By Jim Malone
Washington
21 January 2009
Washington celebrated well into the night Tuesday following Barack Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of the United States. But the celebrating quickly gave way to the reality of the problems and challenges facing the new president.
After a night of parties and inaugural balls, it was time for prayers offered for the new president at Washington's National Cathedral.
"Grant to Barack Obama, president of the United States, and to all in authority, your grace and goodwill," said the presiding clergyman.
Mr. Obama even took time at one of the inaugural balls to tell ABC News that his administration's top priority will be economic recovery.
Iraq, Afghanistan top new president's agenda on first day
But the new president is also poised to quickly confront the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to follow through on a campaign promise to eventually close down the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In his Inaugural Address, Mr. Obama promised swift action on the challenges ahead. But mindful of opinion polls that show great expectations for his presidency, Mr. Obama also urged the public to be patient.
"Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real, they are serious and they are many," said President Obama. "They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this America, they will be met."
Critics say inaugural address did not live up to expectations
Mr. Obama's speech was generally well-received. But there were some who felt the address did not quite live up to its expectations, given the new president's gift for political rhetoric.
William Gavin wrote speeches for former President Richard Nixon.
"We are wearing out our presidents, expecting too much from them in this quest, this lust for eloquence, to be thrilled, to be inspired," Gavin said. "Listen, they have more to do than that."
University of Maryland political scientist Ron Walters says Mr. Obama was right to try and tamp down public expectations for immediate success.
Walters was a guest on VOA's Press Conference USA program.
"When one looks at the unprecedented basket of crises that he is going to inherit when he walks into the Oval Office, he is bound to fail on some of these," said Walters. "So I think what he has been trying to do is manage expectations to give people a realistic sense of what he could possibly achieve."
Experts say Mr. Obama's ability to sway the public with his rhetoric will be an invaluable political asset, especially when it comes to convincing Congress to support his economic stimulus plan.
Allan Lichtman is a presidential historian at American University in Washington.
"Congress is like Wall Street," said Allan Lichtman. "It operates on fear and greed. And if the people are with you, like they were with Franklin Roosevelt, Congress is likely to go along. Roosevelt used the technology of his time, the radio with his Fireside Chats. Obama has proven to be a master of modern technology - the Internet, YouTube, text messages - and he will use it."
Public expectations high about turning around economy
For the first time since Bill Clinton came into office in 1993, Democrats have a new president and have majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives. That has also raised public expectations for quick action to turn around the weakened economy.
But Mr. Clinton ran into difficulties in dealing with Congress, including some problems with some fellow Democrats.
Scot Faulkner worked for President Ronald Reagan and later for House Republican leaders in the 1990's. Faulkner says President Obama will face similar challenges in dealing with congressional leaders from both parties.
"How much are Senator [Harry] Reid and Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi going to be cooperative, but also assert that they are co-equal? How much are the Republicans going to give the new president a wide berth or try to lay the groundwork for their resurgence? asked Faulkner.
Mr. Obama demonstrated considerable political skills in winning not only the presidency, but in defeating Hillary Clinton for Democratic Party's presidential nomination.
Obama now faces different set of challenges
Analyst Norman Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute says Mr. Obama now faces a different set of challenges as he goes about the task of governing the country.
"He has raised his game to a level we rarely see in public life," said Ornstein. "Is it all going to work out? Can he sustain it at that level? That is the great question for all of us in terms of whether Obama becomes a great president."
Mr. Obama begins his presidency with strong support in public opinion polls. But it remains to be seen how patient the public will be as the new president struggles with a weak economy and attempts to meet the pent up demand for political change after eight years of the Bush administration.
奥巴马就任总统后首日全天工作
奥巴马总统在开始他就任后的第一整天工作前，在华盛顿市国家大教堂参加祈祷会。这个包括不同宗教的祈祷会安排在他开始会十分忙碌的一天工作之前，这一天的工作重点是国家安全和经济事务。
*祈祷会邀请多种宗教人士*
这次凭请柬入场的祈祷会邀请了十多种不同宗教信仰及宗教教派的主持人，这次祈祷会敦促世界各国领袖坚守他们的信仰并服从上帝的教诲。国家大教堂的副主教洛伊德指出，奥巴马总统面临世人关注的种种事务。他说：
"现在奥巴马政府开始工作了，这是他们就任后的第一整天工作日。我们所能想到的最佳开端就是和他们一起祷告，也为他们祷告。我们把许多事情交托给他们来做。%
奥巴马在他的夫人米歇尔的陪同下参加祈祷会，一起参加这次祈祷会的还有副总统拜登和他的妻子吉尔，以及前总统克林顿和希拉里.克林顿，希拉里.克林顿当时正在等待参议院对她的国务卿任命的确认。
这次祈祷会的主旨是为新政府寻求上帝的指引而祈祷。沃特金牧师是基督门徒教会的主持人，她祷告说：
"国家领袖们，我们需要你们服从先知以赛亚在很久前所给予的忠告： 那就是尽力争取共同利益、民众幸福、国家和世界的福利，要明确我们个人的利益取决于以自由和正义为主的世界 。%
参加这次祈祷会的还有犹太教教士、一位天主教主教、一位希腊东正教大主教、美国伊斯兰教协会主席和北美印度教寺院协会的领袖。
总统就职典礼后举行宗教仪式的历史可追溯到美国第一任总统华盛顿，是他开创了这一传统。奥巴马总统经常谈论自己的信仰以及对上帝的信靠。但是他在自己的就职演说中提到的一个论点是：美国的力量源泉是本国的多元文化，他说无神论者也是多元文化中的一部分。
当他们静默祷告时，奥巴马政府已开始在几个方面运作了。
*关塔那摩 战争 经济*
奥巴马担任总统后首先采取的行动之一是停止对美国设在古巴关塔那摩湾的拘留营内的恐怖分子嫌疑人进行军事审讯。奥巴马曾说，他诚望关闭这个拘留营，美国在那里还关押着245 人。
奥巴马总统就职后的第一整天工作还包括与他的国家安全及军事高级顾问开会，开始重新评估伊拉克及阿富汗战争。
他也将处理经济危机问题。预计奥巴马将颁布新规定，迫使接受政府救市资金的金融机构提高透明度。