor Ron Kirk as Trade Representative.

The crowd packing the Mall to hear him next month is expected to shatter all records. Organisers have suggested that the historic charge and expectation surrounding Mr Obama could attract between up to four million people into Washington, the population of which is just 588,000.

Although some officials have scorned such forecasts, even the most conservative estimates of the turnout would provide a test of how government works in a country where Mr Obama has promised to spend hundreds of billions rebuilding roads, bridges, and public transport systems.

The capacity of the city’s trains is usually only 120,000 people an hour and managers are issuing warnings about the prospect of long, cold, uncomfortable waits.

About 10,000 charter buses are expected and no one is sure where they will all park. In some cases, passengers will be told to get off and walk several miles to the Mall, where 5,000 portable lavatories are being installed — a ratio that may be as low as one for every 800 people.

Baby strollers, large bags, suitcases, umbrellas and thermos flasks will be banned for security reasons. The police force will be doubled by the arrival of 4,000 volunteer officers from across the country. The Pentagon plans to deploy at least 5,000 troops.

Officials acknowledge that the threat comes not only from terrorists but also from white supremacist groups who have made threats against Mr Obama.

In planning the inauguration the President-elect has sought to balance the interests vying for national attention. This week he faced a backlash from liberal groups over his decision to invite Rick Warren, a fierce opponent of gay marriage, to deliver the convocation. “You have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table,” declared a letter to Mr Obama from the Human Rights Campaign.

Mr Obama has pointed out that the Rev Joseph Lowery, a black civil rights pastor, would give the benediction, and aides emphasise that "for the first time, a gay and lesbian band will be marching" at the inauguration.

So will surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen, black fighter and bomber pilots whose heroism during the Second World War helped to break the barriers of racial segregation in the US military.

But Elizabeth Eckford, one of the black students who, 50 years ago, braved screaming white mobs on her way to Little Rock Central High School, is turning down her invitation. She explained that large crowds are now “so anxious-making it would not at all be enjoyable”.

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