(CNN) –A record crowd lined the National Mall and parade route on Inauguration Day, Washington officials said Thursday.
About 1.8 million came to the city for the day’s inaugural events, according Leslie Kershaw, a spokeswoman for Washington, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty. That estimate — 50 percent higher than the previous record - came from local and federal agencies in the Joint Operations Command Center, which was responsible for managing the crowd.
The National Park Service, which was banned by Congress from releasing crowd estimates after controversy over its count of participants in the Million Man March in 1995, said it would not challenge the 1.8 million figure, according to the Washington Post.
The figure far surpasses the 400,000 former President George Bush drew in 2005 and 800,000 former President Bill Clinton drew in 1993.
From CNN Politics
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Wow – how amazing!
A black man's inauguration in Washington DC brought out more supporters than a white man's inauguration in Washington DC.
How SHOCKING!!
(eyes rolling)
It's a lie. It's more than that if you include those that were not let into the mall or capitol hill grounds.
It's a NEW day...... out with the Bush/Cheney criminals!
Obama had strong support.
Obama feel the people and we feel his words of Change...
just, WOW!!!
And I'm sure the Blitzer monotone will go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on – for days and days and days and days and days and days -----
America is ready to see change and hope actually being installed even in the frigid weather – heard it was a very nice crowd too! wish I could have gone – but was very happy to watch on TV – all day!!
Lighten up Jon from CA. We have a new president!!
Sorry your guy lost
lol
1.8 Million whoooo cahhzz??? Count me as one of the americans who is not impressed. CNN get out of bed with OBAMA.
That's because Obama will be four times the president in two years than Bush was in all eight loooong years.
Literally, a sea of humanity celebrating one man whose ideals and character we all look for in a person, and our children to emulate. Forgive me if I am envious of the people that were there to witness Obama swearing the presidential oath in person. Fascinating.
It is quite amazing when most of the people there were not from there. The crowd also looked very, very diverse to me. Blacks were not the only ones in attendance.
Be very afraid, John McCain, Sarah Palin's going to tell all!
I am not sure where to log this comment, but I wish Wolf and now Don Lemmon woud get off the swearing in issue. Your desire to perpetuate non exsistnet news is seemingly petty and ill advised. There are more important issues for you to cover. THe publis understands that with or with out the oath of office, by 12:00 on the day of Jan 20th, the persident elect IS dejure the President of teh US. Roberts and the wing nut falied in their attempt to trip up our smart President. Let it go guys.
Yeah, Jon in CA because IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.
As for eye rolling, my eyes rolled so far back at YOUR comment I could see what I was thinking!
Gee, three days ago you told us there would be NO official estimates.
There may have been that many HERE, but there were nowhere near that many downtown on Tuesday.
Should've had that march instead, huh?
This is why they didn't over blow the corrected swearing in. The millions of people deserve to have seen the real inaugural and they did.
I can't get enough of the spoiled brat Rethuglicans with full diapers who still cannot accept the fact that their party is dead and a Democrat, duly elected by the people, is in charge.
Get over it. Accept it.
Jon in CA
Let your eyes roll all you want. That won't change a thing! Most Americans are hopeful for the first time in years and we will celebrate no matter how often rush limpa says "he hopes Obama will fail".
We are behind our new President and almost 2 million people were there to celebrate that.
"Right" thinking Americans and most of the world want to see Obama and the USA succeed.
Historical moment people, anyone who had a chance to go will be spinning the tale for generations to come.
I wish I could have been there.
From here in Canada it looked outstanding. Now if Blitzer would just back off with his attack about no TV cameras at the second take of the Presidential Oath things should be fine there in Washington.
Great! I only wish I could have been there myself. This was indeed an historic event for everyone to remember. Thank you to ALL the secret service and other law enforcement agencies for keeping our first family safe.
What's truly amazing...is how so many people could afford to travel in to Washington, DC in these dire times !! And, after looking at all that "LITTER" thrown on the ground ! Now, that's so un-Democrat, or is it ?
