Obama's second inauguration: 6 mini-scandals and surprising facts

From a bubbling fight over inaugural Champagne to anti-gay pastors, the upcoming, low-key inauguration isn't exactly low-drama

President Obama and First Lady Michelle dance during an inaugural ball in 2009. This year, there'll be fewer dances like these.
(Image credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

A president's second inauguration is almost always more low-key and less memorable than his first — President Lincoln is probably an exception — which makes sense: There's no new face to welcome, no change of power at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. President Obama's upcoming swearing-in ceremony and surrounding festivities are no exception, partly by design. Washington officials are expecting about 800,000 visitors on Jan. 21 rather than the record 1.8 million who flooded the city for Obama's first inauguration, and there are only two official inauguration balls unlike the 10 held in 2009. (Obama is being sworn in officially on Jan. 20 — which happens to be a Sunday — as required by law.) But lower-key doesn't mean without controversy, especially in super-polarized Washington. Here are six minor tempests, eyebrow-raisers, and peculiarities from our nation's 57th presidential inauguration:

1. France's Champagne lobby is fired up over inaugural bubbly

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.