President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama head out for their first dance together at the Commander-in-Chief's Ball, honoring U.S. service members and their families, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Monday, January 21.
(CNN) -- Maybe it didn't have quite the grandeur of President Barack Obama's historic inauguration four years ago. But Monday's Inauguration Day events showcased the pomp and circumstance of the U.S. government at its finest.
We may not have royal weddings in the States, but this is about as close as it gets.
And, where there is public spectacle, there is Twitter, the rapid-fire platform where the world's online social critics record their musings. Twitter said its users sent 1.1 million inauguration-related tweets during Monday's swearing-in ceremony, way up from 82,000 in 2009, when Twitter hadn't yet been widely adopted.
From politicos to comedians to ordinary citizens, some offered heartfelt thoughts on the historical importance of the day, while others jockeyed for a cheap laugh and a few retweets.
2013: The year of inauguration quirks
Here are some of our favorites. (We'll be adding to this list as the day goes on.)
Barack Obama -- I'm honored and grateful that we have a chance to finish what we started. Our work begins today. Let's go. -bo
These 4th graders from L.A. spent the weekend learning about US history and government. Now they're seeing #inaug2013. twitter.com/obamainaugural...
— Obama Inauguration (@obamainaugural) January 21, 2013
Eric Cantor, House majority leader -- This is a great day for all Americans to celebrate and to remember that the Capitol belongs to all.
TJ Holmes -- Can't help but wonder if this is last time in my lifetime I'll get 2 see an African American take presidential oath of office. #Inaug2013
Sandra Lee -- OK #inaug2013 watchers, who is that handsome teenaged boy making eyes at Malia Obama? #VeryCute
Michelle Obama's Bangs arrive at the inauguration ceremony #inaug2013 twitter.com/LanceUlanoff/s...
— Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) January 21, 2013
Philip DeFranco -- Excited about this inauguration. If Obama sees his shadow there will be 6 more years of crippling crippling debt.
Speaker John Boehner -- Embracing #MLK's call to serve & make the most of this moment God has given us http://1.usa.gov/10gcJvH #MLKDay
Andrew Kaczynski, BuzzFeed reporter -- Can't believe you guys are watching the inauguration while Scooby Doo is on.
p>Check this out: Sasha and Malia Obama in 2009 and 2013. Look how much they've changed! @jummytv twitter.com/jskarp/status/...
— Justin Karp (@jskarp) January 21, 2013
Catherine Q -- Malia and Sasha look so sweet. And so grown up! #inaug2013
Mark Harris, EW columnist -- "There's Morgan Freeman--I'm sorry, uh, sorry, Bill Russell!"--George Stephanopoulos, who will never live that down, on ABC just now.
Ana Marie Cox -- Karl Rove in his basement, enacting a Romney inauguration with life-sized cardboard figures.
p>The National Mall from orbit, courtesy of the #ISS astronauts in time for #Inaug2013 nasa.gov/multimedia/ima...
— NASA (@NASA) January 21, 2013
VI -- Look at all those flags! Proud to call myself an American today
Michelle Freed -- Me: Kids, come watch the Inauguration! Kids: Neat. Now, can we go watch SpongeBob upstairs? *bows head and sighs* #Inaug2013
p>Maybe the coolest photo I've ever been in ....ever :) twitter.com/kelly_clarkson...
— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) January 21, 2013
Malcom Glenn -- Unquestionably the largest cheer so far for a jumbotron appearance has gone to Jay-Z and Beyonce...louder than Joe and Jill Biden. #inaug13
The White House -- "Now, more than ever, we must do these things together, as one nation, and one people." —President Obama #inaug2013
p>"Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law" #inaug2013 twitter.com/whitehouse/sta...
— The White House (@whitehouse) January 21, 2013
Omar L. Gallaga -- I opened for Beyoncé." -- something inaugural poet Richard Blanco gets to say forever. #inaug2013
StevieG the truth -- Obama's being inaugurated, it's Martin Luther King Day and Beyonce's singing the anthem. Black folk are having the best Monday EVER.
John Fugelsang -- Highlight of the Richard Blanco poem - Eric Cantor's confused face upon hearing the word "namaste." #presidentialinauguration
p>CHART: #Inaug2013 Tweet Volume vs. the 2009 #Inauguration. twitter.com/gov/status/293...