Largest Crowd and he was only second to President Ronald Reagan in TV ratings.
1.8 million hey. Whoopie doo!!! I wonder how many of them will be losing their jobs soon. They might be back with picket signs. I mean come on, who cares about that silly stuff when there are so many more important things. The election is over, the historical part is done. Please lets move on already.
Jon in CA January 22nd, 2009 5:38 pm ET
Wow – how amazing!
A black man's inauguration in Washington DC brought out more supporters than a white man's inauguration in Washington DC.
How SHOCKING!!
(eyes rolling)
------------
Not at all shocking, actually, Jon !!!!!!!!! What else did you expect from black America?
Now the real question is how much money did the Washington, D.C. make?
The most amazing thing was not just the number but the behavior. When has 1.8 million people been so gracious, patient, celebratory and "neighborly?" It shows we can do it when we try... or have the right motivational leadership.
WHY YOU LIE.THAT WAS MORE THAN TWO MILLION.
I am so proud to be an American. Let's hope the honeymoon doesn't end too quickly.
Jon, you have posted an ugly comment on nearly every story on the ticker. If you have to comment, please at least make it substantive. The racist one-liners make you seem foolish.
People came in great numbers, I believe, for two reasons. One is the historical nature of this inauguration and the other is because this president is educated, thoughtful, and willing to listen to and learn from others, which is everything his predecessor was not.
And notice how well behaved this crowd was,much better than the crowd that gave Shrubs limo an egg-wash last time around.
why the eyes rolling – don't get it unless you are saying because dc is mostly black population – crowd came from all over usa.
President Obama is genuine and likable. That's why malcontents hate him.
Jon in CA,
Are those your eyes rolling down 1600 Penn. Ave.? Better go catch 'em! LOL!
white or not, black or not, no person is a 2/3 of a person. If those who went were in DC, the geography favoured them.......I just think we don't have to disect all that!!
Its amazing.. the last 8 years the liberals spread hate speech and personally attacked Bush for anything he did right or wrong. Stores were full of hate bumper stickers , t shirts , etc , calling Bush every name in the book. They drove their hippie mobiles all over the place with hate filled attacts ( personally) on bumpers.. yet , if you question the new Christ Obama you get reation like the last comment from "Simmy" ..calling them "malcontents"..typical of the hate and censorship thatr comes from the left.. Then you have people like Chris who call them crimnals when Obama has already appointed and surrounded himself with biggots, terrorists , and Chicago thug politicos
I would think there were more than that (like possibly more than 2 million); especially since the crowd stretched from the capitol, substantially past the Washington Monument; and all along the streets of the Mall.
Well to eyes rolling Clinton had more than bush in 1993 and Lyndon Johnson had over a million in 1964 when the US population was about half of what it is, so your argument is flawed.
tTHE FIRST SHALL BE THE LAST. AND THE LAST SHALL BE THE FIRST. WELCOME HOME PRESIDENT OBAMA., BY THE WAY, THAT WAS MORE THAN 2 MILLION.
It was an amazing day. The country and the world needed it.
Hey its been a long time since we have had actually honest intelligence in the white house. Were pretty jazzed.
CNN (not surprisingly) fails to point out that Reagan had a larger television audience, oh well, I'm sure we're in for 4 years of this. Oh, and if Obama wasn't half black, his speech would have been panned, the content certainly wasn't historic.
Jon in CA….Your insinuation should shame your mother. If she didn't teach you better…shame on her too!!
In actuality, the crowd was more white than anything…and predominately out-of-towners.
Also, there were more than that. A LARGE number where not allowed onto the mall and some were steaked out on the parade route in order to get a good spot.
If you have a problem with OBAMA and you can't come to grips with it….you are going to have a rough 4-8 years!!!!!!
Jon in Ca- Your a complete Idiot what does color have to do with anything? Or should a white person draw larger crowds than black? Stop rolling your eyes and focus them in a book, it would do someone like you alot of good.
