Inaugural crowd size reportedly D.C. record

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service says it will rely on a media report that says 1.8 million people attended President Obama's inauguration.

David Barna, a Park Service spokesman, said the agency did not conduct its own count. Instead, it will use a Washington Post account that said 1.8 million people gathered on the US Capitol grounds, National Mall, and parade route.

"It is a record," Barna said. "We believe it is the largest event held in Washington, D.C., ever."

The Post reported the figure yesterday, citing an unidentified senior security official, who had access to estimates from many agencies. The Post also used satellite images, square footage, and crowd density formulas.

Nearly 38 million Americans watched inauguration coverage on television, the most popular Inauguration Day on TV since Ronald Reagan took office in 1981. Nielsen Media Research said Reagan's 41.8 million viewers remains the record. Obama more than doubled the 15.5 million viewers who watched George Bush's second inauguration four years ago.

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A majority of Americans responding to a new poll said they are more optimistic about America's future with President Obama in charge.

The Associated Press- Knowledge Networks survey released yesterday found that 53 percent were more optimistic, while 15 percent said they were more pessimistic. Two-thirds of those surveyed said they were proud about Obama becoming the nation's first black president.

Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed said they saw or heard part of Obama's inaugural address, compared with 46 percent for former President George W. Bush's second inaugural address.

Of those who saw or heard Obama's speech, 51 percent said it was excellent.

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BEIJING - In China, parts of President Obama's inauguration speech were lost in the translation. The official Chinese version was missing his references to communism and dissent, while a live broadcast on state television quickly cut away to the anchor when the topic was mentioned.

The comments by Obama veered into politically sensitive territory for China's ruling Communist Party, which maintains a tight grip over the Internet and the entirely state-run media. Beijing tolerates little dissent and frequently denounces what it calls foreign interference in its internal affairs.

China has previously altered the words of US officials. A 2004 speech in Shanghai by Vice President Dick Cheney was broadcast live at the insistence of US officials.

But the Chinese transcript of the remarks deleted references to political freedom.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Obama and Michelle Obama had an open house at their new home yesterday.

And Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, opened their residence, the Naval Observatory, to about 200 schoolchildren.

"I have been an educator for many years and know first-hand the value of exposing children to the rich history of our country. We are thrilled to welcome these young people as the first guests in our new home," Jill Biden said in a statement.

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