— Twitter Government (@gov) January 21, 2013
Al Gore -- Great to hear President Obama call for climate action in today's #inaug2013 address. Congratulations Mr. President http://bit.ly/VgnNwd
Kerstin Shamberg -- Since there's no outgoing president, Obama should say goodbye to himself, fly off in Marine One and then come right back #inaug2013#ornot
p>My double is ready to roll in #inaug2013 parade with @nasa & @nasajpl mission team members.twitpic.com/bx6jbu
— Curiosity Rover (@MarsCuriosity) January 21, 2013
Andy Borowitz -- Republicans Praise Obama for Offering Bold Vision to Thwart: http://nyr.kr/Ufd56w
Allison Hagerty -- Don't understand the point of obama being in this parade when you can't see him..
Jason Fekete -- That's not Joe Biden running down Pennsylvania Avenue. Looks more like Biden running for the Democratic nomination four years from now.
Carrie Drummond -- Love that the Obama girls sat down and immediately pulled out cellphones. #justlikeus #inaug2013
p>Vernon: "I never thought I'd see this in my lifetime. I'm here because I see Obama living out MLK's words." #inaug2013 twitter.com/obamainaugural...
— Obama Inauguration (@obamainaugural) January 21, 2013
Ari Fleischer -- Obama's thought bubble: Come on. Is this thing still going on? Get me back to the White House.
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The president and first lady share a moment during the Commander-in-Chief's Ball on January 21.
Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, each dance with service members at the Commander-in-Chief's Ball on January 21.
Police take the lead in the inaugural parade January 21 as the first couple walk down a part of Pennsylvania Avenue.
The president and first lady greet crowds as they move along Pennsylvania Avenue on January 21.
Spectators watch as the president and first lady travel along Pennsylvania Avenue on January 21.
President Obama exits his limousine to walk during a portion of the presidential inaugural parade on Monday.
People stand on barricades near the White House while trying to catch a glimpse of the president's parade on January 21.
Sasha, left, and Malia Obama take a photo of themselves during the inaugural parade.
Men in traditional colonial garb perform as President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk along Pennsylvania Avenue on Monday.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama wave to the crowd as they make their way along the parade route on Monday.
The president walks a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue on the parade route during the 57th presidential inauguration on January 21.
Members of the inaugural parade walk along Pennsylvania Avenue on Monday.
People watch as President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are driven past crowds during the Inauguration parade on Monday, in Washington. President Obama was sworn in for a second term office at the U.S. Capitol building.
President Obama waves as the presidential inaugural parade winds through the nation's capital on Monday.
The Obamas walk to the reviewing stand for the inaugural parade January 21.
President Obama shares a moment with House Speaker John Boehner, second from right, as first lady Michelle Obama applauds at the inaugural luncheon in Statuary Hall on Inauguration Day at the U.S. Capitol building on Monday.
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael J. Linnington, center, joins the Obamas and Bidens to watch a review of the troops on the East Side of the Capitol on January 21.
Obama signs nominations for Sen. John Kerry as secretary of state, White House Chief of Staff Jacob Lew as treasury secretary, former Sen. Chuck Hagel as defense secretary and John Brennan as CIA director after swearing-in ceremonies at the Capitol on January 21.
Senate and House leaders and Vice President Joe Biden applaud the president after he signs a proclamation to commemorate the inauguration on January 21.
Former President Jimmy Carter, left, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, center, and former President Bill Clinton arrive at the Inauguration for President Obama's second term of office on Monday.
Left to right, Donica Perez, Janelle Stewart, Shani Perez, Kinda Romero and Danielle Houston watch the Inauguration on the Jumbotron near the U.S. Capitol building on the National Mall.
President Barack Obama delivers his inaugural address January 21. A flag-waving crowd was noticeably smaller than those who turned out four years ago, but it still packed the National Mall for blocks.
Obama takes the oath of office January 21. The nation's first African-American president used a pair of Bibles -- one from Abraham Lincoln, the other from the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Igor Naumovski is among the flag-waving celebrants on the National Mall during the inauguration ceremony on Monday, in Washington.
