Prize-winning Yale professor selected as inaugural poet

WASHINGTON - After a hiatus of more than a decade, poetry is returning to the inauguration of the American president.

The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies announced yesterday that Elizabeth Alexander, a prize-winning poet at Yale University who grew up in Washington, will read at the swearing-in next month of President-elect Barack Obama.

Alexander, 45, would be only the fourth poet to read at a swearing-in. Robert Frost read at John F. Kennedy's in 1961, Maya Angelou read at Bill Clinton's in 1993, and Miller Williams read at Clinton's second inaugural in 1997, government officials said.

Alexander, a professor of African-American studies, was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2005 and winner of the Jackson Poetry Prize last year.

She is the daughter of former secretary of the Army Clifford Alexander.

WASHINGTON POST

WASHINGTON - President Bush is hosting a lunch next month with President-elect Barack Obama and all former presidents.

The luncheon is set for Jan. 7. Former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George H. W. Bush will attend, along with Obama.

Bush has made a smooth transition to the next administration a top priority as his presidency winds down.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - Aretha Franklin will sing, the Rev. Rick Warren will pray, and more than 11,000 US troops will be watching over inauguration ceremonies in case of an attack during President-elect Barack Obama's swearing-in on Jan. 20.

As many as 4 million visitors are expected to be on hand when Obama takes the noontime oath from Chief Justice John Roberts on the steps of the Capitol.

A "big chunk" of active and guard units will perform ceremonial work involving parades, reviews, and honor guards, the US commander in charge of domestic defense said yesterday.

Also yesterday, officials announced the list of participants for the inauguration. The program is to feature the Rev. Joseph Lowery, the Marine and Navy bands, the San Francisco Boys Chorus, and the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriela Montero, and clarinetist Anthony McGill will perform a new work composed by John Williams.

ASSOCIATED PRESS