For all his famed eloquence, the moment Barack Obama had strived so hard for began with fluffed lines and a nervous laugh. More than two million people looking on in Washington’s National Mall caught their breath, almost unbelieving.

As he prepared to be sworn in as America’s 44th president Mr Obama faced John Roberts, the US Chief Justice: two of America’s most eloquent men surrounded by 22 panes of bullet-proof glass. Mr Obama raised his right hand, and placed his left on the Lincoln Bible, the same one used for the 16th President’s 1861 inauguration.

Everything was still. A hush descended. And then an extraordinary thing happened: in the midst of the process that would confirm him as President, this dazzling orator seemed to freeze — in turn flustering Mr Roberts.

Mr Roberts opened: “I, Barack Hussein Obama . . .

Mr Obama cut in: “I, Barack . . .” before the Chief Justice had reached the bit about solemnly swearing. Mr Roberts cut across him. Mr Obama paused. Mr Roberts then repeated the right words but in the wrong order.

It was a relief, in a way, to learn that even “No-Drama Obama” could become flustered before an estimated worldwide television audience of 2.5 billion.

Yet on this day, and before this vast Washington crowd, it was easy to forgive Mr Obama his nerves.

As he first emerged from the white marbled splendour of the US Capitol and into the Inauguration arena, he was met with a distant roll of thunder. The wall of sound that erupted more than a mile away at the Washington Monument roared towards the US Capitol like a giant wave. “O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA! O-BA-MA!” When the soon-to-be President looked up, and outwards, he saw an immense, beautiful, but possibly intimidating sight: a vast gathering of humanity as far as the eye could see, a shimmering ocean of hope and expectation, lit by the midday sun.

As Mr Obama stumbled through the swearing in, close behind him sat an impassive George W Bush who perhaps felt like tapping his successor on the shoulder to whisper: “See? Not as easy as it looks, is it, Mr Hot Shot?” It did not matter, for within seconds Mr Roberts had declared: “Congratulations, Mr President.” The throngs leapt into the air. Some wept, but most cheered as a 21-gun salute boomed across the Mall.

At times the scene was almost vaudevillian. When a giant screen beamed pictures of Dick Cheney being wheeled to the ceremony in a wheelchair — the former Vice-President pulled a back muscle on Monday — the crowd laughed. When Mr Bush was announced, many booed.

Just before Mr Obama was sworn in, Aretha Franklin sang My Country ’Tis of Thee. She wore what surely must be one of the most spectacular hats to have graced the Western Steps of Congress — an immense grey felt affair with a diamond-studded bow the size of a small propeller.

She was watched, among others, by the boxing promoter Don King, who on this day wore a jacket of such extravagant design that for once his frazzled hairstyle was left in the shade. It was an ocean of denim. On the left breast sat an image of US forces raising the flag at Iwo Jima. On the right sat a picture of Mount Rushmore, and on the back a map of America with the words “The United States of America, In God We Trust”.

Already the inauguration of America’s 44th President has been recorded in millions of images beamed around the world. Yet Malia, Mr Obama’s ten-year-old daughter, reminded everyone that for her it was an intensely personal affair seeing her “Daddy” become the new Commander-in-Chief. She took photographs of him with her digital camera throughout.

Mr Obama’s sobering speech boomed on loudspeakers all the way to his hero, Abraham Lincoln, at the other end of the Mall. Yet it was the words of America’s first President — George Washington — that he used to tell the crowd. “Let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come.”

FLUFFING THEIR LINES

John Roberts I, Barack Hussein Obama . . .

Obama I, Barack . . .

Roberts . . . do solemnly swear. . .

Obama I, Barack Hussein Obama, do solemnly swear. . .

Roberts . . . that I will execute the office of President to the United States faithfully. . .

Obama . . . that I will execute . . .

Roberts . . . faithfully the office of President of the United States . . .

Obama . . . the office of President of the United States faithfully . . .

Roberts . . . and will to the best of my ability . . .

Obama . . . and will to the best of my ability . . .

Roberts . . . preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

Obama . . . preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

Roberts So help you God?

Obama So help me God.

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