WASHINGTON — Barack Hussein Obama renewed his oath of office at midday Monday, ceremonially marking the beginning of another four years in the White House and calling for "fidelity to our founding principles" while also embracing "new responses to new challenges."
Crowds that were expected to reach about 600,000 people assembled on the National Mall in front of the Capitol, eager to witness the start of the president's second term. Mr. Obama, 51, was formally sworn in during a small private ceremony at the White House residence on Sunday, the date constitutionally mandated for inauguration.
Mr. Obama declared that the country was "made for this moment," but said that the nation must confront the needs of a rising middle class. And he acknowledged that the often divisive and combative politics of today have sometimes fallen short of the size of the country's problems.
"For now decisions are upon us, and we cannot afford delay. We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate," Mr. Obama said. "We must act, knowing that our work will be imperfect."
Security in Washington was tight as Mr. Obama, the nation's first black president, delivered his second Inaugural Address from the Capitol just after noon. Speaking on the day the nation sets aside to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mr. Obama took his oath with his hand on two Bibles: one once owned by Dr. King and another once owned by Abraham Lincoln.
The president and Michelle Obama started the morning at a church service at St. John's Episcopal Church, just across Lafayette Square from the White House. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his wife, Jill Biden, joined the first couple at the service.
During the service, the Rev. Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga., said Mr. Obama should be called "pastor in chief" for his role in soothing the nation after the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. He also talked about what people should do in a position of power.
"You leverage that power for the benefit of other people in the room," Mr. Stanley said, adding that he prayed that Mr. Obama would "continue to leverage this influence for the sake of our nation and the sake of the world."
Later, the president's personal Twitter account sent out a message from Mr. Obama: "I'm honored and grateful that we have a chance to finish what we started. Our work begins today. Let's go. -bo."
When the presidential limousines returned to the White House from the church service, Malia Obama, 14, sneaked up to surprise her father, shouting "Boo!" as he emerged. "You scared me!" he told her, according to reporters who witnessed the exchange.
Mr. Obama's motorcade rolled slowly along Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol just before 11 a.m., prompting cheers of "Obama!" from crowds lined up along the road. At the same time, members of Mr. Obama's cabinet began assembling in the bleachers behind the president's lectern.
Later in the day, the Obamas will lead the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue toward an elaborate reviewing stand constructed in front of the White House. Celebrations are scheduled to continue late into the night at two official inaugural balls in Washington's sprawling convention center, with performances by musical stars like Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Katy Perry, Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder. Beyoncé will sing the national anthem on Monday afternoon.
As people started gathering for the inauguration, some chose to start the day at the monument to Dr. King.
"It's not a novelty this time," said Holly Wieland, 57, of Reston, Va., who also attended President Obama's first inauguration. "It's like the first time you say 'maybe it's an aberration.' But it's for real now."
Sheryl Gay Stolberg contributed reporting.
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