REBECCA ROBERTS, host:
It's a perfect storm of symbolism - the inauguration of the first African-American president who happens to be from Illinois, just like Abraham Lincoln, the president who ended slavery, Lincoln's Memorial, site of the famous "I Have A Dream" speech by Martin Luther King, whose birthday the nation celebrates tomorrow. All those themes converged at the Lincoln Memorial this afternoon along with hundreds of thousands of people.
(Soundbite of policeman screaming)
Unidentified Man: Move back please if you do not have a ticket.
Ms. VASHALI CUTRY(ph): I'm very excited.
Mr. MARK JOHNSON(ph): The military police is kind of cramping our style, but other than that, we're good. We're really pumped, yeah.
Ms. KAREN MOHILL(ph): I came here to catch a glimpse of Stevie Wonder and Obama. So I hope I get lucky.
ROBERTS: That was Karen Mohill from Washington, D.C. and before her, Vashali Cutry from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Mark Johnson from Aletha(ph), Kansas.
They were joined on the Mall today by several dozen superstars. The theme of the show - "We Are One." That was the mesasge of musicians ranging from Stevie Wonder...
(Soundbite of song "Higher Ground")
Mr. STEVIE WONDER: (Singing) People keep on learning, Soldiers keep on...
ROBERTS: To Garth Brooks.
(Soundbite of song "American Pie")
Mr. GARTH BROOKS: (Singing) Bye, bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee But the levee was dry And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye, Singing this will be...
ROBERTS: Big-time actors also took the stage, giving dramatic readings. Most of them stuck to the script, like actress Laura Linney.
(Soundbite of speech)
Ms. LAURA LINNEY (Actress): When Franklin Delano Roosevelt arrived at the inaugural stand on the steps of the Capitol in 1933, 25 percent of workers had lost their jobs. Banks were closed, foreclosures were mounting, and the American people were frightened.
ROBERTS: Although Jamie Foxx took the opportunity to poke a little fun at the man of the hour.
(Soundbite of speech)
Mr. JAMIE FOXX (Actor): This was the most incredible moment of my life and all of your lives when our president-elect said to the American people, and he said it very smooth and calmly, he said, if there's anyone who still doubts that America is not a place where all things are possible, tonight is your answer.