First lady Michelle Obama makes her way to watch her husband take the oath of office for a second term in a public ceremony Monday.
People cheer at a television camera on the National Mall before the inauguration ceremony Monday in Washington.
President Barack Obama addresses the audience after taking the oath of office on January 21.
Tourists watch Monday's inauguration from Times Square.
Thousands of people attend the 57th presidential inauguration on January 21 in Washington.
Michelle Obama arrives with daughters Sasha, left, and Malia for the inauguration on January 21.
Obama speaks after taking the oath of office on January 21.
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir performs at the inauguration ceremony on January 21.
People gather for the presidential inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on January 21.
Michelle Obama holds the Bible as her husband takes the oath of office on January 21.
Obama waves during the public ceremonial inauguration on January 21.
Attendees wave flags at the public ceremonial swearing-in ceremony for Obama on January 21.
People watch from the National Mall as Obama is sworn in on January 21.
Obama takes the oath of office on January 21.
Kelly Clarkson performs "My Country 'Tis of Thee" during the presidential inauguration ceremony on January 21.
Obama, center, pauses before walking out the door of the U.S. Capitol to begin swearing-in ceremonies on January 21.
Obama is sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts as first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha watch on Monday, January 21.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden had already taken quiet oaths the day before Monday's public ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.
The president and first lady appear exuberant Monday as Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York joins them at the inauguration.
Celebrity couple Jay-Z and Beyonce arrive Monday at the inauguration.
The president greets his daughters Sasha and Malia at the Capitol on Monday.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton and former President Jimmy Carter greet the crowd Monday.
Obama salutes as he arrives Monday at the West Front of the Capitol.
Bonita Volcy and nephew Cullan King, 10, of Texas try to keep warm on the National Mall in Washington on Monday.
The Lee University Festival Choir from Cleveland, Tennessee, performs Monday on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.
A presidential cutout rises above the crowd gathering Monday near the Capitol.
The U.S. Capitol Police stand guard Monday atop the Capitol.
A place card awaits President Barack Obama for Monday's inaugural luncheon in the Capitol's National Statuary Hall.
Throngs gather Monday for the inauguration.
Crowds await the start of the presidential inauguration Monday on the Capitol's West Front .
Police stand guard along the inauguration parade route Monday.
People gather near the Capitol on the National Mall for Monday's inauguration ceremony.
A woman with an Obama button waits near the Capitol on Monday.
The president and his daughters return to the White House from prayer services at St. John's Episcopal Church on January 21.
President Barack Obama arrives Monday at St. John's Episcopal Church hours before taking part in a ceremonial swearing-in for his second term.
An inaugural attendee yawns while others huddle beneath a blanket Monday at the Capitol.
President Barack Obama takes the oath of office Sunday from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts as first lady Michelle Obama holds the Bible, with daughters Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11, by their parents' side in the White House Blue Room.
People gather near the U.S. Capitol building on the National Mall for the ceremony on Monday.
Roberts arrives to administer the oath of office to Obama at the White House on Sunday.
Michelle Obama embraces her husband after he took the oath of office January 20. Daughters Malia, left, and Sasha watch from the side.
A stage technician from Maryland Sound International sets up microphones for the presidential inauguration at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Sunday.
David Carr poses with one of the Barack Obama doll heads he is selling as Washington prepares on Sunday for Obama's second inauguration.
A chorus rehearses at the U.S. Capitol building on Sunday.
Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer of New York greets people at the Capitol on Sunday.
Christian evangelist Mary Clement of Silver Spring, Maryland, sings and reads from her Bible as she walks along Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House on Sunday.
Obama and Biden lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on January 20.
An American flag waves at the U.S. Capitol building on January 20 as Washington prepares for Obama's second inauguration.
Biden takes the oath of office from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the Naval Observatory on Sunday as his wife, Jill Biden, right, looks on.
Workers prepare the parade route in front of the U.S. Capitol building on Sunday.
The Smithsonian's Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture is decoratively lit for the 2013 Inaugural Youth Ball on Saturday, January 19, in Washington.
The inaugural reviewing stand is under construction in front of the White House on Friday, January 18.
A souvenir salesman displays inauguration memorabilia on sale on Friday.
Workers prepare the U.S. Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony on Friday.
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