(Credit: Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)
In a Poolitzer Prize first, Wes Allison of the St. Petersburg Times has snagged his second award for one day's work thanks to his reporting on President Obama's second swearing-in Wednesday night. More than 1.8 million spectators watched Chief Justice John Roberts bungle the wording of the oath of office, but Allison was one of a handful lucky enough to see the just-in-case ceremony.
The winning pool report, edited only for clarity, follows:
At 7:35 p.m., Roberts administered the oath of office again to Obama in the Map Room. Robert Gibbs said the White House Counsel, Greg Craig, believes the oath was fine Tuesday, but one word was out of sequence so they did this out of a "an abundance of caution."
"We decided it was so much fun," Obama joked while sitting on a couch.
Obama stood and walked over to make small talk with pool as Roberts donned
his black robe.
"Are you ready to take the oath?" Roberts asked.
"I am, and we're going to do it very slowly," Obama replied.
Oath took 25 seconds. After a flawless recitation, Roberts smiled and said, "Congratulations, again."
Obama said: "Thank you, sir."
Smattering of applause.
"All right," Obama said. "The bad news for the pool is there's 12 more balls."
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