Bush- 400,000
Clinton- 800,00
Obama 1.8 million in person +
" 2.5 millionby online,
" 38.5 million by TV
---– + by radio broadcast?
42.8 million
-----–
Globally ?
Mel,
In the 2000 Census, African Americans comprised over 34 million of the total US population. The Top 10 cities of African-American popluations include District of Columbia, Baltimore – MD, and Richmond – VA – all a short distance from the Capital.
Gosh – I'm SURE the greater interest in Obama's inauguration had NOTHING to do with the significant African American population centralized in that region of the country and the 97%+ of African Americans voting for Obama.
(eyes rolling even more)
Wish I had been there. Then again, I had a front row seat on CNN in my 70 degree house, snacks and bathrooms handy.
Either way, it was a great day.
What a waste of time and money! PBHO blew the oath and gave a mediocre speech.
Michelle's inauguration ensemble was fine except for the green gloves, shoes and bow but her ball gown was extremely unflattering! Just too many gathers and posies for such a big gal! And the wee gal looked like she was made up for halloween.
Jon, you're so weird. Didn't you hear about all those who traveled to DC from across the country? And, if you actually paused and stopped rolling your eyes to view a random sample of the crowd: The crowd was remarkably diverse, spanning different ages and races.
Jon, you're so weird. Didn't you hear about all those who traveled to DC from across the country? And, if you actually paused and stopped rolling your eyes to view a random sample of the crowd: The crowd was remarkably diverse, spanning different ages and races.
I am WHITE and have always embraced what is RIGHT!
BLACK.....GET OVER IT JACK!
That's amazing! I'm proud of this country...it's always been the best, but now we also have the best president!
These 1.8 million spectators witnessed the beginning of the end of the USA! For now we have a government of complete incompetence and ignorance. I'd just like to offer my congratuilations to all those voters who enabled NOBAMA to attain his office. Like Christ was purported to have spoken on the cross at the time of his crucifixion. "FATHER, FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO."
Jon in CA, Don't forget the White votes put Obama in office. If every Black in the US would have voted for Obama he still would not have won.
Mr "eyes rolling" what a are you doing to help the country.........
You will not be posted because you tell the truth.
Sounds like Coleman may have joined in and helped on the latest count. Notice you didn't mention President Reagan?
what about those on high rise building and roof tops
I truelly believe it was more than 1.8 million.
It was an amazing site to behold indeed!!!
A lot of people with absolutely no life! Proven Fact!
Here's a Big Thanks to our Military men and women who smiled as they did their job helping all of us in attendance.
Jon is CA there is a fine example of the very individuals that I was referencing in my last response!
President Obama is real working long hard hours too bad the United States Senate and Congress ,dont work well they fight to much and have a chip on their shoulder, and too much AIR in their heads so they dont spend Time smart. They forget they work for ALL Americans
and they full of GREED, they wont put a wage Freeze on their pay raise which was $4,700. Each this year. God Bless President Obama
and his Lovely Family. They sure are what we all need.
Now if all Americans would do what they can for their Familys and Smile thank God what we now have in the White House.
Paula
When they say 1.8 they really meant more like 2.3 million. You have to count the people stuck in the tunnels for hours and on side streets all around the city that could not move and was trying to get to the capital.
@Jon in CA January 22nd, 2009 5:38 pm ET
Wow – how amazing!
A black man's inauguration in Washington DC brought out more supporters than a white man's inauguration in Washington DC.
How SHOCKING!! ******.which half won.......his black half or white half
let's call it a Combo LOL
This was one of the greatest experiences I had in my 52 years. Can you believe out of all those people I ran into someone from my hometown. I live in Chas. SC and my hometown was. Chas .WV
Amazing!
It is a new day, evidenced by the fact that even if there were 'only' 1.8 million there to see the inauguration, nationwide, whole schools watched it on television; families stayed home together to watch it; businesses came to a stop while the oath was administered. The world was watching and I was proud of my country.